Survey 2

Workbook Three: COLLECTING INFORMATION – GETTING TO KNOW YOUR COMMUNITY,
UNDERSTANDING YOUR COMMUNITY’S WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND PRACTICES &

ANALYZING YOUR COMMUNITY’S WASTE STREAM
Worksheet Set Three

INDIVIDUAL WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES and
ATTITUDES ABOUT WASTE MANAGEMENT
What do community members do with their waste and
how do they feel about waste management?
If members of your community do not agree with the solid waste management approach that is
selected by your solid waste work group, participation in your community’s solid waste
management program is likely to be very low. In addition, if community members do feel they
have had an opportunity to help select the waste management approach that will be incorporated
into your solid waste management, they may not support your integrated waste management
plan. It is in your community’s best interest to involve community members in the planning
process as early as possible.
You can use your information gathering activities as a way to achieve two goals at the same
time. While you are evaluating individual waste management practices and local resident’s
attitudes, you can also inform people about your community’s integrated waste management
planning process. This will help ensure that community members support your solid waste
management work group’s recommendations for managing solid waste in your community.
Your solid waste planning work group can determine individual waste management practices and
community attitudes in a number of ways. You can gather information from community
members by:
PUBLIC HEARING/MEETING PROCESS: Hold a series of small group meetings or a

public meeting where community members are invited to come discuss how they feel
about community waste management and describe what they currently do to dispose of
the waste they generate; or
COMMUNITY SURVEY: Conduct a survey of WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF DOING A

businesses and households through in-home SOLID WASTE PLANNING SURVEY?
interviews or by mail.
Allows for input from each person
in your community.
Of the two methods mentioned above, the method that will
best ensure that most community members provide you Involves community members in
solid waste planning.
with information about what they do with their garbage, as
well as identities what they might me willing to do in the Serves as an educational tool for
future, is a community survey. A community survey can your community.
be a written document or a list of interview questions. It is May help your community get
just one of many ways to gather needed information. funding.
Show potential funding agencies

A community survey is a powerful survey that can be used that your community is involved in
to build community consensus. Community-based solid solid waste planning.
waste management and planning begins by finding out
Help people in your community
which solid waste issues your community sees as the most work together.
270
ANALYZING YOUR COMMUNITY’S WASTE STREAM
important issues. A solid waste planning survey can be used to rank your community’s
perception of solid waste issues. Your survey results will show what issues people agree on and
how important each issue is to the community as a whole.
High schools students or volunteers from your community can conduct the survey door-to-door.
If you have a fairly small community, a door-to-door survey will be most accurate if every
household has an opportunity to complete the survey. A community survey will give provide
your solid waste planning work group with the most accurate measure of your community’s
attitudes about solid waste management. If you choose to conduct public meetings/hearings,
please refer to Workbooks One and Two for more detailed information on public participation.
The following community survey can be used if you want to learn about how individuals handle
and dispose of their waste or you may write your own survey questions. The survey included in
this workbook will provide you with most of the information you need to determine community
attitudes and willingness of community members to change their practices and beliefs about solid
waste management.
.
This survey can be used in its present format and with the KEEP YOUR SURVEY SIMPLE
questions provided. However, the survey may be
When you are developing your survey,
changed to meet your community’s specific needs by remember to keep the survey simple
adding new questions or deleting those that do not apply and easy to understand. A complicated
to your community. If you do not think a survey will survey is difficult to answer and may
end up giving you incorrect information.
give you the information you need from community
members, then you might consider holding a community It is also important, to develop a survey
meeting instead. For more information on ways you can that can be used again in the future so
you can monitor changes that take
gather information from community members using place in community attitudes and
community/public meetings, go back to Workbook One practices. If you keep your survey the
and review the section on community involvement. same, you will be able to see the
progress your community has made
over time.
This survey will help you to:
¾ Identify solid waste management practices of households and businesses; and
¾ Determine community attitudes about establishing a solid waste management program in

your community.
Your community’s solid waste planning survey will be used to identify your community’s solid
waste planning priorities and to also measure community attitudes. The survey provided in this
workbook is used to build “consensus”, or agreement, within your community on solid waste
issues. The survey identifies many issues that are relevant to rural communities in Alaska.
Some of these solid waste issues may not related to your community so you do not need to
include them in your survey. You may also have solid waste issues specific to your community
that do not appear on the survey. For this reason, your community may want to design its own
survey form to better reflect local issues and concerns. If you choose to design your own survey,
you can use the survey in the workbook as model for your own survey questionnaire form.
271
Workbook Three: Collecting Information – Getting to Know Your Community, Understanding
Your Community’s Waste Management System and Practices & Analyzing Your Community’s
Waste Stream
WORKSHEET SET 3: Section 1 - 1

