Cleveland launches residential recycling campaign

The city of Cleveland, working with nonprofit group The Recycling Partnership, Falls Church, Virginia, has launched a new recycling education campaign for residents called “One Simple Act.”

The campaign is designed to demonstrate that recycling is one simple act that can unite residents and yield impressive results. Part of the program involves making recycling more convenient, with the rollout of new blue recycling carts for residents and messaging to encourage recycling.

“As part of this campaign effort, we have set a goal to double recycling citywide, from 13 to 26 percent over the next 12 months,” says Jenita McGowan, the city’s chief of sustainability. “We need every Cleveland resident to help get us there. This is our community, and we all have a stake in doing what is right for not only our environment but also our economy and our future.”

Along with the new carts, the city recently passed a new set of guidelines for recycling at the curb, which includes placing recyclables loose in the recycling cart instead of in plastic bags. The new process is intended to be easier for residents and the recycling facility.

“With the rollout of this campaign and a simple approach to recycling material loose in the large recycling carts, Cleveland has great potential to increase recycling rates,” says Beth Schmitt, The Recycling Partnership board member and global manager, sustainability and recycling, for Alcoa Inc. “We can’t wait to see how this campaign helps foster a culture of recycling in Cleveland.”

The “One Simple Act” campaign is the result of a partnership between the city of Cleveland’s Department of Public Works Division of Waste Collection, the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability and The Recycling Partnership, a national nonprofit organization designed to increase participation in curbside recycling programs.

Cleveland residents will encounter the campaign in a variety of ways, including through print advertisements, recycling truck signage and mailers, at community events and online via social media and OneSimpleActCleveland.com.

“As a community, Cleveland has brought a dedicated passion and enthusiasm to this partnership. We are thrilled to see this campaign launch after months of planning and hard work,” says Megan Daum, The Recycling Partnership board of directors chair and vice president of sustainability at the Can Manufacturer’s Institute. “As the campaign rolls out, we are eager to see how Cleveland residents respond and the ultimate impact this will bring to recycling participation and tonnage rates.”

“The Cleveland/Recycling Partnership collaboration is a true example of successful public-private partnership,” says McGowan. “The city has maximized its education budget because The Recycling Partnership brings national-level recycling and communications expertise to the area at no cost to the city.”

“The ‘One Simple Act’ campaign developed for Cleveland will also serve as a model for other communities that are looking to improve education efforts and increase participation and tonnage in local recycling programs,” says McGowan.

More information about the “One Simple Act” in Cleveland, including a full list of what can and cannot be recycled, can be found at OneSimpleActCleveland.com.