Making recycling an entertaining experience
Introduction
In the past few decades, there has been an extraordinary attempt at enhancing recycling practices within the restaurant industry. Surely, we have all seen components of this in the form of clearly labeled disposal stations. In most cities across the country, restaurants are required by law to have different garbage stations that separate various forms of trash. That’s great news in its intended purpose, and it’s noble in its nature. Something that seemingly requires no real extra effort on your behalf, and it should in theory help the environment. It’s foolproof and effective. But how often have we gone to throw our soda cans in the recycling bin only to see a half-eaten pizza inside? Disregarding the fact that you can’t help but wonder how someone was able to fit a pizza inside the holes in the recycling bin clearly designed for soda cans; you can’t help but wonder how demoralizing the human error aspect of all this is. So how do we fix this problem? What is a better solution? And how can you practically enforce it?
Before the idea
One solution that restaurants have tried to impose throughout the years is educational signs. Now, I must say that city regulators are not necessarily concerned with innovation, more so with just conveying an easy-to-understand message. “Please Recycle”, and “Cans and Plastic Only” signs are plastered all over the bins. And in many cases, cities have signs in English and Spanish; thus only further reaching out to more people. Despite what I mentioned earlier about the half-eaten pizza inside a recycling bin intended for cans; these signs have made great strides in helping reduce landfills. As far as restaurants are concerned, they’re doing their job.
Can we do better?
If these signs reduce our recycling problems by even a fraction of a percent, it’s still a valid solution; simply because it doesn’t require any real effort. So what would happen if restaurants put more effort into their signs?
How the situation has improved
One day when I was in Austin, Texas, I stumbled upon one of its many bougie coffee shops with a dimly lit patio and old wooden tables next to modern chandeliers hanging just an inch above my head; you know as any coffee shop is in any downtown environment. After I finished my $7.00 shot of espresso, I went to discard the paper cup into its proper station. As I went to dispose of the cup I noticed the usual “Please Recycle” signs that exist everywhere else. However, above those, I noticed other signs. Signs like “Don’t be Trashy”, and “Recycle Now or Risk Getting Rick Rolled”. I noticed signs that were humorous, and engaging. Initially, I thought it was ridiculous, but upon inspecting the bins, I noticed that everything was where it should be. The plastic was in the plastic section, the food waste was in the food waste section, and the glass was in the glass section.
The signs worked this time. Simply making the signs more engaging and friendly had a huge impact on reducing waste. This solution is also very cost-effective and only requires the cost of creativity; which we all have. It practically enforces an easy solution, without having to be overbearing on people who, frankly, just want to be left alone.
