Get the MassDEP Recycling IQ Kit

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1. About the Recycling IQ Kit

   Contamination of the recycling stream is a continuing problem. Usually with the best of intentions, residents put materials into their bins that processing facilities are not equipped to handle.

   The Recycling IQ Kit was developed to help cities and towns work with materials recycling facilities (MRFs) and haulers to:

   • Better target education and outreach to the public,
   • Give residents direct feedback at curbside or drop-off, and
   • Track and report the results of these efforts.

   The Recycling IQ Kit is open source and available for any city or town to use at any time.

   Funding and technical assistance to help implement the Recycling IQ Kit are available from MassDEP. Learn more in Step 2 below.

2. How the Recycling IQ Kit Works

   

   The Recycling IQ Kit is comprised of three main components:

   • Education & Outreach
   • Feedback at Curbside or Drop-Off
   • MassDEP Grants

   Learn more about how the Recycling IQ Kit works.

   Education & Outreach

   The Recycling IQ Kit provides digital templates for both curbside and drop-off programs. From magnetic post cards and "oops" tags to banners and bin stickers, there are many ways to get the word out. See the printer catalog for options and pricing.

   

   Learn more about this topic by watching the video playback of our November 2020 webinar: Optimizing Our Recycling Education & Outreach Efforts. Slides from this presentation can be found below.

   Feedback at Curbside or Drop-Off

   The Recycling IQ Kit lays out a game plan for you to follow in working with elected officials, your community's hauler(s), and the materials recovery facility (MRF) that processes your recyclables. Together, you will educate residents about which items do and do not belong in their bins or at the drop-off center, and then:

   • Identify problem collection routes and/or materials to target for inspections,
   • Provide feedback by tagging contaminated bins and leaving them behind, or through personal interaction at the drop-off center, and
   • Repeat this process for eight consecutive collection cycles.

   

   "Before" and "after" audits of loads delivered to the MRF from your community will let you know how your enforcement program is paying off and help you refine it going forward.

   MassDEP Grants

   The Recycling IQ Kit Grant program has been suspended until further notice. MassDEP encourages interested municipalities to apply for SMRP Technical Assistance for help in implementing the program and to use the Recycling Dividends Program (RDP) funds they earn to pay for printed resources and cart taggers.

   Apply for SMRP Technical Assistance through Re-TRAC Connect™, using the municipal account MassDEP has established for your city or town. If you have forgotten your account login, contact Cathy Doodnauth.

   Open PDF file, 553.98 KB,  MassDEP Recycling IQ Kit Grant Guidelines (Program Suspended), February 2022 (English, PDF 553.98 KB)

   Open PDF file, 3.51 MB,  Webinar Presentation: Optimizing Our Recycling Education & Outreach Efforts (English, PDF 3.51 MB)

   Login: Re-TRAC Connect™ 

3. Download the Recycling IQ Kit Materials You Need

   

   • ► Choose the Recycling IQ Kit for your collection program type:
     Curbside
     Drop-Off
   • ► Determine if your community is ready to commit:
     Assessment Tool
   • ► Create outreach and education materials:
     Digital Templates
     Editing Instructions
     Printer Catalog
   • ► Access all available resources:
     Recycling IQ Kit Files
     Samples, Templates & more