2017 RecycleMania Case Study Competition

Campus Engagement – Awareness Campaign Submission Template

1. Contact info

Patricia Watson Towson University General Services, Room 132D 8000 York Road Towson, MD 21252 pwatson@towson.edu 410-704-3550

2. Focus of campaign (25 words or less. Ex: support of RecycleMania participation; Explain what can be recycled / reduce contamination; Encourage reusable mug use, etc.)

The #wastED (waste education) campaign informed students about what was recyclable and compostable on campus, as well as encouraged students to make waste reduction pledges.

3. Type of engagement / awareness campaign (Check all that Apply) a. Activity / Event b. Display c. Social media / mobile app d. Poster, banner, other print display e. Communication outreach (print, radio, email, etc) f. Video g. Other

4. General description of the engagement / awareness campaign:

(300 words or less) Our awareness campaign centered on “Waste Education”, which we promoted using the more catchy hashtag #wastED. We hosted 6 tabling events throughout the competition featuring interactive and educational activities in heavily trafficked areas on campus. Each event included an opportunity to sign a pledge page, where students committed to some form of waste reduction (reducing, reusing, recycling, or composting specific items). In addition to the pledge, we encouraged folks to use our snapchat geofilter.

We rotated between a few different interactive activities to educate about proper sorting of waste streams and the importance of waste minimization. Our activities included:

• The “decompose game” o Students are asked to guess how long it takes various items to naturally decompose.

• #wastED cornhole o Each of our custom-made cornhole boards are labelled to match the waste bins around

campus (landfill, recycling, compost) and show icons for various items that should go into each waste stream.

o To play, students are asked to randomly select an item from a mixture of commonly misplaced items (waste stream contaminants). They’re asked to guess which bin it would go into. Whether they guess correctly or incorrectly, the volunteer explained why it should go in a specific waste stream. Then the person was given the bean bags to toss into the corresponding cornhole.

• #wastED trivia o Students spin a prize wheel, then are asked a trivia question based on the category that

the wheel lands on. • Crafts

o “I <3 Recycling” (Valentine’s Day) and “Green Out” (St. Patrick’s Day) themed. o Upcycling crafts were presented alongside an educational display.

Following any activity, the volunteer would lead a brief discussion of the importance of reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting. After completing an educational activity, students received a prize (reusable starbucks cups, #wastED t-shirts, buttons, pens, reusable utensil set, etc).

5. Planning steps & timeline to implement: List out in bullet format each of the steps involved in planning. Example: Requesting special funding, recruiting volunteers, administrative permissions required, Building displays. Fall semester:

• Price and gather swag materials • Prepare educational activities • Schedule tabling events • Draft social media and email announcements

1 month before tabling: • Reserve tables in high traffic area

2 weeks before tabling: • Recruit volunteers using google form signup • Email fraternity and sororities regarding volunteer opportunity • Create geofilter design

1 week before tabling: • Purchase geofilter • Print signage

Day before tabling: • Pack up supplies

Day of tabling: • Post announcements to social media • Take pictures • Have fun!

6. Resources and stakeholders involved Explain what budget or in-kind resources where needed, what if any campus dept’s or groups supported the effort, what staff or volunteers were involved. Budget for supplies: T-shirt giveaways: $350 5 Snapchat Geofilters: = $31.64 In-kind resources: Trivia Wheel (borrowed from the TU Health Center) Recyclemania banner (TU Sustainability Office) Cornhole boards and bags (TU Sustainability Office, built by Facilities Management shop) Decompose game Buttons Paints, paper, and upcycled cardboard tubes Reusable coffee mugs/tumblers (TU Office of Civic Engagement & Leadership)

Staff (5) Sustainability Manager: Patricia Watson Graduate Assistant for Environmental Initiatives: Daniela Beall Sustainability Interns: Kelly Zindel, Marra Tripodi, Nilo Exar

Volunteers (55) Fraternity and Sorority brothers and sisters Student groups (Student Environmental Organization, Transfer Student Organization)

Campus Departmental Support

Office of Sustainability Office of Civic Engagement & Leadership

Health Center 7. How was this effort new or different from similar campaigns at others schools?

Tabling efforts are not a new way of disseminating information. However, I have not seen these types of games being employed at other campuses. We tried to make our pledges each week different and very specific rather than broad or general. For instance, one was “I pledge to reduce my use of single-use disposable items (such as straws, pepsi lids, utensils, etc)”. This pledge was connected to the “takeaways” or lessons we emphasized during the game or activity.

8. Describe the Results of the Initiative a. General results of the initiative (ex: attracted attention of campus president, campus paper did a news story on the

event, etc.)

Campus newspaper ran a news story about the “Green Out” event: http://thetowerlight.com/compostable-cups-come-to-tu/

b. Specific measurable impact figures (Ex: Reduced contamination rate 13%, Gathered 316 pledges to recycle more, etc

650 students participated in our activities 531 pledge signatures gathered 16990 geofilter engagements (includes uses, swipes, impressions, conversions, and views)

9. What would you do differently in the future?

At some of the tabling events, we were running multiple activities. We found the events that focused

on 1 main takeaway or message seemed more effective. In the future, we would tailor each #wastEDwednesday toward one specific message and pledge.

It could be worthwhile to make the snapchat geofilter educational in some manner, rather than simply promoting Recyclemania or #wastEDwednesdays.

10. What advice would give to another college that wanted to do a similar project?

Collaborate with fraternities, sororities, and student groups early on to get a dedicated group of

volunteers Develop key talking points to give to volunteers Focus on one message and one activity per event. Keep it simple!

11. Photos, Screen Shots, Graphics Please copy and paste photos, examples of social media posts, posters or other graphics related to the project. Include captions where necessary.

Recyclemania Kickoff Pledging (snapchat photo featuring our geofilter for the day)

Recyclemania Kickoff – Decompose Game being “scored”

I <3 Recycling Pledge Sheet.

I <3 Recycling Card-making Craft

I <3 Recycling (Vday crafts and pledge event)

“Doc” (our mascot) playing #wastED cornhole

Volunteers at the “Green Out” event.

Completed signature banner for the “Green Out”.

Volunteers leading an educational activity for the “Green Out” event.

Proud volunteers in front of the educational activity, and with our geofilter promotional display for the “Green Out” event. Please email completed template form and supplemental documents (photos, newspaper articles, website links, etc. to helpline@recyclemaniacs.org with “RecycleMania Case Study submission-Campus Engagement – Awareness Campaign” in the subject line. Case study submissions are due no later than Friday, May 12, 2017.