COMMUNITY-BASED SOLID WASTE SURVEY
How do community members dispose of their waste and
what are their opinions about solid waste management?
INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THE COMMUNITY SURVEY

The goal of the Solid Waste Community Survey is to provide your planning work group with
information about what community members view as their priorities for waste management. In
addition it will give you information about their opinions regarding present and future waste
management strategies for your community.
This survey is used at the beginning of your planning process to help your planning work group
identify your community’s solid waste priorities. Collecting the information that you will need
involves talking to all businesses in your community and as many households as possible.
If your community has more 75 individual homes in it, then you may want to consider doing a
random sample. A random sample is a group that is selected in a random manner. Random means
that each household is selected by chance. A good way to select which households you will survey is
to assign each house in your community a number. You will then draw numbers and match the
number you draw to a house. You will survey those houses that have their number selected. Another
way to select who will be surveyed is to put the names of all the adults in your community in a hat
and then draw names. You will survey each person that has his or her name drawn. This method of
selections ensures that every household in your community has an equal chance of being selected.
Any random sample should contain at least 20 percent of all households in the community (if there
are 100 households then at least 20 households should be surveyed) If you want to estimate the
percentage of households you should survey take the total number of households in your community
and multiply it by .20 (100 x .20 equals 20 or the number of households that need to be surveyed).
You can choose to survey a larger percentage of households; however, you shouldn’t survey any less
than 20 percent of the households in your community. If you have a small community (less than 50
homes), then it is best if you try to survey each household and business in your community. You can
conduct your survey through a telephone survey, an in-home survey, or mail-in survey. Be sure to
complete a survey form for each household or business interviewed. These forms will be used to
keep track of the responses given by the businesses and households that are surveyed. Make sure you
note the total number of households and the total number of businesses that were surveyed.
TOTAL NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS IN YOUR COMMUNITY: __________________
TOTAL NUMBER OF BUSINESSES IN YOUR COMMUNITY: ___________________
TOTAL NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS SURVEYED: ___________________________
TOTAL NUMBER OF BUSINESSES SURVEYED: _____________________________
272
ASSESSING YOUR COMMUNITY’S WASTE STREAM
ASSESSING WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES and ATTITUDES

IN OUR COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL SURVEY
OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE YOUR COMMUNITY AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE

PLACE TO LIVE AND RAISE YOUR FAMILY. YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THIS
SURVEY WILL GREATLY ASSIST US IN ACCOMPLISHING THIS GOAL. OUR
COMMUNITY IS IN THE PROCESS OF DEVELOPING A INTEGRATED WASTE
MANAGEMENT PLAN. THIS SURVEY FORM IS DESIGNED TO OBTAIN YOUR
OPINION AND INPUT WHICH WILL BE USED TO HELP DEVLEOP THE PLAN.
YOUR ANSWERS TO THE SURVEY WILL HELP IDENTIFY SERIOUS PROBLEMS
WITH GARBAGE AND OTHER WASTE IN OUR COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION, YOUR
ANSWERS TO THE SURVEY QUESTIONS WILL ENSURE SURE THAT THE
PLANNING WORK GROUP CONSIDERS COMMUNITY RESIDENTS’ IDEAS AND
OPINIONS. YOUR INPUT INTO OUR PLANNING PROCESS IS VERY IMPORTANT.
WE ASK THAT YOU PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO COMPLETE THIS SURVEY.
Instructions: Please answer each of the following questions. If you do not feel comfortable
answering a question or it does not apply to you, feel free skip the question. Your answers to
these survey questions will be used to help our community’s solid waste planning work group
develop ideas and make recommendations on ways our community can improve its waste
disposal practices. Please answer each question as it applies to you and your business or
household. Please check the box that is most applies to you. In some cases you may be asked
to check all the boxes that apply to you.
I. GENERAL INFORMATION
SURVEY RESPONDENT: PLEASE CHECK EACH BOX THAT APPLIES.
F Community Business
F Business owner
F Employee
Type of business ______________________________________
F Community Member
F Youth (age 12 – 19)
F Household member (age 20 – 55)
F Elder (age 56 or older)
F Other
F School official/teacher
F Local government (city or tribal) – council member or staff
F Health clinic/hospital (staff)
F Other __________________________________________________
273
II. WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

