5 Steps for Last-Minute Earth Day Planning for Recycling Coordinators

Over 1 billion people from municipalities in over 192 countries around participate in Earth Day every year! With this year’s Earth Day right around the corner, it’s the perfect opportunity to engage residents to protect their environment.

Whether you’re already hard at work with your Earth Day event or campaign planning, or just thinking about it now – we’ve made having a successful Earth Day easy!

How to plan Earth Day for your Waste and Recycling Program:

1. Decide on an event or campaign (or even a few) for that day. 

Some examples of events/campaigns are:

• “20 Minute Makeover” – Residents volunteer for 20 minutes to pick-up litter around their homes, workplace, school, or other areas.
• Reforestation – Residents volunteer to plant trees around your municipality, such as parks and schools.
• Educational workshops (i.e. about rain barrels, composting, reducing energy use). This also goes with the featured event idea for Earth Day 2017 – teach-ins!
• Get kids involved – Offer educational games and activities (i.e. recycled crafts).
• “Green” Sale – This includes rain barrels, compost, local organic food, and/or recycled items.

2. Develop key messages you want to convey.

This is the reason why your residents should attend your event. Your message should have urgency, broad appeal, and a call-to-action.

For example, building a community that internalizes environmental values to create a sustainable future that includes reduced energy use, food waste, and air pollution.

3. Decide on who’s going to take on what role.

Figuring out who does what will make the planning much more seamless. Possible key roles include:

• Organizer – Coordinates the event and delegates tasks to other members
• Communications & Outreach Officer – Promotes the message and event to the local community to encourage attendance, reaches out to the press, and searches for potential partnerships
• Logistics Coordinator – In charge of the setup, transportation, venue, equipment, signage, volunteers, directing attendees, and creating the schedule

4. Gather your resources, including information on:

• Educators/speakers who can inform and equip the population with the knowledge to make changes
• Faith groups who can help drive important social movements and can influence many people
• Local businesses that can share the event with their customers or provide sponsorships
• Media contacts for TV, newspapers, local blogs, press releases
• Local community clubs and organizations
• Your budget

5. Start promoting to make sure your event is well attended.

• Advertise as soon as possible (don’t forget to include your key message(s))
• Use social media and post regularly. Use hashtag #EarthDay2017
• Hand out flyers in high traffic areas
• Contact your list of resources and make sure to tell them why your event/campaign is important, expected attendance, location, time/date, activities planned, and how they can help you get the word out
• Get your event information to schools – especially if the event takes place near a school
• Use Recycle Coach’s real-time notifications to send your residents a message right to their mobile phone

Now you’ll be ready for an engaging Earth Day that your residents will want to be part of!