Green Museum Trash

Environmental communication - sharing information about environmental messages in ways that inspire others to take personal action - is a growing field. It has so many layers of application that it can be overwhelming. It begins with basic clarity; it makes no assumptions of pre-existing knowledge; and it encourages people to make thoughtful choices by giving them information and encouragement to make those thoughtful choices.

As I embark on learning more about this, I have collected - and people send me - interesting examples.  This one makes sure you know that what goes in here ends up in the landfill - "you sure that's trash?"

Thanks to Tori Snell for this photo from the College of William & Mary

And this one makes sure you know specifically what goes to compost, to recycle and then - when all else fails - the dreaded landfill.

Mother Earth News Fair - PA 2012

 

Do your bins communicate?

A Few Recycling Ideas II

Minnesota Science Center, St. Paul

The last post on this topic showed recycling systems - major installations of multiple streams (not multi-stream) of recycling in one well-signed receptable. Well if your museum has no appropriate space or need for the large bins, here are some smaller options to consider.
You can place smaller systems in small places, and larger ones in larger places. You need not choose a one-for-everywhere apporach. Green is very local sometimes.

Remember how we've discussed the importance of a trash bin with the recycling or you just end up with all the trash and recycling in one bin?  Well here are some examples of trash (or trash and compost) bins no one will separate:

US Botanic Garden, Washington, DC

 

Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore

My favorite is the blue/green bin at US Botanic Garden. It communicates well because its shape is an internationally-recognized garbage can shape; because the disposal opening shapes communicate the different types of appropriate items; and the blue/green split uses color coding we are increasingly recognizing as blue for recycle, green for garbage. And, of course, these bins, like the others do not get separated.

This option doesn't allow much branding by your institution becuase the sides are the tradiational anchored garban can holder, But then you may not need to generate andy more branding material, anyway.

The Science Center's option is a VERY close second because it has a composting section. Okay - maybe it's becoming my favorite. Composting is the Next Frontier for recyclers.

So - have you spotted any good trash/recycle pairings we should know about?

Twelve Days of a Green Christmas at the Historic Site

On the first day of Christmas, donors sent the historic site a much-needed energy audit

On the second day of Christmas, donors sent the historic site Two stormwater cisterns

On the third day of Christmas, donors sent the historic site a Three-part compost bin

On the fourth day of Christmas, donors sent the historic site Four solar golf carts

On the fifth day of Christmas, donors sent the historic site Five miles of window seal tape

On the sixth day of Christmas, donors sent the historic site Six chimney pillows

On the seventh day of Christmas, donors sent the historic site Seven heritage cattle

On the eighth of Christmas, donors sent the historic site Eight rooms of insulation

On the ninth day of Christmas, donors sent the historic site Nine hens a laying

On the tenth day of Christmas, donors sent the historic site Ten recycle bins

On the eleventh day of Christmas, donors sent the historic site Eleven storm window inserts

On the twelfth day of Christmas, donors sent the historic site Twelve Compact Fluorescents