TerraCycle Part I: Implementation & Norming

This is actually the second post is a series on my biggest trash adventure/project to date. You can find the first one here. I'd be amiss not sharing this set of stories because it was such an integral part of development & understanding of trash.

After discovering TerraCycle and realizing the potential for growth on a college campus. The secret to the success of the program was teaming up with Hillel @ Virginia Tech (the Jewish student life org I was involved in). Approaching an established group who I knew would be down to engage in this kind of project, and had the man power in place already, was the perfect platform on which to launch the campaign.

When you send TerraCycle the things you've collected, they in turn make a 2 cent donation to a non-profit of your choice. Hillel @ Virginia Tech, which is a branch of Hillel International, a non-profit, could use the money we "raised" as a fundraiser for our alternative break program. It was the final hook for the partnership. A holistic system of service, learning, environmentalism and fundraising. It was a win-win for all involved

The idea was simple: tell everyone in Hillel (roughly 400 or so students) what we were collecting & put a box in the student center where most of us hung out. Sounded easy, and for the most part it was.

The first TerraCycle box placed in the student center. 

First thing we did was create a box for collection. Thanks Anna! We also started posting on social media what we were collecting and what TerraCycle was. Friday night, when we would gather for Shabbat dinners, also where the largest contingent of students were at the same time during the week, I would stand up during announcements and tell people to "give me your trash." And the nickname was born! Eventually people did- during announcements, give me trash.

Once the foundation was laid for what we were doing and what we were collecting, it became less about implementation and more about norming the idea of separating TerraCycle from other waste, just like people do with their recycling. Norming is about constant reminders, educating people on why it was easy and important, improving signage and message and just nagging the hell out of people. We talked about it constantly- I talked about it..whats more than constantly? 

A sign reminding our roommates what to put in the TerraCycle bag. 

You know you've fully normed your peers when two of your friends frantically and apologetically tell you the cleaning lady threw out their TerraCycle box and subsequent wrappers...

The "norming" stage never ends in a project like this. Throughout my time at school I was always reminding people to sort their trash, educating people, and recruiting others to the cause. The lesson learned here was: start small. A project like this can get out of hand or become overwhelming pretty quickly. By targeting my audience to a group of already engaged students, I knew the project would take off.

Look for the next installment next week where I'll be talking about expanding the project to capture the attention of a wider audience, and when this stopped being a hobby and became an obsession. 

Brigades we were a part of: cookie wrappers, candy wrappers, chip bags