MMSM Residential Recycling -
Communications Toolkit 2024
Introduction
With all the responsibilities community staff have, it can be difficult to find the time needed to promote and educate residents on proper recycling. Consistently providing your residents with tips and resources will help improve recovery rates, reduce contamination, and divert more materials from landfills.
This toolkit is designed to save you time while reaching your residents with important and helpful recycling messaging. It includes monthly tips, promotional materials, and ready-to-post social media content.
We included strategies and topics that we feel will be most valuable to residents, while remaining easy for you to implement. This is based on our industry experience and discussions with communities and residents. Please let us know if you have ideas for content or other things you’d like to see in the toolkit.
How to use this toolkit
You can follow the content month-by-month or implement strategies and posts based on what’s best for you and your community.
To use social media posts, simply download the images or videos you want to post, then copy and paste the corresponding captions when you upload them to your profiles.
The same post topic may have a different image size and/or caption for different social media platforms. See the examples below. Feel free to edit the captions to include your community’s name or add a local touch to make it more personal to your residents.
Example 1:
Post topic (e.g., Plastic bags)
Platform | Caption |
Click the link for the platform you want to post on to get the correct media. | Copy the text in this section and paste it into the caption/description when posting. In this example, the same caption is used for both Facebook and Instagram, but they have different media files. |
Example 2:
Post topic
Platform | Caption |
Some posts will provide links to resources for residents. The caption for Facebook will have a link users can tap/click. Instagram and TikTok captions will be slightly different from Facebook. | |
-Instagram, TikTok | Instagram and TikTok captions promoting a link will end with “Use the link in our bio,” as users can’t click/tap links in the caption like they can on Facebook. To provide a link users can easily access on Instagram and TikTok, add it to the link section in your profile. |
Information and assistance
Email: municipalservices@stewardshipmanitoba.org
Phone: 1-877-952-2010 (toll-free)
January
Tips
1. If you don’t have the resources to build out a recycling page on your website, add a link to the Recyclepedia. Residents can search items to find out what goes in their blue bin and what they can recycle at depots. You can also encourage residents to download the free Recyclepedia app in the App Store and Google Play Store.
2. If your community has a monthly or quarterly newsletter, include a recycling tip.
Social Media
Download the Recyclepedia App
Platform | Caption |
Take the guesswork out of recycling. A quick search shows if, how, and where you can recycle hundreds of common items—tailored to your area. The Recyclepedia is built for Manitobans who want to reduce waste but feel lost from conflicting messages. Download it for free: simplyrecycle.ca/recyclepedia/ | |
Add this link to your profile: https://simplyrecycle.ca/recyclepedia/ | Take the guesswork out of recycling. A quick search shows if, how, and where you can recycle hundreds of common items—tailored to your area. The Recyclepedia is built for Manitobans who want to reduce waste but feel lost from conflicting messages. Try it with the link in our bio. |
Take the guesswork out of recycling. A quick search shows if, how, and where you can recycle hundreds of common items. Try it today: simplyrecycle.ca/recyclepedia/ |
February
Tips
1. Connect with us on social media. Share our posts on your pages so residents have the most current recycling information. Here’s where you can find us:
- Facebook: Simply Recycle Manitoba
- Instagram: SimplyRecycleMB
- LinkedIn: Multi-Material Stewardship Manitoba
Social Media
Valentine’s Day
Platform | Caption |
Show your blue bin some love 💙 | |
Show your blue bin some love 💙 Accepted: -Chocolate boxes (remove any plastic inserts) |
Books (I Love to Read Month)
Platform | Caption |
If you have unwanted books, donate them to a secondhand store or a little free library, sell them online, or donate them. You can recycle book pages if needed, but they must be completely removed from the cover and spine. | |
If you have unwanted books, donate them to a secondhand store or a little free library, sell them online, or donate them. You can recycle book pages if needed, but they must be completely removed from the cover and spine. |
March
Tips
- Print/share one of our recycling guides. We can add your community’s logo to a guide at your request.
- Encourage schools in your community to set up a recycling program or implement our lesson plans to teach students about the positive impacts of waste reduction.
Social Media
Cardboard/Metal Canisters (Coffee tins)
Platform | Caption |
Did you know coffee tins and other cardboard and metal canisters are accepted for recycling? Put the lids on the containers so other materials can’t get inside. | |
Did you know coffee tins and other cardboard and metal canisters are accepted for recycling? Put the lids on containers so other materials can’t get inside. |
Batteries
Platform | Caption |
Recycle your batteries, but NOT in your blue bin! 🔋 Take disposable and rechargeable batteries to one of hundreds of Call2Recycle drop-off locations to be recycled safely for free. Find one near you: recycleyourbatteries.ca/find-a-drop-off-location/ | |
Add this link to your profile: recycleyourbatteries.ca/find-a-drop-off-location/ | Recycle your batteries, but NOT in your blue bin! 🔋 Take disposable and rechargeable batteries to one of hundreds of Call2Recycle drop-off locations to be recycled safely for free. Find one near you using the link in our bio. |
Recycle batteries, but NOT in your blue bin! 🔋 Take your batteries to one of hundreds of drop-off locations to be recycled safely for free. Find one near you: https://recycleyourbatteries.ca/find-a-drop-off-location/ |
April
Tips
- Promote Earth Day events happening in your community.
- Promote donating unwanted products to local charities or second-hand stores instead of throwing them out.
