ZERO WASTE
CITY OF SYDNEY
Overview
The City of Sydney has launched a comprehensive Zero Waste Strategy to achieve zero waste in the local area by 2030. The project aims to encourage waste reduction and increase residents' participation in existing recycling programs through various initiatives, including educational campaigns, community events, and targeted outreach efforts. The project will analyze the current waste management system to identify areas for improvement and create awareness among citizens about the importance of waste reduction. The ultimate goal is to create a sustainable waste management system that fosters a culture of waste reduction and benefits both the environment and the community.
Team
Rod Victoria, Anya Wu & Graham Iversen
Role
UX/UI Designer
Duration
Two weeks
Tools & Methods
Primary & secondary research | Survey | Affinity maps | Archetypes | Journey maps | Wireframes | Prototypes
The Problem
THE COMPLICATED ROAD TO ZERO WASTE
The City of Sydney aims to minimize the amount of waste sent to landfills by expanding residential waste collection services to include e-waste, textiles, and food waste. However, achieving this goal requires the active participation of individual citizens who can contribute to waste reduction through the 4Rs - Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, and Recycle. Despite this, recycling remains a complicated process, as citizens may need help knowing where or how to recycle or may need more motivation to do so. As a result, the recycling rate in the city is far below its potential.
The Solution
WASTE REDUCTION MADE EASY
Zero Waste project focused on enhancing existing services such as domestic recycling and the new food waste program to improve waste management in the City of Sydney. It aimed to identify and address the barriers preventing citizens from recycling effectively and provide them with the tools to participate actively in waste reduction.
By leveraging the existing infrastructure and staff, the project sought to keep costs down while achieving the most significant possible impact. Through this approach, the project aimed to improve the quality of recycling and promote a culture of waste reduction in the community.
The Secondary Research
OBSERVATIONS & FINDINGS
We conducted a thorough review of existing literature and data through secondary research to develop a comprehensive understanding of the waste management landscape in the City of Sydney and inform the design of practical solutions. It helped identify critical trends, challenges, and opportunities for waste reduction and recycling in the local area and provided valuable insights into the design process.
DEMOGRAPHICS
We utilized the ID website for demographic resources to understand the local community better. The research revealed that the City of Sydney is predominantly urban, with a higher concentration of medium to high-rise buildings than houses. This information was crucial in developing targeted waste reduction initiatives that would be effective in the city's unique demographics.
DOMESTIC WASTE
The Environment Protection Authority and the NSW Local Government Waste and Resource Recovery Data Report indicate that the average total domestic waste generated per household per week is 21 kg or 9 kg per person per week. This information serves as a baseline for measuring the success of waste reduction initiatives and provides insights into the volume and types of waste generated in the community.
RESIDUAL WASTE
According to the Food Scraps Recycling Trial webpage by the City of Sydney, food waste accounts for approximately one-third of the trash disposed of in residents' red-lid residual bins. This information underscores the importance of implementing effective food waste reduction and recycling programs to achieve waste reduction targets.
RECYCLING BEHAVIOURS
The Household Waste and Recycling Research Report by the Environment Protection Authority reveals that the majority of residents in Sydney are environmentally conscious and take steps to reduce their impact. The report highlights the following key findings:
1. Positive attitudes towards recycling are prevalent among residents.
2. Collection service utilization is high.
3. Waste and recycling decisions are often based on habits and guesswork.
Residents are confident in their recycling ability but still need help determining which bin to use for specific items.
Residents are confident in their recycling ability but still need help determining which bin to use for specific items.
4. Residents infrequently seek out recycling information, and digital sources are the third most commonly used channel (see chart below).
These insights provide valuable information for developing effective waste reduction and recycling initiatives that address the needs and preferences of the community.
The Primary Research
LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE
We conducted an online survey and interviews with residents to understand better the waste management challenges and opportunities specific to the City of Sydney.
These methods were a practical choice for several reasons. They allowed us to reach a large and diverse group of individuals, representing a broad cross-section of the community.
They allowed us to collect quantitative and qualitative data, enabling us to understand better residents' attitudes and behaviours towards waste management. Finally, they were also cost-effective and efficient, allowing us to collect and analyse data quickly.
By conducting both secondary and primary research, we were able to gain a comprehensive understanding of the issue at hand. The combination of quantitative and qualitative data allowed us to identify trends and patterns in our study, providing a deeper insight into the problem.
The Archetype
THE PUZZLED ECO-BELIEVER
Our survey revealed that residents generally support recycling and strongly believe in its positive environmental impact. However, confusion persists regarding adequately disposing of certain types of waste, such as food scraps. To encourage ongoing participation, the residents suggested receiving incentives for their efforts. Nevertheless, once they start recycling, they no longer require additional motivation.
