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From Oops to Yay: How Zero Waste Providence Is Changing Recycling Habits
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Recycling has been around for decades, in fact, in the 1980s Rhode Island became the first U.S. state to establish a statewide mandatory recycling program: The 1986 Rhode Island Recycling Act.
Since then, residents, organizations, and businesses have been encouraged to not only recycle, but also consider their impact on the people and planet around them.
Most of us know recycling to be a relatively simple concept (in theory!); however, knowing exactly what to recycle and where isn’t always straightforward.
This is where a small group of passionate colleagues in the city of Providence, R.I., is educating and helping local communities expand their understanding of the topic.
In its goal of making the state’s recycling system work more effectively, Zero Waste Providence (ZWP) addresses common misconceptions, cuts contamination, and provides simple solutions to help people reduce waste.
Supported by 11th Hour Racing, their efforts are yielding results. Before this latest recycling awareness project started in 2025, just 10 of Providence’s 60 weekly recycling trucks passed contamination inspection. Today, that number is closer to 30.
So, what’s the secret?
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ZWP improve curbside recycling through residential waste audits and educational outreach. ©Tandem
“Most people want to do the right thing”
ZWP’s approach to education is proactive to say the least. For the past year and a half, they have partnered with City of Providence Waste Management to improve curbside recycling through residential waste audits and educational outreach.
“Most people want to do the right thing,” explains Carla Doughty, projects coordinator of ZWP. “But when the wrong items are put in recycling, that contamination can cause an entire truckload to be rejected."
To combat this, ZWP’s dedicated Street Team meets at an agreed location and goes out at 5AM ahead of the recycling trucks to inspect residents’ recycling bins. They open the lid, look inside, and assess whether or not items belong in that bin.
It’s not the recycling police, but instead a friendly nudge offering encouragement to keep going with some added knowledge.
Carla Doughty
"When the wrong items are put in recycling, that contamination can cause an entire truckload to be rejected."
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An “oops” tag is left on a bin if something is found that shouldn't be in there. ©Tandem
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From oops to yay!
Should the Street Team find items that do not belong, they will leave an “oops” tag for the owner to find.
“The simple message is it's an oops,” says Carla. “We’re not fining you, and that's our number one thing we say — we're just giving out information. It’s always so nice to see the second week in the same area we give out the ‘yay’ tags as residents notice the mistakes and take on board the advice, it’s such a nice feeling.”
This fun, engaging approach helps people make simple, tangible changes to their day-to-day routines that can transform the destination for an entire truckload of recycling.
“People don’t always realize they’re doing things incorrectly, or that one wrong item can contaminate an entire truckload,” explains Eva Touhey, recycling project leader at ZWP. “But when they’re told exactly what they need to change, they’re much more open to education and learning from it.
“Some loads that had been rejected for weeks and years are now actually making it to the recycling facility and being passed.”
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The Street Team are not the recycling police and instead offer friendly advice and encouragement. ©Tandem
The Street Team are not the recycling police and instead offer friendly advice and encouragement. ©Tandem
Built by the community it serves
Rather than sending information from the top-down, ZWP takes a peer-to-peer approach, so it's vital that the Street Team reflects the City's cultural diversity. Bilingual and multilingual staff, primarily English and Spanish speakers, are actively recruited to represent the neighborhoods they serve. When residents hear from someone who understands their community, speaks their language, and often lives in the same neighborhood, they're more likely to engage and take the information to heart.
“We want to have a team that looks like the whole city,” Carla states.
And while some residents assume the audits are funded through their taxes, ZWP is actually funded through federal and private grants. By reducing contamination, Carla reveals that the initiative is helping the city save around $4,000 a week in fees.
“Zero waste is ultimately a practice, it's not about being perfect. We're here playing our part just as much as everyone else,” Carla concludes.
Carla Doughty
"We want to have a team that looks like the whole city."
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Multilingual staff and messaging, primarily English and Spanish, are deployed to represent the neighborhood. ©Tandem
So, want to play your part too? Carla has answered some frequently asked questions about recycling to set you on the right path.
What should I do if I'm not sure if something is recyclable?
If you aren't sure if an item is curbside recyclable, it's better to put it in the trash than the recycling bin. Take the time to look up what can go in your curbside bin, and which items are only recyclable by drop-off (such as plastic bags, stretchy plastic films, shredded paper, and rigid plastic containers larger than 5 gallons).
What condition should my recyclables be in?
All recyclables must be empty at a minimum — no food, no napkins, no liquids. If you have time, please rinse the soiled containers. Do not bag your recyclables. They should tumble freely.
Does the "Chasing Arrows" symbol ♻️ mean an item is recyclable?
The "Chasing Arrows" symbol is not regulated and does not mean that your item can be placed in your curbside bin. Metal and plastic containers from your kitchen, laundry room, and bathroom are what we want in the curbside cart. "Non-container" items (clothes hangers, Legos, broomsticks, pots and pans) do not belong in the curbside bin, even if they are plastic or metal.
Do recycling rules vary by location?
Each municipality and state has different rules and guidelines for recycling. Especially if you move to a new place, take the time to learn proper recycling etiquette and behavior to comply with local hauling and processing methods. RIRRC.org is our local resource in R.I
Can I put hazardous waste in my curbside bin?
Hazardous waste cannot be disposed of in any curbside bin in R.I. The state hosts special "Eco-Depot" days across the state to collect hazardous waste items such as paint, gasoline, motor oil, and the containers used to hold these materials.
Eva Touhey
"Some loads that had been rejected for weeks and years are now actually making it to the recycling facility and being passed."
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The Street Team head out at 5AM ahead of the recycling trucks to make their inspections. ©Tandem
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By reducing contamination, ZWP is helping the city save around $4,000 a week in fees. ©Tandem
How can I reduce the amount of waste I generate?
Use reusables instead of single-use items. This makes a big impact on the amount of waste each household generates. Examples: water bottle, coffee cup, forks, shopping bags — make the switch to reusables!
What should I do with kitchen scraps and wasted food?
Send kitchen scraps and wasted food to compost instead of the landfill. Scraps can be transformed back into nutrient-rich soil amendment if they are composted properly. This prevents a tremendous amount of greenhouse gas (methane) air pollution and improves our soil quality. It also supports a growing Green Jobs industry.
Can I see where my recycling actually goes?
Go a step further and tour your local Landfill / Materials Recycling Facility (MRF)! RIRRC offers free tours of the R.I. Central Landfill, MRF, and yard waste compost operation.
What do I do if I think I’m doing it wrong?
We're all in this together! Nobody is perfect. We all have this topic in common and improving our behaviors is something we can all strive for. Consult primary sources in your location for the latest, accurate rules and guidelines.
You can find out more about Zero Waste Providence’s initiatives on their website.
Hero image credit ©Tandem
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