Social Media
Electronics
Platform | Caption |
TVs, computers, cellphones and more ♻ Recycle My Electronics accepts most common household electronics for free through partnering businesses and community hubs. Recycle them at drop-off location near you: recyclemyelectronics.ca/mb/where-can-i-recycle | |
TVs, computers, cellphones and more ♻ Recycle My Electronics accepts most common household electronics for free through partnering businesses and community hubs. Recycle them at drop-off location near you. Visit the link in our bio. | |
TVs, computers, cellphones and more ♻ Recycle My Electronics accepts most common household electronics for free through partnering businesses and community hubs. Recycle them at a location near you: recyclemyelectronics.ca/mb/where-can-i-recycle |
Environmental Benefits of Recycling
Platform | Caption |
How can you help the environment by recycling? 🌎 | |
How can you help the environment by recycling? 🌎 |
May
Tips
- Include one of our recycling guides in your next water or property tax bill. We can add your community’s logo to a guide at your request.
Social Media
Plant Pots
Platform | Caption |
With winter behind us, it’s time to get started on our gardens. 🌷🌼🌿 | |
With winter behind us, it’s time to get started on our gardens. 🌷🌼🌿 |
Takeout containers (Video)
Platform | Caption |
What can you recycle on takeout night? | |
Reduce waste on takeout night: |
June
Tips
- Inform residents about other PRO drop-offs in your community and highlight the importance of keeping those materials out of the blue bin and garbage.
Social Media
Summer Recycling Guide
Platform | Caption |
Recycle right this season with our Summer Recycling Guide! 😎🌻⛱️♻️ | |
Recycle right this season with our Summer Recycling Guide! 😎🌻⛱️♻️ |
How clean do containers need to be? (Video)
Platform | Caption |
How clean do your recyclables need to be? | |
How clean do your recyclables need to be? |
July
Tips
- Promote using reusable and/or recyclable cups, plates, and cutlery for Canada Day celebrations and BBQs.
Social Media
Canada Day Guide
Platform | Caption |
Happy Canada Day 🍁 | |
Happy Canada Day 🍁 |
Recyclepedia
Platform | Caption |
Take the guesswork out of recycling. A quick search shows if, how, and where you can recycle hundreds of common items—tailored to your area. The Recyclepedia is built for Manitobans who want to reduce waste but feel lost from conflicting messages. Download it for free: simplyrecycle.ca/recyclepedia/ | |
Add this link to your profile: https://simplyrecycle.ca/recyclepedia/ | Take the guesswork out of recycling. A quick search shows if, how, and where you can recycle hundreds of common items—tailored to your area. The Recyclepedia is built for Manitobans who want to reduce waste but feel lost from conflicting messages. Tap the link in our bio to try it. |
Take the guesswork out of recycling. A quick search shows if, how, and where you can recycle hundreds of common items. Try it today: simplyrecycle.ca/recyclepedia/ |
August
Tips
- Thank and praise residents for recycling. Remind them of where to get important information on your community’s recycling and waste reduction programs.
Social Media
Plastic Bags
Platform | Caption |
Help reduce contamination in your recycling. Plastic bags are the leading cause of contamination in residential recycling. If you use a bag to contain recyclables in your home before putting them in your curbside blue bin, please empty the items into the blue bin and reuse the bag. | |
Help reduce contamination. Please put recyclables in your blue bin loosely. |
September
Tips
- Share tips from our Fall recycling guide.
Social Media
Nesting (Video)
Platform | Caption |
Can you put recyclables inside each other? Breaking down boxes, containers, cans, and bottles by hand and getting items with minimal packaging are the best options. | |
Can you put recyclables inside each other? Breaking down boxes, containers, cans, and bottles by hand and getting items with minimal packaging are the best options. |
Back to school
Platform | Caption |
Let’s shop green this school year ✏🍎 | |
Let’s shop green this school year ✏🍎 |
October
Tips
- Promote Recycling week events in your community.
- Encourage schools in your community to set up a recycling program.
Social Media
Recycling Week
Platform | Caption |
Happy Manitoba Recycling Week and Waste Reduction Week! ♻️🌳 Remember to reduce, reuse, and recycle as much as possible. | |
Happy Manitoba Recycling Week and Waste Reduction Week! ♻️🌳 Remember to reduce, reuse, and recycle as much as possible. |
November
Tips
- Provide residents with winter recycling tips
Social Media
Winter Recycling
Platform | Caption |
How to recycle in winter -Place your bin on a flat surface with space from any snowbanks. This makes collection easier and safer for workers. -Close the lid on your bin. No lid? Place paper and cardboard below heavier items so they don’t blow away. -Watch for ice. The last thing that anyone wants is to slip when doing their part to help the environment. Be careful and go slow! | |
How to recycle in winter -Place your bin on a flat surface with space from snowbanks. This makes collection easier and safer. -Close the lid on your bin. No lid? Place paper and cardboard below heavier items so they don’t blow away. -Watch for ice. Be careful and go slow! |
Reusable coffee mugs (Video)
Platform | Caption |
The pros of choosing reusable ♻️ | |
The pros of choosing reusable ♻️ |
December
Tips
- Notify residents of Christmas tree composting programs in your community.
- Share our holiday recycling guide.
Social Media
Holiday guide
Platform | Caption |
Happy holidays 💚 | |
Happy holidays, Manitoba 💚 |
Large Product Packaging
Platform | Caption |
Do you know what to do with your packaging? | |
Do you know what to do with your packaging? |