In partnership with: BC Used Oil Summer Ambassador Program 2013 Summary Report October 7, 2013 Prepared by: Ashkon Nowtash

Transcription

1 In partnership with: BC Used Oil Summer Ambassador Program 2013 Summary Report October 7, 2013 Prepared by: Ashkon Nowtash

2 Introduction On May 13 th, the BC Used Oil Management Association (BCUOMA) launched their eighth annual Summer Ambassador Program. Spreading the message one drop makes a difference, the Ambassadors spent four months touring over 100 communities around the province. The annual growth of the tour allowed a second team of Ambassadors to be added for the first time. Co op students Carmen Ang and Nadine Hoyt made up Team 1, while the partnership of Jordana Fridman and Sonia Sandhu formed Team 2. Both teams canvassed the province visiting used oil Recycling Centre Facilities (RCFs), meeting with district government officials, and attending local community events to promote responsible recycling of used oil, antifreeze and their respective materials. Following a successful 2012 tour during which many antifreeze collectors were recruited, this year s tour focused on spending more time in province wide districts, engaging smaller communities and individual RCFs. An additional team ensured that RCF feedback was detailed, as the Ambassadors were able to spend more time speaking with and educating the public. The two Ambassador teams were not only able to get in contact with all RCFs, but also gathered tailored feedback from each facility. This year s tour saw Tire Stewardship BC (TSBC) join as a Stewardship partner. The tire scrap recycling program, launched in 2007, became a large part of the Ambassadors education initiative, as the teams spent time visiting over 700 tire collection facilities. The tour also featured Product Care (PC) as a returning partner, while Electronic Products Recycling Association (EPRA) and Health Product Stewardship Association (HPSA) formerly known as ESABC and PCPSA respectively also returned for the third year running. The Ambassadors spent time visiting facilities specific to each Steward, while also gathering related government feedback. Outreach is one of the most vital components of the BCUOMA tour, and the 2013 tour saw an unprecedented amount of conversation with the public. While province wide media coverage provided a platform for the Ambassadors education initiative, traditional media was not the only form of communication. The Ambassadors took advantage of social media, using Twitter and writing an unprecedented number of blog posts. As evidenced by the growing number of RCFs that accept antifreeze, as well as by rising recovery rates, the Ambassador tour s annual public education is paying dividends. By combining social media presence with a strong community event attendance, the two Ambassador Teams were able to successfully reach a wide audience, ensuring BCUOMA s recycling initiative covered the majority of British Columbia. 2

3 Objectives Visit all RCFs and obtain relevant feedback from facilities Spend more time with individual facilities and the public in smaller communities Continue to build stronger relationships between BCUOMA and program stakeholders Reduce the number of night drop offs (NDOs) Continue to improve recovery rates for used oil and antifreeze recycling around British Columbia Drive traffic to the BCUOMA website, Twitter feed and Ambassador blog Encourage current RCFs to claim payment Targets Travel to 120+ municipalities Visit all RCFs Recruit new RCFs in select communities Meet with 20+ regional government contacts Secure 60+ media hits Attend 15+ community events Target Audience Return Collection Facilities Collecting individualized feedback from RCFs around British Columbia. Distributing collateral signage while filling registration and payment claim forms. Local government officials Building and maintaining existing relationships with regional district officials, gathering feedback on strengths and weaknesses of their district s recycling initiatives. Media Using different channels to promote awareness of the BCUOMA tour. Securing interviews with major newspapers, radio stations and online news sources. Public Meeting with a wide variety of community members across the province, ranging from inexperienced recyclers to do it yourselfers. Attending local environmental and automobile events. Key Messages The British Columbia Used Oil Management Association is a non profit organization that encourages British Columbians to properly recycle their used oil, used antifreeze and their respective materials at RCFs across the province. Launched in 2003, the goal of the BCUOMA Summer Ambassador Program is to continually offer British Columbians an environmentally friendly and cost effective solution to disposing of used oil, used antifreeze and their respective materials. BCUOMA relies on the active participation of 229 brand owner members, 39 collectors and processors, nearly 500 RCFs and more than 4,000 generators, making it easy to recycle these items. A key message this year was educating the public on the importance of recycling their used oil and antifreeze during business hours. 3

4 One drop of oil can contaminate a million drops of water. Using the slogan one drop makes a difference, the BCUOMA campaign aims to educate British Columbians to return used oil, filters and containers to RCFs for recycling. Recovery rates in British Columbia have risen dramatically since the program launched. The provincial rates are at an all time high for used motor oil (79.7%). Public education remains vital for increasing the program s success and, in turn, the protection of our environment. As of July 2011, BCUOMA has expanded its collection to include automotive antifreeze and antifreeze containers. Antifreeze recovery rates have risen (54.5%), while oil and antifreeze containers, combined, are being recovered at a strong rate (79.2%). Program Planning Tactics Executed Developed detailed and individual routes for each team to maximize efficiency of travel and community visits. With Team 1 visiting all of Vancouver Island, the Okanagan and Kootenays, and Team 2 visiting Northern BC, the Sunshine Coast, Whistler Squamish and Thompson Nicola, each team was able to maximize their efforts within each district, with smaller communities benefitting greatly. Attended relevant community events around the province to encourage responsible recycling of used oil and antifreeze and to hand out free collateral to the public. Determined which RCFs for BCUOMA, TSBC, PC, EPRA and HPSA would be visited in each community. Contacted and met with district government representatives around British Columbia, discussing updates to the BCUOMA program and identifying key issues each district faced. Used social media to promote key messages from BCUOMA and stakeholders. Increased Twitter and blog frequency; connected with the public, updated RCF visits and government meetings, and wrote about general travel adventures. Issued media advisories and news releases to all major dailies, community newspapers, local radio, and online communities in the municipalities visited. Facilitated interviews and photo opportunities as requested and monitored media for coverage. Ambassadors submitted weekly activity reports summarizing facilities visited and their feedback, events attended, government officials met, and photos that were taken. 4