1. DO YOU CURRENTLY DISPOSE OF GARBAGE BY USING ONE OR MORE OF THESE METHODS?
Burn it somewhere near your house or business (i.e., in the yard)? Yes F No F
Bury it somewhere it near your house or business? Yes F No F
Haul it to the community dump or landfill yourself? Yes F No F
Dump it in a secluded spot away from the community? Yes F No F
Collected and taken to the landfill Yes F No F
Recycle cans or other waste Yes F No F
Describe any other ways you dispose of your garbage ______________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Which method(s) do you use most often? ________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
2. WHAT TYPE OF CONTAINER DO YOU STORE YOUR GARBAGE IN BEFORE DISPOSING OF IT?
(CHECK ALL BOXES THAT APPLY)
Large dumpster near your home or business Yes F No F

Metal or plastic garbage cans at your home or business Yes F No F
Cardboard boxes Yes F No F
55-gallon drums/ barrels Yes F No F
Plastic bags Yes F No F
Other types of containers _____________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
3. ABOUT HOW MANY BAGS OF TRASH DO YOU DISPOSE OF EACH WEEK? (A BAG IS EQUAL TO
ONE
LARGE TRASH CAN BAG)
F 1-2 bags per week

F 3-4 bags per week
F 3-7 bags per week
F More than 7 bags per week. How many more? _________________
274
4. WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF WASTE?

a. Old batteries
F Take them to the landfill/dump
F Throw them out in your yard or a secluded area
F Take them to a battery collection area or tote
F Other _________________________________________________
b. Old appliances, snow machines, four-wheelers, boat motors, trucks, etc.

F Take them to the landfill/dump
F Throw them out in your yard
F Take them to a collection area
F Other _________________________________________________
c. Household hazardous waste (e.g. old paint, cleaning products, etc.)

F Dump them in the landfill/dump
F Dump them in your yard
F Pour them in the sewage lagoon or down the drain
F Take them to a special collection area in the community
F Other _________________________________________________
d. Used Oil
F Dump it in the landfill/dump
F Dump it in your yard
F Take it to a collection place or waste oil burner
F Other __________________________________________________
5. DO YOU CURRENTLY RECYCLE WASTE MATERIALS (I.E., GLASS, SODA CANS, PAPER,
PLASTIC)?
F Yes What do you recycle? __________________________________

F No
III. COMMUNITY ATTITUDES ABOUT DEVELOPING A INTEGRATED

WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN AND PROGRAM
If a solid waste management program is going to work in our community, it must be

supported community members. Please answer each question about whether or not you
would support a solid waste management program if the community were to start one.
275
1. DO YOU THINK SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY SHOULD BE IMPROVED?
F Yes F No F No opinion
2. WOULD YOU SUPPORT A GARBAGE COLLECTION SERVICE THAT PICKS UP GARBAGE FROM
YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS, EVEN IF YOU HAD TO PAY FOR THE SERVICE?
3. WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO PAY A FEE FOR YOUR GARBAGE TO BE PICKED UP FROM YOUR
HOME OR BUSINESS AND PROPERLY DISPOSED OF AT THE COMMUNITY LANDFILL/DUMP?
F Yes
How much would you be willing to pay each month for this service? ________________
F No
F No opinion
4. WOULD YOU SUPPORT A COLLECTION PROGRAM IF YOU HAD TO HAUL YOUR OWN GARBAGE
TO A CENTRAL PICK-UP PLACE OR TO LARGE DUMPSTERS PLACED AT DIFFERENT
LOCATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY SO IT COULD THEN BE HAULED TO AND PROPERLY
DISPOSED OF AT THE COMMUNITY LANDFILL/DUMP?
5. WOULD YOU SUPPORT THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW LANDFILL THAT MEETS STATE AND
FEDERALSTANDARDS SO THAT IT WOULD BE SAFE AND PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT?
6. WOULD YOU SUPPORT THE ADOPTION OF A COMMUNITY ORDINANCE OR RULES TO CONTROL

