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Recycling Pilot Program Summary "Improving Recycling of Residential Paper in Minnesota," conducted by the Recycling Association of Minnesota (RAM), focused on efforts to spur residents to recycle more paper, especially mixed paper, using pilot studies in a few cities in and near the metropolitan area (RAM Study). The RAM Study showed that residents in the pilot areas responded well to detailed instructions, and as a result, the residential paper recovered in the pilot areas increased 17 to 41 percent. There is significant potential to recover more residential paper with no or little additional collection costs. "A Comparative Analysis of Applied Recycling Collection Methods," conducted by Eureka Recycling during 2001 -2002, featured a comparison of different approaches to collecting residential recyclables through pilot studies of each approach in several neighborhoods in the City of St. Paul (Eureka Study). These approaches included source - separated, dual- stream, and single- stream recycling collection, coupled with variations in collection frequency, number and sizes of bins and carts, and education. The Eureka Study resulted in the City of St. Paul adding plastic bottles to their curbside recyclable materials collection program and converting from a bi- weekly, source separated program to a weekly, dual- stream program using 18- gallon bins. As a result of these previous studies, the City of Roseville decided that several key program parameters required further study. In addition to comparing the cost effectiveness and performance of dual versus single- stream collection programs, City staff designed the pilot project to investigate the effects of the following other key program parameters: • Education; • Bin/cart capacity; and • Materials recovered and contamination. Education Results of both the RAM and Eureka Recycling studies indicated education is a key component to increasing residential participation. Even though the City has not made any changes to its curbside recycling program since 1999, some residents appear to not fully understand the scope and logistics of the recycling program. This is similar to other communities as well. The City of Roseville designed the pilot to address these educational concerns by supplementing one pilot route with new educational materials and measuring impacts of additional education only on program performance. Bin /Cart Capacity Previously- collected data by the City and results of the Eureka Recycling study indicated that an increase in bin capacity is a program component that may increase recycling participation. Up until late 2001, the City provided one 18- gallon bin per household, even though the recycling program had expanded to accept more materials. While 81% of City residents surveyed in 2002 who recycled said they used the 18- gallon bins, 54% of recyclers said the bins did not meet their needs. When asked what would improve the B1605 DRAFT 3