5 Tools Expanding on recently developed creative, the BCUOMA Ambassadors were equipped this year with plenty of collateral and eye catching items. Attending events around the province, each team carried an oil splattered table cloth, branded oil spouts and squeegees, branded BCUOMA tents, and a sleek oildecaled Chevrolet Trax. These community engagements tools helped the Ambassadors stand out and communicate the importance of recycling used oil and antifreeze materials. RCF window clings o 2 versions: oil, antifreeze + oil Night drop off signs o 2 versions: oil, antifreeze + oil Branded Chevrolet Trax Branded Ambassador Uniforms BCUOMA brochures Branded tent Branded table top Branded oil spouts Branded ice scrapers Branded squeegees RCF and government contact forms TSBC info cards TSBC magnets Branded tire gauges PC brochures PC multilingual info cards EPRA recycling handbooks Both teams visited 134 different municipalities throughout the province this past summer, including communities in Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast, Whistler Squamish, Northern BC, Okanagan and Kootenays, the Thompson Nicola and the Lower Mainland/Fraser Valley. 5

6 Results Collection Facilities BCUOMA The Ambassadors visited or contacted all 495 BCUOMA Return Collection Facilities across the province. An additional 8 facilities were approached to be new recruits in the communities of Kitimat, Nelson, Creston, Sparwood and Elko. As a result of this outreach, information has been updated in the database and on the BCUOMA website to make it easier for consumers to find their local RCFs. Where applicable, the Ambassadors made note of address and facility name changes in order to update the BCUOMA database. RCF questionnaires and government meetings provided strong feedback on the BCUOMA program. The program received high praise from the vast majority of facility managers and government officials, while also gaining valuable feedback. Team 2 was able to take a tour of the Newalta facility in North Vancouver. They got a first hand look at the process of re refining used motor oil. TRIP/REGION # of Sites Visited Municipalities Visited # of Issue Sites # of Potential Registered RCFs # of Potential Recruited RCFs Metro Vancouver Trip 1: Vancouver Island North Trip 2: Northern BC Trip 3: Vancouver Island South Trip 4: Whistler Squamish Trip 5: Sunshine Coast Trip 6: Okanagan Kootenays Trip 7: Thompson Nicola Grand Total

7 TSBC The two teams visited a combined 715 TSBC facilities. The TSBC recycling program is very prominent with an abundance of tire collection facilities all over British Columbia. Stakeholders are very pleased with the initiatives and outcomes of the program. The biggest issue facing facilities around the province is inconsistent pick ups from haulers. Ambassadors were able to sign up many facilities for official R2R (return to retailer) status. Team 1 was able to receive a tour of the tire collection facility Western Rubber in Delta. This facility is where all the tires go after collection for processing into mulch and crumb rubber. Electronic Products Recycling Association Both teams visited a combined 45 EPRA facilities. Overall the program is successful and very popular; however, people are at times confused as to what materials are not accepted. Paint is the most common material brought in that cannot be taken. Some facility managers suggested including paint as part of the accepted materials. Health Product Stewardship Association The Ambassadors visited 53 HPSA facilities. For the second year running, many facility managers noted that there isn t much promotional awareness for HPSA; however, the program remains very successful and popular. Facility managers in different communities recommended signage in multiple languages particularly Mandarin and Hindi for placement in communities with a diverse population. Government representatives believe that their communities are underserved in terms of marketing for HPSA; however, districts such as Powell River have introduced education initiatives in the last year. Nevertheless, they all had positive comments regarding the program itself. Product Care Each Ambassador team visited 100 PC facilities, bringing the total to 200 PC facility visits. Many facilities doubled as either BCUOMA or HPSA collection facilities. TRIP/REGION TSBC PC EPRA HPSA Metro Vancouver Trip 1: Vancouver Island South Trip 2: Okanagan and Kootenays

8 Trip 3: Northern BC Trip 4: Vancouver Island North Trip 5: Thompson Nicola Trip 6: Whistler Squamish Trip 7: Sunshine Coast Grand Total Government Outreach The Ambassadors met with 18 district government officials to discuss updates to BCUOMA, TSBC, PC, EPRA and HPSA. The Ambassadors met with: Vancouver Island: Patrick Donaghy Mount Waddington Regional District Sharon Horsbugh Nanaimo Regional District Stephanie Kennedy Comox Valley Regional District Drew Fafard Capital Regional District Kathleen Milward Cowichan Valley Regional District Janice Hill Alberni Clayoquot Regional District Okanagan and Kootenays: Kevin Paterson East Kootenay Regional District Wendy Bennett Okanagan Similkameen Regional District Nicole Ward Central Kootenay Regional District Northern BC: Rachael Ryder Fraser Fort George Regional District Paulo Eichelberger Peace River Regional District Tammy Hrab Northern Environmental Action Team (NEAT) Carolynn Lane Bulkley Nechalko Regional District Tim DesChamps Skeena Queen Charlotte Regional District Thompson Nicola: Martin Dickinson Thompson Nicola Regional District Lower Mainland and Sunshine Coast: Heidi Gerlach Fraser Valley Regional District Sean McGinn Powell River Regional District Janis Netzel Squamish Lillooet Regional District *Please see Appendix A for detailed notes on feedback and suggestions. 8

