Tell One Friend: Try the WasteWise App

Try WasteWise on edmonton.ca/waste and then download the WasteWise App. The app answers easy questions about what waste goes where, when to set out waste, and more. WasteWise is available for FREE on Google Play, and Apple App Store. 

This one small ask can open the door to bigger behaviour changes down the road. The app is a great tool to help Edmontonains learn to sort their waste into the black cart and kitchen scrap carts effectively. Once residents begin sorting their kitchen scraps out of the garbage, the step towards home composting is much smaller. 

The WasteWise app can also help residents find out when their new carts arrive and the new collection schedule. Notifications can be set up online or through the app to remind residents when to set carts out for collection. 

As usual, it’s still an effective tool to use when it comes to sorting recycling and household hazardous waste if you don’t know where it goes! 

Share Your Message Effectively

Try these tips to connect with friends, family, neighbours, and co-workers.

Model the Behaviour

Tell a friend that you use the WasteWise App to remind you when collection day is.

Make it Normal
Talk about how whenever you don’t know where things go, use the app for help finding out what waste goes where.

Offer Timely Prompts

Have you checked when your new carts are coming and how your collection schedule changes?

Give Positive Feedback
Thanks for using the WasteWise App!

Visit www.edmonton.ca/wastewise

Previous How to Learn about the New Carts

Tell One Friend: Continue Spreading the Word About Carts

It's Almost March 2021 and The way Edmontonians sort and manage waste at home is changing come next month. Residents will use carts to sort and set out their waste. 

The Edmonton Cart Rollout is the first big step in the City of Edmonton's journey to accomplish overall waste reduction and 90 per cent waste diversion through a zero-waste framework.

Waste collection will change. The new service will consist of:

• A garbage cart that will be collected every two weeks.
• Food scraps (120L) cart that will be collected weekly in spring, summer and fall and every two weeks in the winter.
• Recycling collected weekly in blue bags (no volume limits).
• Two seasonal yard waste collections in spring and two in the fall (no volume limits).

Share Your Message Effectively

Try these tips to connect with friends, family, neighbours, and co-workers.

Model the Behaviour

Tell friends, family and neighbours how you visited www.edmonton.ca/waste.

Tell folks when you downloaded the WasteWise app.

Make it Normal
Talk about how you’re looking forward to the arrival of your cart.

Offer Timely Prompts

Did you know that starting in March of this year, carts will begin to arrive at homes in Edmonton  and garbage collection will start to change?

Give Positive Feedback
Thank you for checking out www.edmonton.ca/cartrollout to learn more about carts.

Visit edmonton.ca/cartrollout

Previous Tell One Friend: Recycle Natural Holiday Trees

Tell One Friend: Spread the Word About Carts

The way Edmontonians sort and manage waste at home is changing starting in March 2021. Residents will use carts to sort and set out their waste. 

The Edmonton Cart Rollout is the first big step in the City of Edmonton's journey to accomplish overall waste reduction and 90 per cent waste diversion through a zero-waste framework.

Waste collection will change. The new service will consist of:

• A garbage cart that will be collected every two weeks.
• Food scraps (120L) cart that will be collected weekly in spring, summer and fall and every two weeks in the winter.
• Recycling collected weekly in blue bags (no volume limits).
• Two seasonal yard waste collections in spring and two in the fall (no volume limits).

Share Your Message Effectively

Try these tips to connect with friends, family, neighbours, and co-workers.

Model the Behaviour

Tell friends, family and neighbours how you visited www.edmonton.ca/waste.

Tell folks when you downloaded the WasteWise app.

Make it Normal
Talk about how you’re looking forward to the arrival of your cart.

Offer Timely Prompts

Did you know that starting in March of this year, carts will begin to arrive at homes in Edmonton  and garbage collection will start to change?

Give Positive Feedback
Thank you for checking out www.edmonton.ca/cartrollout to learn more about carts.

