Fayetteville Incentive Programs Encourage Waste Management (Environmental | Winner, Class I)

Fayetteville’s environmental green management practices centers around its recycling and trash master plan — a plan to focus on waste reduction. The original campaign, developed in 2013, is now a two-part system: “Recycle Something” and “Waste Not. Use Less.”

“Recycle Something” is a marketing tool used to help gather general awareness on the importance of recycling, while “Waste Not. Use Less” is aimed toward knowing which products should be recycled and how.

With aims to educate residents and businesses on waste reduction and recycling, there is a push to have 70 percent of households in the city recycling by 2027. To do this, the city is circulating information on what can be recycled through new graphics and marketing materials with the campaign brand. In addition, there are PSAs on the city’s video streaming channels and social media, and a new page on the city’s website for easy access to materials on recycling practices. The city also ads placed in the Ozark Regional and Razorback transit buses.

Additional information is found in Fayetteville’s City Hall, with a large video board displaying how to recycle, and brochures advertising the city’s many recycling programs. The curbside recycling program is ideal for residential and commercial customers, though the city also offers commercial dumpster services for cardboard and paper, glas collection for restaurants and bars, on site apartment recycling at six complexes in the city, two recycling drop-off centers, recycling at Fayetteville High School sporting events and recycling bins for bottles and cans at the City Square and several city parks.

To further education and awareness, the city has one environmental educator employee who focuses on waste reduction, establishing reuse and recycling with local businesses, civic groups, schools and individuals. This employee is responsible for developing interactive displays at recycling drop off center, presentations for schools and civic groups, and creating press releases. In addition, the employee coordinates educational events and tours at recycling centers.

Thanks to a partnership with a Fayetteville Public Schools Environmental Education Specialist, all 14 of Fayetteville’s public schools recycle paper and cardboard in dumpsters for each material. On a weekly basis, the schools collect plastic bottles and aluminum cans. The schools also utilize “Recycle Something” campaigns for signs and promotional giveaways. Three schools will also start composting cafeteria waste this year. The environmental educator employee is also a frequent visitor to all schools, hosting hands-on recycling lessons discussing how, where and what to recycle, why it’s important to recycle and the importance of reducing and reusing waste.

To incentivize waste reduction and recycling, the city offers residents a Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) system. To encourage more household recycling, the city charges citizens different amounts for the three different sizes of trash bins, while offering two free recycling bins. This can save a citizen either $58.20 or $129 annually, depending on the size of their trash bins.

The city’s Chamber of Commerce partnered with Greenway Initiative to encourage businesses to recycle and attend recycling related events. To incentivize waste reduction and recycling beyond the household, the partnership also identifies outstanding businesses that go above and beyond in their recycling practices.

Fayetteville’s efforts have not gone unnoticed, as it was recently awarded Ripple Glass’ second “Glass Recycling Program of the Year” award, including a $10,000 donation of fiberglass to the city’s Habitat for Humanity for use in energy conserving projects.

The city’s success is directly attributed to thorough education, marketing and incentive programs.

By making recycling convenient and practical, and spreading awareness about its importance, the city has excelled at creating a more environmentally friendly town.