9 Media coverage Traditional media coverage was strong for the Ambassadors this year. Conducting interviews on the radio and in print, the Ambassadors discussed key educational initiatives they were pushing across the province. The interviews consisted of teaching the importance of recycling during business hours, while explaining how people in any community could locate their nearest RCF media efforts resulted in 53 interviews, yielding 45 hits across different mediums around the province. The media hits resulted in 971,000 impressions. Coverage was secured with the following media outlets: 5 media hits in Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley: North Shore Outlook, Coquitlam Now, Lillooet News, Burnaby Now, BCLocalNews.com (North Shore Outlook) 9 media hits on Vancouver Island: Campbell River Mirror, 99.7FM The River, The Westerly News, BCLocalNews.com (Parksville), Parksville News, Cowichan Valley Citizen, CIBH Parksville, BCLocalNews.com (Campbell River) 93.3FM Port Alberni, 13 media hits in Northern BC: CKCQ The Wolf Quesnel, Prince George The Wolf, Prince George Community Radio, HQ Prince George, Quesnel Cariboo Observer, Omineca Express, Houston Today, BCLocalNews.com (Terrace), Terrace Standard, Alaska Highway News, Interior News Smithers, CHWF FM The Wolf 16 media hits in the Okanagan/Kootenays: Grand Forks Gazette, BCLocalNews.com (Trail), Castlegar News, Trail Daily Times, Kimberly Daily Bulletin, Fernie Free Press, BCLocalNews (Fernie), Golden Star, Creston Valley Advance, Rossland News, BCLocalNews.com (Castlegar), Vernon Morning Star, The Daily Courier, Peachland News, Columbia Valley Pioneer News Am 1150, 7 media hits in the Thompson Nicola: Clearwater Times, 100 Mile Free Press, Williams Lake Tribune, Ashcroft Cache Creek Journal, Rush FM Williams Lake, Wolf 570AM Williams Lake, CHNL AM Kamloops 3 media hits in Sunshine Coast/Whistler Squamish: The Hope Standard, 95.7FM Sun Powell River, Squamish Chief 9

10 Community events 10

11 Events There was a major focus on event attendance during this year s BCUOMA tour. Throughout the summer, the Recycling Ambassadors attended 15 events across the province. At these events, Ambassadors were able to interact with communities and educate people in person. The BCUOMA vendors were always a popular attraction, providing informational material on the Stewards, while also handing out popular promotional items such as squeegees, oil spouts and tire gauges. Events were selected based on the attendance from previous years, the prevalence in the community and relevant environmental and auto themes. The Ambassadors handed out an abundance of free collateral material to the public, interacted with the audience and educated people on properly recycling used oil, antifreeze and scrap tires. Collateral such as oil spouts, squeegees and tire gauges were immensely popular; specifically at auto shows. The Ambassadors education varied depending on their audience. They were able to explain the basics of responsible recycling to enthusiasts, while ably conversing with DYIs as well. The decaled car served as a great backdrop at most events, and was also responsible for drawing attention and driving traffic to the BCUOMA vendors. The Ambassadors included TSBC information into their education initiative this year; informing people on the process of recycling tires, the benefits of recycling, and where to find their nearest RCF. The team was also able to educate and answer questions relating to Product Care, EPRA and HPSA. Promotions reached over 81,000 British Columbians. 11

12 Event Summaries Events Date Comments Kingsway Tire Round Up Vancouver 11/05/13 The first event for Team 1 was a great introduction to BCUOMA and TSBC. The tire round up demographic was almost solely DIYs, which allowed the Team 1 to converse with people familiar to responsible oil recycling. Green Month at Science World Burnaby Coastal Swap Meet Abbotsford Landfill Open House Vancouver Model A Event Fort Langley Skeena Tour Concert Terrace 11/05/13 The audience was mainly environmentally conscience people. It wasn t the busiest event; however, there were a lot of families there as the event was held at Science World. A good event to attend since the demographic wasn t well informed on oil recycling. 25/05/13 This automobile event has been held annually for the past 44 years. It is highly popular and well known event in Abbotsford, attended by everyone ranging from DIYs to families of all ages. It is highly recommended that the Ambassadors return next year to the all day event. 01/06/13 It was an all day event that many people attended. There was a wide variety of age groups, ranging from children to the elderly. The crowd ranged from DIYs to curious people who wanted to learn more about recycling. Boxes of squeegees and tire gauges were handed out. 02/06/13 The majority of people talked to were DIYs who were curious to learn where to recycle their oil and antifreeze. The event was attended mostly by car enthusiasts who were happy that oil spouts and tire gauges were available. 07/06/13 Skeena Tour Concert is an annual family oriented event in Terrace. It was great to have the opportunity to educate people on proper recycling methods. Many families were enthusiastic to learn about BCUOMA. Skeena Tour is an event that the whole community is familiar with, it is extremely popular in Terrace. The informational brochures were popular. Dueck Auto Show Richmond 16/06/13 The majority of the crowd was father son, as the event held on the weekend of Father s Day. The collateral proved popular with many people, while many of the children were interested in learning about the recycling processes through props. There were many DIYs in attendance. Victoria Swap Meet Saanichton Dueck Auto Show Vancouver BC Corvette Show & Shine North Vancouver Edmonds Fair Show & Shine Burnaby Kars Under K Auto Show Keremeos 23/06/13 This was one of the busiest events of the year. People were reluctant to visit the table at first, since there were so many vendors selling products, however table got very busy when people saw that the Ambassadors were there for educational purposes. Collateral was well appreciated. 07/07/13 The demographic at the auto show was car enthusiasts and many DIYs. It would be a great event to attend regularly, as this was the inaugural show at the downtown Vancouver location. Many classic cars on site, which drove traffic to the show. Many oil spouts were handed out. 07/07/13 The event was held in a beautiful location at a park by the water, which brought crowds of all ages, particularly many families. The event was filled with DIYs who were happy with the collateral handed out. It wasn t the busiest event, however most people stopped by the BCUOMA table. 21/07/13 Attendance at this event was very high, as many people came to see the classic cars and motorcycles. It was the perfect event for BCUOMA to set up as a vendor, since there were car enthusiasts of all ages attending. The tire gauges and oil spouts were very popular, and people were interested in learning about locations to recycle their antifreeze. 04/08/13 The 13 th annual Kars Under K Auto Show had a strong attendance throughout the day. It is a very popular all day event in Keremeos, withe car enthusiasts and families attending. It is recommended that the Ambassador program return to the event next year. People were very well informed on oil and antifreeze recycling. 12