Visit edmonton.ca/cartrollout

Previous Tell One Friend: Recycle Natural Holiday Trees

Tell One Friend: Recycling Natural Holiday Trees

 8,570 trees, weighing more than 95 tonnes, were collected in 2020 for composting. Residents are asked to place their un-bagged, natural tree on its side and next to their garbage bags or carts by 7 a.m. on Monday January 11, 2021. Trees will be picked up until January 31, but not necessarily on your regular waste collection day. Please ensure the tree remains clear of snow and ice for ease of pick up.

For trees to be acceptable for composting, all ornaments, tinsel, garlands, nails, screws and
tree stands must be removed. Large trees should be cut into two-metre (6.5 foot) lengths.

Apartment and condo residents are asked to take their natural Christmas trees to a community Recycling Depot or an Eco Station for free until Saturday January 30, 2021. Trees should not be placed in or beside apartment recycling or waste bins. More information and guidance for artificial trees can be found here. 

Share Your Message Effectively

Try these tips to connect with friends, family, neighbours and co-workers.

Model the Behaviour
Set out your natural Christmas tree by 7 a.m. on Monday, January 11, 2021, free of decorations and lights.  

Make it Normal
Would you set out your natural Christmas tree by 7 a.m. on Monday, January 11, 2020, ensuring that the tree free of decorations and lights for composting?

Give Positive Feedback
"Thanks for setting out your natural Christmas tree on time; free of decorations and ready for collection and compost by the City of Edmonton.”

Visit edmonton.ca/christmastrees

Previous Tell One Friend: Reduce Holiday Food Waste

Tell One Friend: Reduce Holiday Food Waste

On average, about a quarter of Edmonton’s garbage is food waste. This amount increases significantly around the holidays, according to City waste audits. With the expectation of smaller gatherings this year, planning holiday meals is important in order to reduce food waste and not to prepare and purchase in excess. Reducing food waste starts at home. By making small changes you can divert food waste from landfill.

• Don’t buy more food than you need; have a plan.
  
• Choose a local butcher or produce supplier to buy from, when possible.
• Finish leftovers.
• Donate unused products to the local food bank.
• Get creative with leftovers, store or freeze food correctly and planning out meals all help to prevent holiday food waste.

Changing Waste Behaviour: How to Shift Social Norms

Care.org perfectly outlines how to shift social norms. Changing waste behaviour is exactly that; changing the norms that society operates in. The best way to influence individuals and social norms is my by using multiple tactics.

You can read the original article here. Based on change.org's article, shifting social norms in terms of changing waste behaviour is outlined below.

1. Find early adopters; often, people are already living their lives in positive ways that support progressive change, such as waste reduction. Find them. 
2. Build support groups of early adopters. Use your MCR colleagues for support and encouragement. there's power in numbers. 
3. Use future-orientated positive messages: Help people imagine positive alternatives. Change is possible. 
4. 4. Open space for dialogue: get people talking to each other about new ideas. Challenge the implicit assumptions that everyone holds the same views, experiences and preferences.
5. Facilitate public debate: engage publicly with community members to debate in what is considered OK in the context.
6. Expect by-stander action: Move from envisioning possibilities of justice to action. this involves building community and accountability, so that people are willing to do more to reduce their waste, starting with one small ask or action.
7. Show examples of positive behaviour in public: Demonstrate that the positive shift we hope for already exists and that it's totally normal.
8. Map allies and ask for their support: Identify the resources and networks we need to support positive change for individuals, families and communities.

Source: Social Norms Change

 

International Volunteer Day is Coming Up!

December 5 is International Volunteer Day! We thank you for all of your amazing work as an MCR this past year. This year, Waste Services wants to hear why you volunteer and/or your peer to peer recognition story.

Tell us here.

From your stories, we will fill out one of the two slips below, post them on a wall in our offices and share them in future newsletter editions.

If you also volunteer at the Reuse Centre, pop in there to take a photo for their photo-wall.











For more information visit Volunteer Canada or UN General Assembly

                                

What Behaviours to Choose?

Another installment about Effective MCR Conversations

"Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn't."

~ Erica Jong

We all have an idea in the back of our mind about what behaviours we want our friends, family, and neighbours to adopt. But first, it's important to find the most realistic option for them!

What would be most successful?

With this in mind, ask ourselves: How do we select behaviours that we target for a friend or neighbour to do?