Archetypes were chosen over personas for this project as they allow for a more inclusive understanding of the target audience while reducing biases. By exploring the underlying motivations and values of the audience, archetypes offer a holistic view, allowing for more accurate and nuanced insights into user behaviour and decision-making. Additionally, they can help identify commonalities and differences among individuals, leading to more effective and inclusive design solutions.
Archetypes were chosen over personas for this project as they allow for a more inclusive understanding of the target audience while reducing biases. By exploring the underlying motivations and values of the audience, archetypes offer a holistic view, allowing for more accurate and nuanced insights into user behaviour and decision-making. Additionally, they can help identify commonalities and differences among individuals, leading to more effective and inclusive design solutions.
- "I don't mind separating recyclables, even the food scraps, but the whole process is still confusing."
The Pivot
NO NEED TO REINVENT THE WHEEL
Initially, we had plans to design an app solution from scratch. After investigating the competitors' landscape, we found out that the City of Sydney recommended an app called Recycle Smart for the residents.
After doing a comparative analysis, we felt there was no need to "reinvent the wheel". With a minimum cost adaptation and relatively low effort, by slightly redesigning some critical screens of the Recycle Smart app, we would significantly impact our target residents and consequently increase the food scraps program adoption.
It is valid to mention that two other apps were currently used in other parts of the NSW capital: Inner West Your Waste & Share Waste. They inspired us to add extra features like a comprehensive calendar and an interactive map function.
The Strategy
FRAMEWORK
JOURNEY MAP
With our typical resident in mind, we considered this person’s expectations and experiences in separating and disposing of food scraps daily. They are naturally motivated to be a part of the program, but if they have a clearer understanding of how it works, there is a higher chance they will engage with it on a deeper level and not stop doing it.
Having easy access to guidelines and tips and a quick way to order the caddy and the bin liners would help improve the process. Extra tips could also minimise other frictions like concerns about the size of the caddy, garbage smell or having to wash the kitchen bin.
MINIMAL VIABLE PRODUCT
During this phase, we employed a minimal viable product (MVP) strategy to focus on the most impactful and cost-effective areas to reduce waste sustainably. To prioritise our ideas, we utilised an impact/effort matrix that considered the trade-offs between costs to the council and the programs or practices that would yield the most significant gains.
An MVP approach was necessary as it allowed us to develop a working prototype that included only the essential features, which would help us test the product's viability and receive feedback for further improvements. This approach enabled us to save time and resources while producing an effective solution.
The Product
SKETCHES & THE PROTOTYPE
Our survey revealed that residents might need more than just a few features added to an existing app to drive behaviour change. To address this, we went beyond the basics and added a gamification solution called "Growing a Tree" to the prototype. This feature allows users to track their environmental contributions and receive incentives through a fun and engaging approach. We aimed to trigger a sustained behaviour change and motivate users to recycle better.
We utilised sketches and medium-fidelity prototypes to visualise and test our ideas. Sketches helped us to ideate and communicate our concepts efficiently, while medium-fidelity prototypes allowed us to test the functionality and usability of the app's critical features.
The Next Steps
LOGICAL COURSE OF ACTIONS
THE CRITICAL ROLE OF USER FEEDBACK
Due to our limited time in this project, we didn't have the chance to test the app prototype with actual users, which is the most critical step in the design process. In the testing phase, we can observe users' behaviours, understand their needs and challenges, and identify any usability issues with the app. We can use the results generated during the testing phase to refine one or more problems and find out how users understand the app, its conditions of use, and how people think, behave, feel, and empathize with the product. We can make necessary changes based on the feedback to improve the app's effectiveness and usability.
PARTNERSHIPS FOR SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS
While our app idea can effectively encourage people to participate in the program, it's important to note that the City of Sydney council plays a crucial role in solving some critical processes in the recycling context. The council board must plan a service design process to create sustainable solutions and optimal user experiences, including any service providers involved. This may include collaborating with waste management companies and other stakeholders to improve waste collection and disposal processes. The council can also provide clear guidelines and resources for residents to properly separate and dispose of waste and establish a monitoring and evaluation system to ensure the program's effectiveness.
THE NEED FOR INCREASED RECYCLING EDUCATION
It is necessary to put more marketing efforts into recycling education to raise people's awareness and encourage participation. For instance, the council can regularly organize community activities and events about recycling to promote sustainable waste management practices. The City of Sydney can also collaborate with other NSW councils to ensure that recycling policies are consistent and effective in the long run. Consistent use of signage and bin colours can strengthen residents' understanding of the program and encourage proper waste disposal practices. Additionally, providing incentives such as discounts or rewards for participation can motivate residents to engage in the program.
Looking Ahead
WHAT DID I LEARN?
I have acquired and validated several UX design aspects. The following are the four primary areas that I have identified:
