Paradise opts for second recycling video for students
By Mark Squibb/February 3, 2023
The Town of Paradise was apparently so impressed with a local marketing company’s work, it’s asking for more of it.
In 2021, council hired WaterWerks, a St. John’s based marketing and digital content creator that council has used for several other projects in the past, including garbage collection calendars, to find ways to help residents better understand and appreciate the importance of waste diversion.
“Since the contract was awarded, numerous meetings have been held between WaterWerrks and Town staff, with the most recent being January 11, 2023,” said councillor Patrick Martin during last week’s meeting. “At that meeting, WaterWerks provided us with a proposed communication and marketing plan with the main messaging of the green goal being the benefits of the four R’s — Recycle, Reuse, Reduce, and Repair.”
Martin explained the initial request for proposals specified one animated video for school age children in grades K-6.
“However, staff feel that we should entertain an additional video with key messaging and animation for older age children as well,” Martin went on. “A quote was provided in the amount of $8,625, HST included.”
Martin said the additional video was not a budgeted item, but that sufficient funds were available, including funding from the Mult-Materials Stewardship Board (MMSB) that he estimated was around $10,000.
Deputy Mayor Kimberly Street applauded WaterWerks for its presentation to the committee.
“It was a great plan they put forth,” said Street. “It’s a real community initiative for residents, businesses, and schools. I know I’m looking forward to promoting it in our town, and I’m looking forward to doing better at home as well.”
Martin added he hopes the initiative will encourage more residents to recycle, thus reducing the Town’s tipping fees at Robin Hood Bay.
Some municipalities, such as St. John’s, have implemented clear bag by-laws to better enforce recycling.
“After the meeting, I was driving around the City of St. John’s, and I was taking note while I was driving, as it was collection day, of how many people were recycling,” Martin said. “There’s not too many houses you drive by now that’s there not blue bags out with the garbage. The uptake has considerably gone up since they implemented the clear bags. It’s all part and parcel of what we’re trying to achieve.”
Councillor Larry Vaters noted the importance of getting youth involved in the recycling effort, especially as Paradise boasts a huge youth population.