Step One: Listen

Yes, it sounds too simple, but listening to our audience is sooo important! Consider them for who they are and what is realistic for them.

Step Two: Come up with one small ask

No... NOT two asks. Look for an ask that is:

1. Non-Divisible: It cannot be divided into multiple actions.
2. End-State: Will this action lead directly to the outcome, or will they have to do something else?
   
   For example, one small ask could be "program a programmable thermostat." (Not purchasing it and not installing it, but programming it.)
   Once they program the thermostat, we know that leads directly to less energy used

Step Three: Make sure your ask has...

1. High Impact: Something that will make the most difference.
2. High Probability: Something they are likely to do.
3. Low Penetration: Something that they are not already doing.

---

Example: Use less single-use plastic bags

1. Well... just listen.
2. One small ask: Bring a reusable grocery bag into the store. (non-divisible and end-state)
3. Make sure your ask has:
• High Impact: Most single-use plastic bags are grocery bags. So yes, this works on grocery bags.
• High Probability: IF they bring reusable bags into the store, there is a high chance that they will use them. So, yes.
• Low Penetration: No, not many people are already doing it.

Alex V. is a recent graduate from The King’s University where she graduated with a BSc. in Environmental Studies and Biology, and a Certificate of Education and the Environment. She is enthusiastic about anything related to waste reduction and living sustainably and loves sharing her tips and tricks with the community around her.

More "Effective MCR Conversations"

Previous What are the Competing Behaviours?

MCR Success Stories in September, 2019

Future Waste Reduction Specialists
MCR Rebecca chatted with children about waste. She especially loved when the children took over the conversation about improved waste behaviour; this gave her the feeling that the future of the city will be great.




How to Compost in Castle Downs
MCRs Mildred, Angela and Natasha taught local residents how to start composting at home. This workshop was hosted by Councillor Jon Dziadyk.






Vermi-Composting Success
MCR Kit provided compost support to a family and assisted them to set up a worm bin to start vermi-composting.

Wasteless Movie Night 
MCR Christine T. hosted a movie night and a conversations about waste discussion panel for about 20 participants. They watched and talked about the movie WALL-E. MCRs Mila, Craig, Tony, Line, Alan and Margo helped organize the event and spoke during the panel discussion. Team effort!

MCR Success Stories in August, 2019

Waste Wise Block Party

MCR-in-Training Jarett S. hosted a Waste Wise Block party for 25 people. He talked to his neighbours about going bagless and how to recycle right.

Vermicomposting Demo Success

MCR Barb N.: "I do these demos every year at Victoria school. I have also started a worm bin in the biology classroom. Some teachers want to start zero waste lunch program next year."

Persistent about Waste Reduction

At her workplace, MCR Mila P. was asked to send regular emails to employees about small things they can do to make a difference. That's hundreds of employees.
In fact, she was asked "please don't stop."

Plant a Row, Grow a Row

MCR Lindsay M. reminded everyone that she helped Edmonton's Food Bank start the Grow a Row program, circa 1995. That program eventually became Plant a Row, Grow a Row.

All Smiles at the Reuse Centre

MCRs Wendy, Sulav, Antonietta, and Norma modeled for photos at the Reuse Centre.

Workplace Waste Audit

"Since April, I had been having separate chats with co-workers about my involvement in the MCR program and my passion for vermicomposting. Then the general manager heard about my involvement and asked me if we can do something in the office to reduce waste.
This July, we have already started the process for a waste audit." - MCR Roberto M.

Way to Go, MCR Laurie O!

"A couple was out shopping and the woman went to sort her cup for garbage or for recycling. She put the single-use cup in the garbage container, but she also said, "well, I guess it could go in the recycling..." I bumped into that conversation and informed them that single-use cups (compostable or not) should go into the garbage. The couple then said, 'you learn something new everyday.' "

MCR Success Stories in July, 2019

Plastic Free July

Hayley R. made an impact on social media by posting about #plasticfreejuly. Hayley had many offline conversations about reducing waste, specifically plastic as a result.

Home Composting...Ready, Set, Go!

Joe L. helped friends set up a home composter and got them started with home composting their kitchen scraps.