THE DISPOSAL OF GARBAGE AND PREVENT ILLEGAL DUMPING OF WASTE IN THE
COMMUNITY?
IV. COMMUNITY WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE IN RECYCLING

AND WASTE REDUCTION ACTIVITIES
276
1. DO YOU SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY’S CURRENT RECYCLING EFFORTS?
2. WOULD YOU SUPPORT A COMMUNITY RECYCLING PROGRAM?
3. IN WHAT WAY(S) WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE? (CHECK APPROPRIATE BOXES)
F Would support recycling efforts, but would not separate any recyclables myself, nor drop
drop them off anywhere.
F Would separate recyclables if containers were provided, and if they were picked up from
my
home or business.
F Would separate recyclables even if no containers were provided, but they would have to
be
picked up.
F Would separate recyclables, and would be willing to take them to a centrally located
collection box or community recycling area.
4. WOULD YOU SUPPORT A COMMUNITY SALVAGE PROGRAM THAT WAS DONE ON A REGULAR
BASIS IN THE COMMUNITY (FOR EXAMPLE, A ONCE-A-MONTH COMMUNITY SPONSORED
EXCHANGE AT THE SCHOOL OR COMMUNITY HALL)?
5. WOULD YOU SUPPORT A COMMUNITY SALVAGE PROGRAM WHERE YOU TAKE ITEMS YOU NO
LONGER NEED OR USE, SUCH AS CLOTHING, TOYS, HOUSEHOLD ITEMS, PAINT AND BUILDING
MATERIALS, TO A SALVAGE AREA (SHED OR OTHER TYPE OF COVERED AREA) SO THEY
COULD BE USED BY OTHER PEOPLE?
6. WOULD YOU SUPPORT A BULK PURCHASING PROGRAM WHERE YOU COULD BUY ITEMS IN
BULK FROM STORES IN THE COMMUNITY? ITEMS MIGHT INCLUDE CEREAL, LAUNDRY SOAP
AND OTHER FOOD OR CLEANING PRODUCTS.
277
7. WHAT TYPES OF WASTE WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO RECYCLE?

Recycle aluminum cans F Yes F No
Recycle batteries F Yes F No
Recycle newspapers F Yes F No
Recycle used oil F Yes F No
Recycle plastic grocery bags F Yes F No
Other ___________________________________________
V. COMMUNITY VIEW OF WASTE MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS

Outlined below are waste management problems or issues that need to be addressed by our
community. Each issue or problem listed below needs to be ranking as to how important you
think that issue or problem is to the community. “1” is the lowest ranking or priority (means not
that serious or important) and “5” is the highest ranking or priority (means it is the most serious
or very important). Each issue or problem needs to have a value (0-5) marked in the space
provided. If you feel that the something is not a problem or issue then enter “0” as that
statement’s value.
1. How would you rate the solid waste problems in our community?
_____ Hazardous materials and toxic waste dumping in the landfill/community dump.
_____ Run-off and chemicals leaking from the dump contaminating subsistence foods.
_____ Raw sewage or honey bucket waste being dumped in land fill/community dump.
_____ Oil, diesel fuel and other related products being dumped in the landfill or yards.
_____ Fuel oil contaminated soils in and/or around landfill/dump site.
_____ Abandoned drums or hazardous waste in and/or around landfill/dump site.
_____ Abandoned vehicles, boats and equipment in and/or around the community.
_____ Trash left in and/or around the community.
_____ Trash left on beaches, rivers, and lakes (glass, cans, fishing gear)
_____ Maintenance and protection of community landfill.
_____ Air pollution problems caused by open burning at the dump or in burn barrels.
_____ Animals scavenging around yards, landfill, and/or dump site.
_____ Improper disposal of household hazardous wastes and household cleaning products
(bleach, ammonia, paint, drain cleaner)
_____ Lack of recycling program/recycling pick-up services to homes/businesses
_____ Lack of education for our community members on proper handling and disposal of
garbage and other household wastes.
_____ Lack of trash pick-up and collection services for homes/businesses
_____ Other problems (list them on back of this survey sheet)
2. WHAT DO YOU THINK IS SINGLE BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH MANAGING AND DISPOSING OF
WASTE IN OUR COMMUNITY?
_______________________________________________________________________
278
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
VI. COMMUNITY VIEW – SOLUTIONS TO SOLID WASTE PROBLEMS
The following is a list of possible solutions to some of the waste problems being experienced
in our community. Please rank these solutions based on your idea of what you think would
be a good solution. Assign “1” to a solution if you believe that it would not be very good
and “5” if you think it is the best possible solution to a problem.
1. What do you think would be good solutions to our solid waste problems?
______ Place strict regulations on the use of the local landfill/dump site.
______ Hire a landfill operator to operate and maintain the landfill/dump site.
______ Educate community members and business owners on the subjects of recycling and
proper handling and disposal of various types of waste.
______ Establish fines for illegal dumping of waste within the community.
______ Increase environmental awareness about proper waste disposal
by developing a local and school wide environmental curriculum and/or program.
______ Establish a community-based waste collection system.
______ Close the old landfill/dump and build a new one.
______ Start a community recycling program
______ Hold an annual community clean-up day
______ Clean-up the landfill site and add make improvements (fence, signs, etc.)
Other possible solutions – please list them here and assign a rating to
each solution that you suggest.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
2. DO YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR HOW WE CAN IMPROVE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
IN OUR COMMUNITY?
279
1. ________________________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________________________
4. _________________________________________________________________________
5. _________________________________________________________________________
PLEASE USE THE SPACE BLOW FOR COMMENTS OR OTHER WASTE MANAGEMENT ISSUES YOU
FEEL THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. IF YOU WANT TO ADD TO AN EXISTING STATEMENT
PLEASE REFER TO THE STATEMENT. ALSO IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS FOR POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
TO ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS, PLEASE PROVIDE US WITH YOUR SUGGESTIONS.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO FILL OUT THIS SURVEY. THIS SURVEY INFORMATION IS
VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS SURVEY OR
ANY CONCERNS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL: _________________________
Respondent Information (Optional)