13 Hot Nite in the City Kamloops Poco Car Show Port Coquitlam Burnaby Eco Centre Burnaby 10/08/13 A very popular and busy annual event in Kamloops, there was a wide range of demographics. The event was over 7 hours long, however there was constant stream of traffic. The car was very effective at catching people s attention, and attracting them to the booth. Many squeegees and brochures were handed out 18/08/13 The demographic was car enthusiasts, although it was more of an all ages oriented event than other car shows. Our booth was located in the kids zone, so many families visited us. Most people recycled their own oil and antifreeze, however many people were still curious about BCUOMA. Many oil spouts and brochures were handed out. 07/09/13 The event was hosted at the opening of Burnaby s brand new eco centre; a clean and modern facility. The table was conveniently placed in front of the oil recycling tank and beside the Product Care table. It was a short event, but well attended. The demographic was almost solely recycling enthusiasts, as it is an all purpose recycling facility. We handed out several boxes of collateral in a little over two hours. UOMA website The website received steady traffic during 2013, with 21,017 unique visitors and over 93,000 pages visited. The blog received 976 unique visitors and 3,154 pages visited. The website was updated with new Ambassador photos. The website saw an increase in traffic throughout the summer. Social media Unprecedented number of blog posts 76 entries. Focus on driving traffic to the BCUOMA website and Twitter. Maintained 772 Twitter followers. Nearly 200 tweets and many retweets by automobile centres, district governments and persons on Twitter. Blogged about facility visits, events attended and personal adventures of the Ambassadors. Many entertaining photos aimed at engaging users on the blog. KEY LEARNINGS BCUOMA Not all facilities were aware that they could be reimbursed for collecting. A part of the Ambassadors education providing them with appropriate forms. The most common issue plaguing facilities, as stated by facility managers, was night drop offs and the resulting spills and contamination. Due to strong initiatives and education by BCUOMA, not only have recovery rates risen, but the number of facilities that accept antifreeze has increased as well. 13

14 Summer Ambassador Program Major stakeholders were overwhelmingly happy with the Summer Ambassador Program. Many government officials specifically noted that BCUOMA s efforts have seen a visible annual rise in public education. Adding a second Ambassador Team afforded the Ambassadors the prospect to spend more time in smaller communities and engage the public. However, there is the opportunity to visit even more municipalities and communities next year, particularly rural areas around the province. Online (website and social media) BCUOMA does well in traditional media on an annual basis; however, there is strong potential for growth in non traditional media. Although the Ambassadors did a consistent job at updating their tour status on Twitter, it would be beneficial to create an over arching hashtag. Tweeting at facilities and district communities they visit will create the opportunity for more conversation and engagement on Twitter. Next year s tour should look into creating a Facebook page and an Instagram account. There were photos posted up on the blog, but Facebook and Instagram are much better mediums for this; particularly for posting event photos. A benefit of using Instagram would be better connection and conversation, as the Ambassadors would be able to tag facilities and the public at events. Building connections with a younger demographic is beneficial as well, as responsible recycling is building momentum with younger age groups. Numerous automobile bloggers have appeared recently. It would be highly favourable to build a connection with these bloggers next year. There is an opportunity for the bloggers to write about the Ambassador tour or simply highlight the BCUOMA website. Events Events were highlighted as a focus for the Ambassadors this year; they attended 15 events in different communities. Some government representatives, such as Sean McGinn in Powell River, would like the Ambassadors to visit events in their community. The tour should attempt to send the Ambassadors to as many different communities as possible for events. Collateral Materials The BCUOMA collateral was very popular this year particularly the squeegees. People liked this year s brochures, as they were informative and straightforward. Facilities noted that they would like to see the NDO signs state that oil should not be dropped off outside of store hours in bold lettering. Future creative could see the sign state Do not drop off outside of store hours in big lettering or have an empty space where individual RCFs can write in their own store hours. TSBC The majority of facilities are willing to take part in the scrap tire collection program because of great environmental and societal benefits. The major issue plaguing facilities is the lack of consistent pick ups from tire haulers. The issue was mostly highlighted by tire collection facilities in smaller communities. 14

