Zerocycle, providing software analytics for the Waste and Recycling industry, announces the launch of their Resident Engagement Platform in four pilot cities. The cities of Salt Lake City UT, Buffalo NY, Cincinnati OH, and Fremont CA are participating in Zerocycle鈥檚 revolutionary pilot program that is positioned to fundamentally change the industry鈥檚 analytics and outreach practices.
鈥淲e are very excited about being part of Zerocycle鈥檚 pilot program which will be an integral part of our 鈥�34 and More Buffalo Recycles鈥� initiative, which we launched in 2015,鈥� said Mayor Byron W. Brown, City of Buffalo. 鈥淭his data analysis will allow the City to target the neighborhoods that need additional education on the City鈥檚 recycling programs and help us reach our diversion goal of 34%.鈥�
Zerocycle鈥檚 low-cost, non-invasive solution employs innovative algorithms along with city-retained waste, recycling, and compost data to produce the behavior-changing Neighborhood Waste Report. By leveraging this readily available data, Zerocycle is able to quickly and economically launch the program within weeks, not months or years.
Neighborhood Waste Report
The heart of the Resident Engagement Platform is Zerocycle鈥檚 Neighborhood Waste Report (NWR) that is mailed to residents and features visually striking maps, Neighborhood rankings, and other insights on recycling. The NWR leverages behavioral psychology techniques, such as normative messaging, to drive measurable change in waste, recycling, and composting behavior. This form of behavioral science is proven to foster an environment of friendly competition between neighborhoods and residents, that ultimately increases recycling.
鈥淥ur goal is to engage with environmentally conscious local governments, and provide a breakthrough technology that will significantly assist them in achieving their recycling and diversion rate goals,鈥� said Zerocycle CEO, Hunter Hayes. 鈥淲e know that the national recycling rate of about 34% has been flat over the last 4-5 years, as the effectiveness of educational-only campaigns have leveled off. That鈥檚 where Zerocycle separates itself from the pack.鈥�
Haulers to Benefit
Large city-contracted haulers, like Rumpke Waste & Recycling, traditionally provide marketing support to their government customers for education and outreach programs, and Rumpke is doing just that by sponsoring the Zerocycle program for the City of Cincinnati.
“As a leader in the waste and recycling industry, we are always looking for ways to grow recycling participation,” said Molly Yeager, corporate communications supervisor, Rumpke. “We are interested in seeing the results of this pilot program to see if it may be a valuable tool in other parts of our service region.”
Leveraging Behavioral Science
Zerocycle鈥檚 unique solution was inspired by Wesley Schultz, Ph.D., one of the company鈥檚 founders and Professor of Psychology at California State University San Marcos. 鈥淶erocycle is using well-established principles from behavioral science to motivate residents to recycle. It鈥檚 clear that people want to recycle, but communications with just the facts aren鈥檛 enough,鈥� said Schultz. 鈥淥ur research has shown that providing residents with comparisons to their neighbors, or to other parts of their city, can result in long-lasting changes in recycling behavior.鈥�
In addition to the current four pilot projects, the company will be inviting four additional 鈥渓aunch partners鈥� to participate in the program, to be announced later this year.
For more information, visit .