Highlights
ARLINGTON AWARDED $ 73,000 NCTCOG GRANT FOR NEW PRINT AND DIGITAL OUTREACH CAMPAIGN TO INCREASE RECYCLING- REDUCE RECYCLING STREAM CONTAMINATION
The City of Arlington recently received a $ 73,000 grant for a new print and digital outreach campaign designed to reduce recycling contamination and increase residents ’ awareness of all available recycling options .
This grant , prepared in cooperation with the North Central Texas Council of Governments through funding from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality , will allow the City of Arlington to educate residents about what materials can and cannot be recycled in new , targeted ways beyond its
Garbage and Recycling website and social media platforms . Arlington is launching this effort in response to a 2021 survey that indicated residents were interested in recycling but that the City needed to build community trust in the recycling program through further education and outreach .
Goals include :
* Reduce the City ’ s recycling contamination rate , which at nearly 40 % is currently higher than the regional average of 26 %. An audit will be held at the end of the one-year campaign to measure contamination in the recycling stream . Contamination includes unclean items or non-recyclable items , such as garden hoses , electronics , clothing , batteries , styrofoam and food waste .
* Increase the amount of recycling material received at the City ’ s six Library recycling drop-off locations by 10 %. Currently , the City collects an average 157 tons of materials from those locations per year . These locations , which are ideal for residents who live in multifamily properties without curbside recycling , accept paper and cardboard , aluminum and metal , cartons , plastic and glass . The City will update signage about acceptable materials at the recycling drop-offs to include English , Spanish and Vietnamese . Arlington will also conduct targeted recycling educational outreach within multifamily complexes .
* Launch Waste Wizard , a searchable app that would provide residents with real-time specific instructions on how to recycle or dispose of material within the city .
* Launch The Collection Calendar , an app that would communicate recycling service schedule changes , provides service updates and notifications and conduct marketing campaigns to reinforce messaging about good recycling habits .
* Launch a mobile app that would allow Arlington residents to access all recycling information anywhere at any time .
* Create updated decals for recycling carts as well as printed education materials , including postcards and utility bill inserts , in English , Spanish and Vietnamese .