15 The TSBC collateral was very popular, particularly the tire gauges. Since this was TSBC s first year on the tour and they were a prominent partnership, it would be helpful to incorporate TSBC into the Ambassadors media training next year. EPRA Have EPRA provide a list of RCFs they would like the Ambassadors to visit. This will help prioritize facilities that need attention. The EPRA Recycling Handbooks are extremely popular. Facility managers expressed their opinion that paint should be accepted by EPRA facilities. HPSA Medications Return Program Many smaller communities only have one or two HPSA facilities, but there do not appear to be any problems with lack of service. The public, facility managers and government representatives are all happy with the program. POS education is one area where the HPSA program could improve, as was noted by several pharmacists and government representatives. An interesting idea suggested by several pharmacists was having signage written in other languages. Some communities, particularly in Metro Vancouver, have ethnically diverse populations. Product Care Some facilities, particularly London Drugs, did not wish to disclose their information. It would be helpful for PC to provide a list of priority RCFs to help target facilities that need attention. Car rental The vehicle, as it was a compact cross over, allowed more room for storage, which was helpful for longer trips. It was a safe, reliable and easy car for the Ambassadors to drive. Some stakeholders commented that an environmental stewardship such as BCUOMA may be wise to consider a hybrid vehicle in the future. 15

16 Tour Summary Tour Summary Media hits Events attended Government meetings Blog posts Blog visits (unique) Blog visits (total) ,423 1,679 UOMA website visits (unique) UOMA website visits (total) 18,677 20,031 22,727 21,017 29,180 34,711 33,617 30,867 16

17 Appendix A: Government feedback *feedback on the Product Care Program from local governments and others was removed at the request of Product Care Metro Vancouver/Fraser Valley Contact/Meeting Details District: Squamish Lillooet Contact: Janis Nitzel Position: Director of Utilities and Environmental Services Date: July 16, 2013 Time: 2:00pm Address: 1350 Aster Street City/Town: Pemberton Telephone Number: ext. 240 BCUOMA The people in the region are familiar with all of the programs. The region is underserved in the amount of places that people can bring back their oil. Janis believes the area could use one or two more locations that take back used oil. Although the community is underserved, people are very knowledgeable and haven t complained about the longer drives to facilities. The regional district is doing a great job at promoting the stewardships independently. Suggestions/Action Items/Questions: The transfer station is usually open four days a week. Janis is interested in holding a tire round up. District: Fraser Valley Contact: Heidi Gerlach Position: Senior Environmental Service Specialist Date: July 26, 2013 Time: 11:00am Address: Cheam Avenue City/Town: Chilliwack Telephone Number: BCUOMA could raise more awareness about the program specifically relating to the recycling of antifreeze materials. Chilliwack is a very well informed community regarding responsible recycling. The City of Chilliwack does a great job. Used oil is the most returned material in relation to oil containers and filters. The bans seem to be working well as less and less of these Stewardship products are ending up in the landfill. Chilliwack hosts household hazardous waste collection events annually. Chilliwack is very well served in terms of RCFs. 17

18 Suggestions/Action Items/Questions: Heidi suggested that BCUOMA promote antifreeze specifically and provide more signage for retailers to increase customer knowledge about antifreeze. Heidi also suggested that gas stations mark their collection bins with a large sign that clearly indicates their purpose. This would prevent the public from throwing garbage in them. Vancouver Island South District: Nanaimo Contact: Sharon Horsbugh Position: Senior Waste Coordinator Date: June 21, 2013 Time: 9:30am Address: 6300 Hammond Bay Road City/Town: Nanaimo Postal Code: Telephone Number: Sharon is well informed regarding the Stewardships and is also passionate about each program. Sharon was grateful that we met and are visiting the collection facilities. About three times a year the Nanaimo District sends out newsletters in the mail to residents regarding the stewards and recycling. Strict bans are in place to inhibit the improper disposal of recyclable materials. The bans have curbed illegal dumping of materials. Suggestions/Action Items/Questions: Sharon suggested that there should be more R&D so that materials can be recycled more easily. People have become much more informed over the last year due to the efforts by the Nanaimo District. Nanaimo landfill does not accept tires. District: Capital Contact: Drew Fafard Position: Supervisor of Safety and Technology Services Date: June 28, 2013 Time: 9:00am Address: 1 Hartland Avenue (Hartland Operations) City/Town: Victoria Postal Code: V1C 3H8 Telephone Number: Drew believes that the collection of oil containers could improve. Currently, Newalta subcontracts the container collection to Nu Plastics, who are extremely inconsistent. Household Hazardous Waste collection events are held, at which the stewardship programs are heavily promoted. BCUOMA itself is a great program. Drew reports that the tipping fees have curbed illegal dumping since the recycling depot takes the products for free. There is a community recycling calendar which includes information about the stewardship programs. Suggestions/Action Items/ Questions: Drew suggests that more awareness could be raised about free drop offs. This would not only encourage. recycling, but also continue to curb illegal/night drop offs. 18

