Recycling Program Design, Management, and Participation: A National Survey of Municipal Experience. David Holz (1991)

From our literature review, we have learned that “communications that emphasize the value and benefits of recycling and which explain specific program features should facilitate citizen participation” in increased recycling. This source provided a table with a list of education strategies and incentives that citizens found most effective in motivating them to reduce the amount of trash they generate. We hope to apply this data to our study, in motivating the citizens of Hyattsville to decrease the amount of trash they generate and to increase the amount they recycle. We want to provide the citizens of Hyattsville with the knowledge and resources to become as sustainable a city as possible.

Recycling as altruistic behavior. Normative and behavioral strategies to expand participation in a community recycling program. J. Hopper & J. Nielsen (1991)

This study “showed that a block-leader program, in which residents encouraged their neighbors to recycle, influenced altruistic norms and increased recycling behavior.” While it may be difficult to gather the support of the community, by working with the Hyattsville Environment Committee, we hope to gain support and influence within Hyattsville. According to this study, by appealing to social norms and increasing awareness of the negative effects of not recycling, we will be able to motivate citizens to recycle.

The three Rs: Reduce, reuse, recycle.

The article presents ways to deal with garbage, which include the reuse of as many products and packages as possible, recycling of every possible material and composting organic matter such as grass, leaves, yard wastes and food scraps. This article has ideas on how to market each of these aspects and put them into effect for the general public.