1. How many persons live in your household? ______________
2. How many pounds or bags of garbage do you throw away each week? Please be sure to
specify whether or not your estimate is in pounds or bags. ________________
3. Your name (optional) ___________________________________________
WORKSHEET SET 3: Section 1 – 2

ANALYZING COMMUNITY SURVEY RESULTS
280
What does your survey tell you about community attitudes?

Once you have completed your community survey, you will want to tabulate your results. The
results of your community survey will provide you with information about how local residents
feel about recycling programs and other waste management practices. This information will be
useful when evaluating which alternatives for solid waste management will work best in your
community.
I. GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT RESPONDENTS
COLLECTION DATA
How many community members were surveyed and
who were they?
Total number of households in the community: ___________
Total number of households surveyed: ___________
Total number of businesses in the community: ___________
Total number of businesses surveyed: ___________
Total number of surveys completed: ___________
Total number of elders surveyed: ___________
Total number of youth surveyed: ___________
Total number of other residents surveyed: ___________
The remaining sections of this worksheet will focus on tabulating and analyzing the
responses community members gave when they answered the survey questions. Their
responses should be considered when evaluating alternatives for waste management in your
community. The results from your community survey may also be used when seeking
funding for solid waste projects or the establishment of a solid waste program in your
community. Most importantly, however, the community survey gives community members
an opportunity to express their opinions and share the knowledge they may have about
waste management in your community.
281
II. COMMUNITY WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
COMMUNITY WASTE DISPOSAL PRACTICES

HOW DO COMMUNITY MEMBERS DISPOSE OF THEIR WASTE?
What disposal methods do TOTAL YES: TOTAL NO:
local residents and business
use to dispose of their waste?
Burn it near your house or
business (i.e., in the yard)
Bury it somewhere near your
house or business
Haul it to the community
dump or landfill yourself
Dump it in a secluded spot
away from the community
Collected and taken to the
landfill
Recycle aluminum cans and
other materials
Other methods of disposal
Most common methods of

waste disposal
2. What type of container(s)
do you store your garbage in Yes No
before disposing of it?
Large dumpster near your
home or business
Metal or plastic garbage cans
at your home or business
Cardboard boxes
55 gallon drums/barrels
Other types of containers
282
WEEKLY QUANTITY OF TRASH THROWN AWAY

How much garbage and waste is thrown away each week?
BY BUSINESSES AND HOUSEHOLD
Number of bags
per week disposed
of (1 bag = 1 large
trash can or trash Number of Number of
can bag) Households Businesses
1 – 2 bags
per week
3 – 4 bags
per week
5 – 7 bags
per week
More than 7
bags per
week
¾ Describe your community’s waste management practices based on your survey results and
the data provided in the above tables. For example, what is the average number of bags of
trash per week that most families throw away or what is the most commonly used form of
waste disposal for regular household waste and garbage?
283
WASTE DISPOSAL METHODS USED FOR SPECIAL WASTES

How are special wastes disposed of in the community?
DISPOSAL METHODS BY HOUSEHOLDS & BUSINESSES
Total Number
Total Number Total Number
Disposal Method by Waste Type Businesses &
Businesses Households Households
a. Batteries
Take them to the landfill/dump
Throw them in the yard
Take them to a collection area/tote
Other (list by method of disposal)
b. Old appliances, vehicles, atv’s, etc.

