Training Opportunities

Three Year Blue Box Recycler Training Program Project
(E&E Fund Project #341)

The Blue Box Recycler Training project was launched in April 2008. The goal of the three year long project is to improve the performance of Blue Box programs by providing in-class recycling training for municipal staff. The Fundamental Principles in Recycling Planning core training covers all aspects of municipal blue box recycling and the specialized courses provide in-depth training on:

• Contract Management
• Promotion and Education
• Markets and Marketing
• Data Management

Participants who complete a course and meet the 70% pass mark requirement for the exam, or assignment in the case of the specialized courses, will receive a certificate of completion.

The course curriculum was developed by Stantec and the Municipal Waste Association (MWA) in cooperation with municipal staff across Ontario, industry people, training experts and representatives from colleges and key recycling organizations.

For more information:
Carrie Nash, Blue Box Training Coordinator
Municipal Waste Association
C: (519) 636-8870 | F: (519) 823-0084
E: carriemunicipalwaste [dot] ca

Course Descriptions

Fundamental Principles in Recycling Planning

This five-day Fundamental Principles in Recycling Planning course is designed to provide learners with knowledge and information to make key decisions related to planning, operating and implementing a municipal Blue Box recycling program.

• Module 1—Recycling Program Planning
• Module 2—Markets
• Module 3—Processing
• Module 4—Collection
• Module 5—Promotion and Education
• Module 6—Policies
• Module 7—Measure & Monitor
• Module 8—Present Your Program Plan

Promotion and Education (P&E)

The two-day P&E course provides hands-on training for participants to plan and put in place effective recycling P&E for their recycling programs. Under the guidance of the trainers, each participant will begin to develop a P&E plan for their recycling program and completed plans will be required to be submitted to the training faculty within three months of finishing the in-class training.

• Module 1: Purpose and Impact
• Module 2: Communications Plan Components and Creation
• Module 3: Messaging and Tools
• Module 4: Budgeting and Evaluation
• Module 5: Planning and Presenting the Plan

Pre-requisite: Fundamental Principles in Recycling Planning

Contract Management

Participants taking this two-day course will be provided with information and insights on improving the management of Blue Box recycling contracts. Rather than focusing on writing new contracts, this course focuses on the essential skill of properly managing established contracts in order to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of blue box recycling programs. Participants will have a chance to learn how to assess and strengthen their own Blue Box contracts and apply this knowledge to other contracts.

• Module 1: Introduction
• Module 2: Assess General Contract Provisions
• Module 3: Manage (Measure and Monitor)
• Module 4: Problem Solving

Pre-requisite: Fundamental Principles in Recycling Planning

Markets and Marketing

This 2-day training course will provide learners with an opportunity to evaluate their marketing approach and explore opportunities for improvement. It will provide a deeper understanding of marketing that goes beyond the theory presented in the Fundamental Principles course to the realities of marketing, including marketing best practices (policies and procedures), market trends, contract management, marketing challenges (e.g. quality issues) and opportunities for optimization throughout the process.

• Module 1: The Basics
• Module 2: Choosing a Market
• Module 3: Managing & Measuring Performance
• Module 4: Responsibility for Marketing

Pre-requisite: Fundamental Principles in Recycling Planning

Data Management

The goal of this two-day training program is to provide learners with an opportunity to acquire knowledge and skills relating to how to effectively collect and analyze data in support of recycling program management. In addition, learners will have opportunities to apply and demonstrate their knowledge through the development of a personalized list of key data management improvement actions for their recycling programs. 

• Module 1 – Introduction: Why Data Management
• Module 2 – Data Collection
• Module 3 – Data Analysis
• Module 4 – Your Personal Data Management Action List

Pre-requisite: Fundamental Principles in Recycling Planning