Session Success

Alan, Tony & Craig delivered a session on composting to the City of Edmonton Forestry team. They covered science of composting, set up worm bins and shared tips on effective gardening.

MCR Munch & Mulch

MCRs and their guests came out to Compost 'S cool this past weekend to learn about 5 ways to deal with grass, leaves, and plants... but not "compost." We finished up with Compost 'S cool pictionary. The weather was beautiful, snacks were delicious and the company fabulous as always!

Secret Key to Success... Ask Someone

Another installment about Effective MCR Conversations

Master Composter Recyclers (MCRs) meet lots of friends and neighbours who want to do good things for our planet. Our conversations are important for turning good intentions into real actions.

"Research on persuasion demonstrates that the major influence upon our attitudes and behavior is not the media, but rather our contact with other people." - D. McKenzie-Mohr, 2011

I have heard many MCRs celebrate their conversations with others. "I talked about Edmonton's waste system." "I showed off my home compost bin." "We talked about the Reuse Centre." Yes, that's helpful. This raises awareness, opens their eyes, and opens their minds. People hear what happens to garbage after it leaves the curb.

Turning awareness into action: The Ask

If awareness is the first step, then the next is deciding to act.

Get a commitment. Remember to finish every conversation with an "ask."

The "ask" should be small. The "ask" should be achievable. The "ask" should be the right fit for the individual. The best "ask" is one that the person already wants to say "yes" to.

What's so special about an "ask"?

It's so simple that it's easy to overlook the hidden power in an "ask." It's really quite smart.

"Asks" help put our audience in the driver's seat. This shifts the conversation away from abstract ideas and services by the City of Edmonton. The "ask" addresses one specific thing that they can do, right now.

"Asks" also subtly invite our friend or neighbour to make a commitment. Everyone wants to do as we say. So a specific commitment is most likely to turn their words into results.

Great "asks" sound like...

• Can I count on you to leave your grass clippings on the lawn, next month?
• Can I count on you to put this "What Goes Where" poster on your fridge?
• Will you visit my yard to see how I compost?
• Will you put a box in your home to collect items for the Reuse Centre?
• Can I count on you to take your batteries and light bulbs to the Eco Station?

---

Rodney became a Master Composter Recycler in 2008. He enjoys working with passionate volunteers, funny co-workers, and his adorable children. He loves long walks on the beach, fluffing his compost pile, and skiing any time of the year.
Rodney became a Master Composter Recycler in 2008. He enjoys working with passionate volunteers, funny co-workers, and his adorable children. He loves long walks on the beach, fluffing his compost pile, and skiing any time of the year.

More "Effective MCR Conversations"

Previous Give Prompts & Feedback
Next What are the Competing Behaviours?

 

* Doug McKensie-Mohr, Fostering Sustainable Behavior, 2011.

MCR Success Stories in May, 2019

Hosted a Garden Party MCR-in-Training Barb L. enlisted neighbours to help empty an entire compost bin. "We dug a few holes for the unfinished compost and then spread the remainder of the compost in the front yard soil (no grass there). We discussed benefits and barriers and I showed them how great the compost at the bottom of the bin is and how easy it is to do."

Community Composter MCR Nicola T. resurrected a composting system at her children's school. "We started a free fruit program at school, sponsored by No Frills. We now have so many fruit peels and cores daily, that a new compost setup was needed.  Leadership Club empties the compost bins in school after the kids have had lunch, but more compost bins were lacking next to the fruit bowl where the kids get the free fruit. I am working on educating the whole school population on better waste management." "I know it's making a difference already because the secretary asked me where to buy a compost bin for her home, and picked up the 2nd last one that John Jansen had.  I've been explaining to her how to set it up too."

Hosted a Clothing Swap MCR-in-Training Michelle W. hosted a clothing swap and small items for the Eco Station, Reuse Centre and donation for a group of seven women. The event was a big success!

Telling his Story of Composting MCR Shawn G. rebuilt the compost system at his home. He documented the shift from his old system to the new setup, in detailed steps, on social media. "People messaged me after with questions or asking for advice." Great idea!