Google Form sent to 156 New York City residents, intended to:

Three individual in-depth interviews, conducted virtually, intended to:

  • Understand recycling behavior as it pertains to improper sorting

  • Recognize pain points about recycling labels and city resources

  • Learn where residents believe their responsibility ends and the municipalities’ begins

Google Forms Survey Findings

Explore current recycling behavior and attitudes


Measure the level of confidence that residents place on product labels and government resources to accurately guide the recycling process

Methodologies

Google Form sent to 156 New York City residents, intended to:

  • Explore current recycling behavior and attitudes

  • Measure the level of confidence that residents place on product labels and government resources to accurately guide the recycling process

Understand recycling behavior as it pertains to improper sorting


Recognize pain points about recycling labels and city resources


Learn where residents believe their responsibility ends and the municipalities’ begins

Three individual in-depth interviews, conducted virtually, intended to:

Key Findings

Methodology

Google Form sent to 156 New York City residents, intended to:

Methodologies

Explore current recycling behavior and attitudes

Measure the level of confidence that residents place on product labels and government resources to accurately guide the recycling process

Understand recycling behavior as it pertains to improper sorting

Recognize pain points about recycling labels and city resources

Learn where residents believe their responsibility ends and the municipalities’ begins

Three individual in-depth interviews, conducted virtually, intended to:

Google Forms Survey Findings

Not at all Important

Somewhat Important

Extremely Important

76.8% of residents said that recycling was extremely important to them.

Other

3.9%

Good understanding?

Only 25% of people felt like they had a good understanding of recycling symbols and labels on packaging.

Huge change

No change

Small change

77.3% of people said their recycling motivation would change if labels were easier to decipher.


Primary Research: Methodology and Findings

Primary Research: Methodology and Findings

Affinity Map Interview Findings


Affinity Map Interview Findings


NYC Residents:

NYC Residents:

  • Understand the importance of recycling to combat the current climate crisis, but are unsure if their efforts are enough.

”Sure, I could toss it. But I don’t want to be contributing to the massive landfills that are already taking over our world.“

  • Are willing and able to recycle, but need updated supplies, better outreach, and more convenient disposal locations.

”The modern paper carton: it’s lined with some sort of unnatural material and it’s got a plastic cap, but the outside is cardboard. How do I separate it?“

  • Follow mandates to avoid fines, but question the methods and trustworthiness of their authorities.

”Its’ shocking to me that we don’t get mailers from the city that say ‘as a reminder here are the rules and how things should be sorted.’“

Are willing and able to recycle, but need updated supplies, better outreach, and more convenient disposal locations.

Have no easy way to decipher recycling codes and package labels, leading them to feel set up for failure.

Follow mandates to avoid fines, but question the methods and trustworthiness of their authorities.

Understand the importance of recycling to combat the current climate crisis, but are unsure if their efforts are enough.

”Sure, I could toss it. But I don’t want to be contributing to the massive landfills that are already taking over our world.“

”Its’ shocking to me that we don’t get mailers from the city that say ‘as a reminder here are the rules and how things should be sorted.’“

”The modern paper carton: it’s lined with some sort of unnatural material and it’s got a plastic cap, but the outside is cardboard. How do I separate it?“

”I do my best to rinse out any food containers because I’ve heard it doesn't get recycled if it’s messy.“

Follow certain recycling patterns, like rinsing out containers, but don’t know why.

”Street bins would be great so we don't have to worry about bad weather.“

  • Follow certain recycling patterns, like rinsing out containers, but don’t know why.

”I do my best to rinse out any food containers because I’ve heard it doesn't get recycled if it’s messy.“

  • Have no easy way to decipher recycling codes and package labels, leading them to feel set up for failure.

”Street bins would be great so we don't have to worry about bad weather.“