19 District: Cowichan Valley Contact: Kathleen Milward Position: Environmental Technologist Date: July 29, 2013 Time: 9:00am Address: 9849 Aberdeen Road City/Town: Duncan Telephone Number: Vancouver Island North District: Mount Waddington Contact: Patrick Donaghy Position: Manager of Operations Date: May 23, 2013 Time: 11:00am Address: 2044 McNeill Road City/Town: Port McNeill Telephone: District: Comox Valley Contact: Stephanie Kennedy Position: Assistant Manager of Waste Services Date: June 24, 2013 Time: 2:30pm Address: 600 Comox Road City/Town: Courtenay Kathleen was very glad that the BCUOMA tour came through the Cowichan Valley District. Unfortunately illegal dumping still occurs, mainly with couches. The CVRD has their own Recyclepedia. Kathleen believes BCUOMA is a great program and works well for the community. Suggestions/Action Items/Questions: Kathleen would like find out more information of the Recycle BC campaign, and incorporate it into the Cowichan Valley education. Patrick Donaghy is very well informed about the stewards and their programs. A problem arises when businesses are obligated to take contaminated oil from customers as they get charged by the collectors for this oil. RCFs are happy with the collectors service. 7 mile Recycling Centre is central and a large part of the recycling community, but Patrick feels it is understaffed. Word is getting out about the program through POS, media advertising and word of mouth. Less oil and antifreeze materials are put into the landfill due to monitoring, penalty fees and public awareness. Night drop offs are kept to a minimum because the people in the community are familiar with one another. Suggestions/Action Items/Questions: Patrick states that a solution is needed for small island communities such as Alert Bay, Sointula and the community of Woss. Residents are unable to dispose their oil in those locations. Work towards a program which accepts tires with rims, as the R2Rs take their time and labour to complete this procedure when a OTR tire is dropped off. Stephanie believes that community outreach is an effective tool in educating the public on recycling. Courtenay has charges in place that discourage the improper disposal of recyclable materials. An educator visits schools to teach the public about recycling and also attends community events. Other community outreach initiatives include signs around the landfill, the creation of a Facebook page and 19

20 Telephone: District: Alberni Clayoquot Contact: Janice Hill Position: Environmental Services Assistant Date: August 20, 2013 Time: 1:00pm Address: th Ave City/Town: Port Alberni Telephone: Northern BC District: Fraser Fort George Contact: Rachael Ryder Position: Waste Diversion Program Leader Date: May 29, 2013 Time: 2:00 pm Address: 6595 Foothills Boulevard City/Town: Prince George Telephone: advertising in the local paper. Suggestions/Action Items/Questions: Stephanie would like to work towards creating a one stop recycling depot where the public can bring all their products. Stephanie suggests that the haulers provide more staff to help load the trucks. The program is going well and there are no major issues. Used oil is the most returned material in relation to oil containers and filters. The district sends out mail and advertises in the local newspaper. Bans are not necessary because the public is well aware of the programs and stewardships. There are many DIYs in the community. Janice believes that the public is well educated on responsible recycling. The landfill is not experiencing NDOs. Port Alberni is well served in terms of RCFs. Suggestions/Actions/Questions: Janice believes that creating a one stop Recycling Centre for people to drop off all their stewardship products would be the ideal situation for the community. Rachel is very happy with the reduced amount of night drop offs. Great to see that there is a good amount of awareness about recycling used oil and antifreeze in Prince George. Regular pick ups of used oil and used antifreeze. There are no night drop offs of oil and antifreeze at the landfill. Suggestions/Action Items/Questions: The district office is not getting paid for the collection of used oil and antifreeze. In May, they were charged $52.50 for collection of antifreeze by Calgary Newalta. In Mackenzie, metal collection containers were substituted for plastic containers unsuitable for storing used oil. Rachel wants to know if BCUOMA could help them get safer, more appropriate containers. Suggested the use of recycling stickers with relevant 20

21 District: Peace River Contact: Paulo Eichelberger Position: Manager of Solid Waste Services Date: June 17, 2013 Time: 9:00 am Address: 1981 Alaska Avenue City/Town: Dawson Creek Telephone: District: Bulkley Nechako Contact: Carolynn Lane Position: Sustainability Assistant Date: July 2, 2013 Time: 1:30 pm Address: 37 3 rd Avenue City/Town: Burns lake Telephone: recycling information on all products to better assist and educate the public. Paulo is wondering if there is funding available for advertising for NEAT. Would like to receive a recycling binder. A lot of people see the communication from neat.ca resulting in increased awareness in the community. The transfer stations are trying to become a one stop drop off station. Paulo likes how the Ambassador tour enables annual feedback. Suggestions/Action Items/Questions: There continues to be oil abuse in transfer stations. People still do not know where to take their oil/antifreeze. How often is the Recyclepedia App updated? People have used it before and taken their items to an RCF on the list and the RCF turned them down. Paulo would really like to see constant updates. Would like to see more communication with NEAT regarding consulting on marketing strategies in the northern area. There should be a higher focus on the collection of tires in landfills due to the available space. Programs seem to be working well. They are very happy with the BCUOMA program. General public is still learning about the stewardships and where to take their materials, but everyone is very keen to recycle responsibly. The transfer stations all have adequate amount of signage. BNDR will add stewardships links onto their websites. Public education has grown rapidly in the last year alone. Suggestions/Action Items/Questions: Would be great if there were a handful of facilities that took back most, if not all materials. They have bans in place for tires. Although transfer stations do not accept tires, they advertise the facilities where tires can be taken for recycling. Organization: Northern Environmental Action Team (NEAT) Would like increased communication between S 21

