In 2025, the Boston Mountain Solid Waste District (BMSWD), with support from The Recycling Partnership (The Partnership), launched a multifaceted education and engagement campaign to strengthen recycling in Springdale, Arkansas.
The campaign, based on proven approaches The Partnership has tested and refined for years, achieved prompt change: Contamination went down and participation went up. The results set the stage for even further recycling progress in Springdale — part of a larger, strategic effort detailed in the Northwest Arkansas Recycling Roadmap.
Key Takeaways
Physical mailers boosted engagement across households.
Website visits, QR scans, and chatbot activity spiked immediately following mail delivery, and 19% of feedback mailer recipients corrected contamination behavior after receiving just one mailer, confirming that targeted, tangible outreach remains a powerful tool for action.
In-home recycling bins lifted participation — and surfaced gaps.
A whopping 89% of bin recipients used the bin and average set out increased 23%. But surveys revealed broad uncertainty about what happens to recycling and potential barriers related to bin size. This highlights the need to pair infrastructure with clearer education and system transparency.
Contamination declined, but continued education is needed.
System audits showed a 6% reduction in unacceptable materials, which is more modest than comparable projects. BMSWD and The Partnership are developing a phase two outreach strategy including other proven strategies using personalized feedback that could yield stronger results.
Next Steps
Every project yields insights that get funneled into the next one. This loop of testing, learning, and tweaking is how The Partnership has steadily achieved gains in communities across the country.
Acting on data from this campaign, Springdale and The Partnership will update designs, highlight glass recycling, and develop messaging that helps with transparency and building trust. Welcome kits for new residents and more in-home bins will be provided to further increase participation.
This continuing work with BMSWD and the city of Springdale is a foundation for standardizing recycling education and outreach across Northwest Arkansas — an essential tactic to reach the Northwest Arkansas Recycling Roadmap’s goals of increasing both participation and tons collected 25% by 2030.