Take them to the landfill/dump
Throw them in the yard
Take them to a collection area
Other (list by method of disposal)
c. Household hazardous waste (old paint,

cleaning products)
Dump them in the landfill/dump
Dump them in your yard
Pour them in sewage lagoon or down the
drain
Other (list by disposal method)
d. Used Oil
Dump it in the landfill/dump
Dump it in the yard
Take it to a collection place or waste oil
burner
Other
284
COMMUNITY WASTE DISPOSAL METHODS – SPECIAL WASTES

How do community members dispose of various types of special waste compared
to regular household garbage?
BY DISPOSAL METHOD & WASTE TYPE
TOTAL NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS/BUSINESSES

DISPOSAL Household
METHOD Household Old Appliances
Garbage Batteries & Vehicles
Used Oil Hazardous
Waste
Take to dump/landfill
Throw in yard
Take to collection area
Other (list other methods)
Other (list other methods)
¾ Describe how businesses and households dispose of and handle special wastes in your
community based on your survey results? For example, what are the most common
methods of waste disposal that are being used by households and businesses? Are these
methods safe for public health and the environment?
285
III. COMMUNITY ATTITUDES – SOLID WASTE SERVICES
COMMUNITY ATTITUDES – SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT & SERVICES

How do community members feel about improving solid waste management
and services in your community?
BY LEVEL OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Level of Community Support

Type of Service or Improvement Total Number Total Total Number
Yes Number No No Opinion
Improve solid waste management in
the community
Establish community collection service
for homes and businesses
Willing to pay a collection fee for trash
pick up from home/business
Willing to take trash to a central pick
up place or dumpsters centrally
located in the community
Support construction of a new
landfill
Support adoption of local rules or
ordinance to control waste disposal
and prevent illegal dumping
¾ Based on your survey results describe how community members feel about improving
solid management in your community. For example, what types of solid waste
management services are community members willing to support and are they willing
to pay for services or are there any services community members would not support?
286
IV. COMMUNITY WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE IN

RECYCLING AND WASTE REDUCTION ACTITIVITIES
COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR RECYCLING & WASTE REDUCTION

How willing are community members to participate
in recycling or waste reduction activities?
BY LEVEL OF SUPPORT PER ACTIVITY
Level of Community Support

Type of Activity Total Number Total Number Total Number
Yes No No Opinion
Support community recycling in general
Support recycling - households or businesses

would not separate or drop off recyclables;
recyclables picked up for sorting from
homes/businesses
Support recycling - containers provided to
households/business for separating recyclables
and sorted items picked up from
homes/businesses
Support recycling – households/businesses
would separate recyclables and provide their
own recycling containers; sorted recyclables
picked up from homes/business
Support recycling – households/businesses
separate recyclables and take them to a central
pick-up point
Support community salvage program held at
school, community building or other location on
a regular basis
Support community salvage program where
permanent salvage area (shed or covered area)
is established for year-round salvage
Support bulk purchasing program for
community stores and/or schools
¾ How willing are community members and businesses to support community recycling or
waste reduction activities? What is their preferred method for collecting recyclables?
287
RECYCLING WASTE IN THE COMMUNITY

What types of waste are community members and
businesses willing recycle?
RECYCLING BY WASTE TYPE
Willingness to Recycle
Recyclable Waste Items Total Number Total Number
Yes No
Aluminum cans
Used batteries
Newspapers
Used oil
Plastic grocery bags
Other (list waste type)
¾ What waste materials are community members and businesses willing to recycle? Not
recycle? Are any of these forms of waste already being recycled in your community?
Describe any current recycling activities in your community including how well recycling
is working and what you can do to improve community participation in your existing
recycling program.
288
V. COMMUNITY VIEW OF WASTE MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS

