Program on the Environment

Drop-off recycling in King County will help relieve the burden felt by the Cedar Hills Landfill, which is quickly racing towards maximum capacity. Using drop-off recycling, many landfilled materials including plastic film, paint, batteries, light bulbs, and medication can be recycled even if not accepted via traditional curbside recycling. The aim of this study was to determine the biggest challenges perceived by the public that make drop-off recycling less convenient, helping to better understand which improvements would effectively increase overall drop-off recycling engagement. I interned with the King County Solid Waste Division and surveyed employees at 150 drop-off sites throughout the county to collect data on recycling traffic, bin design and placement, and fill-up frequency. Additionally, I conducted a literature review and administered an online survey to 180 King County residents to learn about their drop-off recycling behaviors and how they would like it to work differently. Results indicated the biggest obstacles being the need to make a special trip just to recycle, difficulty identifying drop-off sites, and a lack of drop-off site information. Residents voiced their desire to have drop-off sites that collect more than one type of recyclable and to place these sites in commonly visited locations. Therefore, improving drop-off recycling includes increasing streamlined recycling legislation that enforces uniform recycling standards, the convenience of locations, range of accepted materials, and clarity of recycling information. A more effective drop-off recycling process extends the valuable life of our regional landfill and creates a well-informed society with confident recycling skills.