22 Contact: Carin Mason Bennet Position: Program Coordinator Contact: Tammy Hrab Position: Communications Coordinator Date: July 12, 2013 Time: 1:00 pm Address: Street City/Town: Fort St John Telephone: District: Skeena Queen Charlotte Contact: Tim DesChamps Position: Solid Waste Manager Date: July 25, 2013 Time: 3:00 pm Address: 251 Kaein Road City/Town: Prince Rupert Telephone: Okanagan/Kootenays District: East Kootenay Contact: Kevin Paterson Position: Manager of Environmental Services tewardships and NEAT to discuss best communication techniques in communities from Chetwynd to Fort Nelson. Press releases seem to be a more effective communication method than advertisements. There is a strong community of DIYs in the region. NEAT is established as the go to organization for information about recycling events and stewardships. They do extensive communication work to solve issues regarding businesses accepting recyclable materials in various communities. Helped organize tire round up in Fort St. John. Suggestions/Action Items/Questions: Would like collection of photos of Stewardship (preferably a gallery) to include in public releases. Would like a updated list of registered facilities. Suggested increased communication among different Stewardships. They would benefit from being in communication with all stewardships. Suggested placement of agreements among transfer stations, stewardship and govt. programs to increase efficiency for consumers. Suggested distribution of TSBC magnets by including one in every recycling calendar. Would like updated list of R2Rs and non R2Rs. BCUOMA could raise more awareness about the program and further educate residents about the proper recycling of oil and antifreeze materials. Tim DesChamps is well aware of the Stewardships and their effectiveness in the Skeena Queen Charlotte district. The bans are curbing illegal dumping of products. Prince Rupert is well served in terms of RCFs. Suggestions/Action Items/Questions: The district teams up with the Stewardship programs and mails out a flyer that lists where to take recyclable products. They call it the Waste Watcher s Directory. Tim suggested that BCUOMA advertise locally and educate residents about the program. Newspaper and radio advertisements are the most effective. The landfill encourages the public to return their stewardship products to the retailers. Currently, Cranbrook has no bans in place to prohibit the 22

23 Date: August 27, 2013 Time: 12:30 pm Address: th Avenue South City/Town: Cranbrook Telephone Number: District: Okanagan Similkameen Contact: Wendy Bennett Position: Solid Waste Facilities Assistant Date: August 28, 2013 Time: 9:00 am Address: City/Town: Penticton Telephone: District: Central Kootenay Contact: Nicole Ward Position: Environmental Services Coordinator Date: August 29, 2013 Time: 2:00 pm Address: City/Town: Telephone: improper disposal of PC products. Promote stewardship programs through public service announcements. There have been additional advertisements in the local newspaper, which include information about the stewardship programs at local venues. There is a high level of enthusiasm about recycling in Cranbrook. Suggestions/Action Items/Questions: Cranbrook needs more depots to accommodate the high level of interest, especially the rural communities. Word of mouth is an effective communication technique in Penticton. Education of responsible recycling is strong in the community. Currently, Penticton has bans in place that prohibit the improper disposal of PC products. Penticton has a Reuse, Recycle and & Safety Disposal Guide which educates residents about the many recycling options available in their community. They mail out a brochure that educates residents about the different Stewardship Programs called the Reuse, Recycle & Safe Disposal Guide. The community is well served by RCFs. They include information about PC on their website. Penticton has a thorough recycling calendar filled with information. Suggestions/Action Items/Questions: The importance of dropping off stewardship products during regular business hours should be highlighted in the education. Set up a one stop facility where the public can bring all of their stewardship products. Feels that the recycling stewards can advertise more in the local newspaper, particularly when new materials such as antifreeze are added. Nicole will be interested in a recycling calendar after the RecycleBC movement takes place. Suggestions/Action Items/Questions: Rural areas need frequent and consistent pick ups, as the collectors are not able to support the level of drop offs from the public. 23

24 Nicole would like to see more advertising through local newspapers. Thompson Nicola District: Thompson Nicola Contact: Martin Dickinson Position: Environmental Services Technologist Date: August 14, 2013 Time: 1:00 pm Address: 660 Mission Flats Road (Public Works Building) City/Town: Kamloops Telephone: Sunshine Coast District: Powell River Contact: Sean McGinn Position: Manager of Community Services Date: July 29, 2013 Time: 1:00pm Address: # Marine Avenue City/Town: Powell River Telephone: Signage and location of transfer stations (being located out of town) have decreased the number of NDOs. TNRD has a by law in place that prohibits items from landfills, but this law is not enforced yet. Positives According to the feedback received from the community, the public loves the program! They appreciate the opportunity to responsibly recycle. Materials given out: 10 BCUOMA posters, 10 BCUOMA window clings, 30 TSBC info cards, 1 pack of TSBC magnets, 10 EPRA handbooks, 1 Alarm recycle info card, 5 MRP brochures, 20 PC brochures, 40 BCUOMA brochures, 30 Light recycle brochures. Suggestions/Action Items/Questions: Some Canadian Tire staff have refused to accept used oil; they should be educated accordingly (contact did not know which stores specifically). Would like to know if transfer stations and eco depots require a BC Generator number in order to accept used oil. There does not seem to be an issue with improper disposal of Stewardship products. The public is fairly aware of BCUOMA. The public is well educated and informed on recycling.. Sean was happy to hear that the Stewardship programs will be merging together under the name Recycle BC. Sean believes that the community is well served. The district sends out a Waste Management Team to visit schools and educate students about recycling. Sean wants to include information about BCUOMA on their website. Suggestions/Action Items/Questions: There are events scheduled for next summer that 24

