Skip to main content Skip to footer unit links
← Back to all capstone projects
2018 Autumn | Education & Outreach, Sustainability

Overcoming the Barriers to Proper Waste Disposal at Multifamily Properties

Student(s):

Brooke Stroosma

Program or Department(s):

  • Program on the Environment
  • University of Washington

Site supervisor(s):

Hannah Scholes

Partner(s):

  • Waste Management

Faculty advisor(s):

Yen-Chu Weng, Program on the Environment, University of Washington

For my capstone I worked with Waste Management as an education and outreach intern in cities across King and Snohomish counties. I supported each city with different education and outreach for recycling programs at multifamily and commercial properties. For my independent research I explored the barriers of proper recycling disposal at multifamily properties. Multifamily properties have much lower rates of recycling than single family homes. After, discovering the barriers of at multifamily properties, I wanted to find out how I could start helping these properties overcome their barriers. To overcome the barriers, I proposed that Community-Based Social Marketing (CBSM) should be used. 

WHY I DID IT?

Recycling can be a huge proponent in diverting the waste that we create, but recycling only helps with diversion when we recycle correctly. As Seattle grows in population, and we move toward more multifamily style properties, there will be even more need for well-equipped recycling programs.  

HOW I DID IT?

I held informal interviews with property managers and maintenance staff at multifamily properties that I was completing outreach at. During these informal interviews I asked what barriers were present. After addressing the barriers at properties, I completed an extensive literary review on Community-Based Social Marketing. I looked at different case studies that addressed behavior change and how those tools could be used to address the barriers of proper recycling at multifamily properties. 

WHAT I DISCOVERED?

The barriers that I discovered can fall under three categories; lack of knowledge, lack of motivation and structural barriers. Community-Based Social Marketing can be used to overcome these barriers through communication, social diffusion, commitment, social norms, and convenience. The first barrier, lack of knowledge can be combated through communication and social diffusion. During my internship we tried to keep messaging clear by focusing on recycling the basic materials. Lack of motivation can be contested through commitment. An example of this is having residents write out a vow to recycle correctly. When signing a vow to recycle correctly, the act of signing slightly alters their attitudes on the topic. Structural barriers take participation from both residents and property managers and can be combated by placing recycling bins or dumpsters conveniently on the site of the property. When recycling and garbage bins are co-located, the act of recycling is much higher.  

WHAT I LEARNED?

During my internship at Waste Management, I gained knowledge of the waste industry and the work that is being done to decrease our waste and contamination in the recycling stream. I also gained many transferable skills that will help me excel in further experiences:

  • Education and outreach skills
  • Teamwork 
  • Effective Communication
  • Adaptability
  • Data analysis 
  • Report writing

The Big Picture?

The three barriers I uncovered during my internship can be solved by using Community-Based Social Marketing tools. By using CBSM tools it will enhance proper recycling within communities and increase diversion rates. Waste Management can take these behavior change tools and implement them into their recycling education and outreach strategies.