COMMUNITY RANKING OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS
How do community members rank solid waste management problems
in terms of severity? 0 = Not a Problem 5 = Very Serious Problem
RANKING BY PROBLEM AND SEVERITY OF PROBLEM
Total Total Total Total Total Total
TYPE OF WASTE MANAGEMENT PROBLEM Number Number Number Number Number Number
0 1 2 3 4 5
Hazardous materials and toxic waste being
dumped in landfill/community dump
Run-off and chemicals leaking from
dump/landfill & contaminating subsistence
foods
Raw sewage or honey bucket waste being
dumped in landfill/community dump
Oil, diesel fuel and other related petroleum
products being dumped in landfill/dump or
people’s yards
Fuel oil and other petroleum products
contaminating soils in and/or around
landfill/dump site
Abandoned drums or hazardous waste in
and/or around landfill/dump site
Abandoned vehicles, boats, and equipment
in and/or around landfill/dump site
Trash left around community – lots of litter
Trash left on beaches, riverbanks, and
lakeshores (glass, cans, fishing gear)
No maintenance or protection of landfill
Air pollution problems caused by open
burning or burning waste in burn barrels
Animals scavenging around yards and/or
landfill/dump site
Improper disposal of household hazardous
wastes and household cleaning products
(bleach, ammonia, paint, etc)
Lack of recycling program including no
pick-up services from homes & businesses
Lack of community education on proper
handling and disposal of waste
Lack of trash pick-up and collection services
for homes or businesses
Other problems (list each problem – if need
more space use back of survey sheet)
289
¾ Using your survey results prepare a list of showing the ranking of the solid waste
management as ranked by your community members. Arrange your list from MOST
SEVERE to LEAST SEVERE problem. Based on your community survey results and list
what waste management problems do community members identify as being most severe?
Least severe? Why are these problems occurring in your community?
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS FACING OUR COMMUNITY

What is the biggest solid waste management problem in our community?
AS IDENTIFIED BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS
Problems with Managing and Disposing of Waste Number of Times

in the Community Mentioned
290
¾ What did community members identify as being the single biggest problem with managing
and disposing of waste in your community? List each problem identified in survey
responses. Keep track of how many times a problem is identified by more than one person
or business.
¾ Describe any other comments or concerns that community members may have made about
solid waste management problems on their survey form or during the survey interview.
291
VI. COMMUNITY VIEW – SOLUTIONS TO SOLID WASTE

PROBLEMS
COMMUNITY RANKING OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS

How do community members rank solid waste management solutions?
1 = Not a Good Solution 5 = Best Solution
RANKING BY SOLUTION AND EFFECTIVENESS
Total Total Total Total Total

TYPE OF WASTE MANAGEMENT PROBLEM Number 1 Number 2 Number 3 Number 4 Number 5
Implement regulations on use of

landfill/dump sites
Hire landfill operator and regularly
maintain landfill
Educate community members and
businesses about recycling & waste disposal
Establish fines/penalties for illegal
dumping
Create and implement an environmental
education program/curriculum for schools
Establish a community waste collection
system
Close old landfill/dump and build new
landfill
Start a community recycling program
Hold an annual community clean-up day
Clean-up landfill site and make

improvements (fence, signs, etc.)
Other possible solutions – list each solution
292
¾ Based on your community survey results what solutions to solid waste management in
your community do community members and businesses think would work best in your
community? Prepare a list showing the overall ranking for each solution. Use the
rankings that community members assigned to possible solutions to help identify those
solutions most supported by community members.
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS OUR COMMUNITY

What can be done to help solve solid waste management problem in our community?
AS IDENTIFIED BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS
Solutions and Ideas for Managing and Disposing of Waste Number of Times
in the Community Mentioned
293
¾ What did community members identify as being the best solution for managing and
disposing of waste in your community? Is this a solution that can be used to help your
community? Does the community have the ability to try using the community’s choice as a
solution to solid waste problems in the community?
¾ Describe any other comments or suggestions that community members may have made
about solid waste management solutions on their survey form or during the survey
interview.
294
SUMMARY OF COMMUNITY SURVEY RESULTS
Based on the data and information collected from your survey, summarize what are your
community’s solid waste management practices and community attitudes about having a solid
waste management program. By answering the following questions you will be able to better
understand how your community manages and disposes of waste and what community
attitudes are about waste management programs.
1. What methods of waste disposal are used by most community members
2. What kinds of cans or receptacles are currently most commonly used?
3. Is there community support for a solid waste management program? If not, why is there
no support?
295
4. In what way would a majority of your community members be willing to participate in a

recycling program?
5. Is improper dumping and disposal of household hazardous waste and forms of waste a
problem for your community? For example do more people dump used oil at the landfill
or take it to a collection site?
6. What do community members view as being the biggest solid waste management problems
in your community? What did community members identify as being the best solutions to
the community’s solid waste problems?
7. How do community members and businesses feel about recycling and waste reduction in
your community?
296