25 Ambassadors could attend if they get in touch with Sean ahead of time. Appendix B: Media Summary # MEDIA DATE HEADLINE NOTES Lower Mainland/Fraser Valley 1 North Shore Outlook 23 May 13 B.C. Used Oil Ambassadors Visit North Van 2 BCLocalNews 24 May 13 B.C. Used Oil Ambassadors Stop in North Van 3 Coquitlam Now 10 July 13 Recycle that old oil, tires 4 Lillooet News 14 July 13 Recycling Ambassadors 5 Burnaby 31 July 13 Recycling Program Collects Oil, Antifreeze and Tire Caption talks about the BCUOMA Ambassadors stopping in North Vancouver during their cross province tour. Provides the website to find your nearest local RCF. Caption talks about the BCUOMA Ambassadors stopping in North Van during their cross province tour. Provides the website to find your nearest local RCF. Article notes the Ambassadors stopping in Coquitlam for three days during their province wide tour to promote responsible recycling of oil, antifreeze and tires. Caption notes the Ambassadors visiting Lillooet on behalf of BCUOMA and TSBC. Touring the province to promote responsible recycling. Caption explains the Ambassadors visit to a tire collection facility in Burnaby. Notes the Ambassadors are touring the province on behalf of BCUOMA and TSBC. 25

26 # MEDIA DATE HEADLINE NOTES VANCOUVER ISLAND AND SUNSHINE COAST FM The River 24 May 13 Radio The Ambassadors highlighted the importance of recycling used oil during regular business hours. Noted the importance of proper disposal, as one drop of oil can contaminate a million drops of water. 2 Campbell River Mirror 29 May 13 Students Spread Importance of Every Drop 3 BCLocalNews 30 May 13 Students Spread Importance of Every Drop 4 CIBH FM Parksville 5 The Peak 93.3FM Port Alberni 6 The Parksville Qualicum Beach News Article talks about the Ambassadors being co op students who are visiting facilities all across the province, spreading the important messages of One drop makes a difference and Every drop. Every tread. Every day. Article talks about the Ambassadors being co op students who are visiting facilities all across the province, spreading the important messages of One drop makes a difference and Every drop. Every tread. Every day. 31 May 13 Radio The interviewer was curious to learn about the tour, how long it had existed and what the main goals are. The Ambassadors highlighted the rising recovery rates since the beginning of the tour. 31 May 13 Radio The Ambassadors noted a number of facilities they would be visiting on the Island, along with where their tour is taking them. Ambassadors highlighted antifreeze introduced to their annual tour two years ago. 4 June 13 Ambassadors of Used Oil Visit Parksville 7 BCLocalNews 4 June 13 Ambassadors of Used Oil Visit Parksville 8 The Westerly News 9 Cowichan Valley Citizen 6 June 12 3 July 13 Recycling Ambassadors Hit Town Save 1 Million Drops of Water Article speaks about the BCUOMA Ambassadors who are stopping in Parksville to promote their message and keep materials out of landfills. Article speaks about the BCUOMA Ambassadors who are stopping in Parksville to promote their message and keep materials out of landfills. Article notes the Ambassadors who are visiting RCFs all over Vancouver Island, stopping by the community of Ucluelet, to minimize contamination in landfills. Article talks about the BCUOMA Ambassadors touring the province and promoting the message that one drop of oil can contaminate one million drops of water. 26

27 # MEDIA DATE HEADLINE NOTES Okanagan Kootenays 1 Trail Daily Times 8 Aug 13 2 Castlegar News 9 Aug 13 Used Oil and Tire Recycling Ambassadors Visit Trail Every Drop Matters with Oil Recycling 3 BCLocalNews 9 Aug 13 Every Drop Matters with Oil Recycling 4 Kimberely Daily Bulletin 12 Aug 13 Ambassadors Kick Off Eight Annual Province Wide Tour 5 The Free Press 12 Aug 13 Do the Right Thing with Used Oil and Tires Recycle! 6 BCLocalNews 14 Aug 13 Do the Right Thing with Used Oil and Tires Recycle! 7 Grand Forks Gazette 14 Aug 13 Used Oil Ambassadors Visit 8 BCLocalNews 14 Aug 13 Used Oil and Tire Recycling Ambassadors Visit Trail 9 Rossland News 14 Aug 13 Used and Recycled Article explains the annual BCUOMA tour that takes places. Introduces the Ambassadors as co op students canvassing the province to promote proper disposal of used oil, antifreeze and tires. Thorough article that explains the summer recycling tour. The Ambassadors are touring the province in their oil decaled car, promoting the message that one drop of oil can contaminate a million drops of water Thorough article that explains the summer recycling tour. The Ambassadors are touring the province in their oil decaled car, promoting the message that one drop of oil can contaminate a million drops of water Article explains the tour s history and what it aims to achieve across the province. Article highlights the usedoilrecycling.com website to find your nearest collector. Article mentions a number of facilities the Ambassadors visited in Fernie, and what they were aiming to achieve with the tour. Ambassadors highlight the importance of disposing oil properly. Article mentions a number of facilities the Ambassadors visited in Fernie, and what they were aiming to achieve with the tour. Ambassadors highlight the importance of disposing oil properly. Ambassadors mention the history of the tour, how it s the eighth annual tour, and name a few facilities that they were to visit in Grand Forks. Article explains the annual BCUOMA tour that takes places. Introduces the Ambassadors as co op students canvassing the province to promote proper disposal of used oil, antifreeze and tires. The article highlights the importance of responsible recycling of used oil and how the eighth annual tour was stopping in Rossland to spread awareness. The Ambassadors highlighted the importance of disposing of antifreeze, a recent addition to the tour. 27