IN THE COMMUNITY
A Community on the Move - Silverton Improves Recycling
In 2017, the Village of Silverton had a subscription-based curbside recycling program where residents subscribe for curbside recycling service for an additional fee. Silverton leadership wanted to improve their recycling rate of 6.38% and low participation in their program.
Silverton set an initial goal of to achieve a 12% diversion rate in 2019 and an additional goal to achieve a 20% diversion rate in 2020. To do this, in June 2018, Silverton chose to add every other week curbside recycling in 64 gallon carts to their waste contract with the help of the Hamilton County Recycling and Solid Waste District. In addition, Rumpke sent a mailer to all residents followed up with two other coordinated mailings from the District. Residents all received a list of what you could recycle, a handy magnet, and a calendar listing their recycling weeks.
The District also sent staff to their community events and community group meetings to explain how the new recycling program would work and what you can and cannot recycle. Silverton included information in their newsletter and used their direct call system to reach out to residents about recycling. The District printed a large sign publicly posting the 20% by 2020 goal.
The outreach and program shift was a resounding success. In 2019, Silverton achieved diversion rate of 19.38%, exceeding their original goal of 12% and almost reaching their 2020 goal a year early. Great work, Silverton!