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Workbook Three: COLLECTING INFORMATION – GETTING TO KNOW YOUR COMMUNITY,

UNDERSTANDING YOUR COMMUNITY’S WASTE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND PRACTICES &

Worksheet Set Three

 PUBLIC HEARING/MEETING PROCESS: Hold a series of small group meetings or a

 COMMUNITY SURVEY: Conduct a survey of WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF DOING A

 Show potential funding agencies

¾ Identify solid waste management practices of households and businesses; and

¾ Determine community attitudes about establishing a solid waste management program in

WORKSHEET SET 3: Section 1 - 1

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETING THE COMMUNITY SURVEY

ASSESSING WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES and ATTITUDES

OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE YOUR COMMUNITY AN ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE

II. WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

Which method(s) do you use most often? ________________________________

Large dumpster near your home or business Yes F No F

F 1-2 bags per week

4. WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF WASTE?

b. Old appliances, snow machines, four-wheelers, boat motors, trucks, etc.

c. Household hazardous waste (e.g. old paint, cleaning products, etc.)

F Yes What do you recycle? __________________________________

III. COMMUNITY ATTITUDES ABOUT DEVELOPING A INTEGRATED

If a solid waste management program is going to work in our community, it must be

1. DO YOU THINK SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN THE COMMUNITY SHOULD BE IMPROVED?

6. WOULD YOU SUPPORT THE ADOPTION OF A COMMUNITY ORDINANCE OR RULES TO CONTROL

IV. COMMUNITY WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE IN RECYCLING

1. DO YOU SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY’S CURRENT RECYCLING EFFORTS?

2. WOULD YOU SUPPORT A COMMUNITY RECYCLING PROGRAM?

3. IN WHAT WAY(S) WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE? (CHECK APPROPRIATE BOXES)

7. WHAT TYPES OF WASTE WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO RECYCLE?

V. COMMUNITY VIEW OF WASTE MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS

VI. COMMUNITY VIEW – SOLUTIONS TO SOLID WASTE PROBLEMS

Respondent Information (Optional)

WORKSHEET SET 3: Section 1 – 2

What does your survey tell you about community attitudes?

I. GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT RESPONDENTS

 Total number of households in the community: ___________

 Total number of households surveyed: ___________

 Total number of businesses in the community: ___________

 Total number of businesses surveyed: ___________

 Total number of surveys completed: ___________

 Total number of elders surveyed: ___________

 Total number of youth surveyed: ___________

 Total number of other residents surveyed: ___________

II. COMMUNITY WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

COMMUNITY WASTE DISPOSAL PRACTICES

Most common methods of

WEEKLY QUANTITY OF TRASH THROWN AWAY

WASTE DISPOSAL METHODS USED FOR SPECIAL WASTES

b. Old appliances, vehicles, atv’s, etc.

c. Household hazardous waste (old paint,

COMMUNITY WASTE DISPOSAL METHODS – SPECIAL WASTES

TOTAL NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS/BUSINESSES

Other (list other methods)

III. COMMUNITY ATTITUDES – SOLID WASTE SERVICES

COMMUNITY ATTITUDES – SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT & SERVICES

Level of Community Support

IV. COMMUNITY WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE IN

COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR RECYCLING & WASTE REDUCTION

Level of Community Support

PUBLIC HEARING/MEETING PROCESS: Hold a series of small group meetings or a

COMMUNITY SURVEY: Conduct a survey of WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF DOING A

Show potential funding agencies

Total number of households in the community: ___________

Total number of households surveyed: ___________

Total number of businesses in the community: ___________

Total number of businesses surveyed: ___________

Total number of surveys completed: ___________

Total number of elders surveyed: ___________

Total number of youth surveyed: ___________

Total number of other residents surveyed: ___________