What many people don’t realize is that improper disposal of trash can lead to major plumbing and sewer problems for the whole community. This is why it’s so important for government officials to educate their citizens about the importance of not throwing trash in public toilets and the costly problems that occur when trash is flushed. By raising awareness about the consequences of this harmful habit of throwing trash or paper towels in toilet tanks, government officials can help to keep public toilets and their communities clean and healthy.

Why Not To Throw Trash in the Toilet

Throwing trash in public toilets can have damaging consequences for both the environment and public health. Every time someone flushes a toilet with trash in it, they are clogging up the pipes and putting unnecessary strain on the septic system. Not to mention, it’s just unsanitary.

Blocked septic systems lead to sewage overflows, thereby contaminating waterways. This creates breeding grounds for bacteria and insects, which can spread disease, harming the community and the environment.

So next time you’re tempted to throw your trash such as cat litter, cotton balls, dental floss, plastic, or feminine products, in the toilet, remember that it’s not worth the risk of making yourself or your community sick and creating a plumbing nightmare. Throw your trash in the bin and help keep our public restrooms clean and safe for everyone. The only things that belong in a toilet are toilet paper and human waste.

7 Ways To Prevent Trash in Toilets

Local government officials are in a unique position to get the message out to their citizens about why they should not throw trash in the toilet. If you’re looking for ways to educate your community, here are seven tips that might help.

1. Send Out Community Postcards

If you’re looking for a way to bring awareness to this issue, consider creating a postcard that tells community members why it is harmful to throw trash in a toilet tank. This postcard can be distributed through local schools, libraries, and community centers.

2. Post on Social Media

You can create a graphic and share it on community pages on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. The graphic can be an interesting and creative way of showing what can happen when trash, paper towels, plastic wrappers, or feminine products, are flushed down the toilet, urging people to dispose of their waste properly.

3. Send Out Bill Inserts

Bill inserts can be a great tool for sending out the message “Do not throw trash in the toilet” to the community. Sending inserts can reach a wide audience with an important message. And because they’re easy to read and usually contain other important information, people are more likely to read them.

4. Distribute Door Hangers

Public service workers can canvas the neighborhoods and put custom door hangers calling attention to the community problem of throwing trash or paper towels in toilets. Door hangers are an effective way to reach a large number of people and are easily hung. Plus, they can be distributed quickly and easily by volunteers. In addition, door hangers are often kept as mementos or keepsakes, which can help to create a positive association in the community.

5. Hang Signs in Public Restrooms

Hanging signs on just about any wall in the restrooms of public spaces, such as centers, town halls, parks, and public libraries, is an effective way to remind users to not throw trash in the toilet. A wall sign can be simple and to the point, or it can be creative and humorous. Either way, a great wall sign design will help to remind people of the proper way to dispose of their trash. 

6. Make a Video PSA 

A video PSA, or public service announcement, is a short film or video that raises awareness about a particular issue or concern. Video PSAs are designed to educate and engage viewers so that they will be motivated to take action. You can create a video PSA to share online through email newsletters and social media to remind community members why they need to be paying attention to what they put in the toilet.

7. Use Van or Truck Stickers

Consider putting a custom-made sticker on the side of public utility vehicles to advertise the cause all over town. With any luck, these stickers would help to educate people about the importance of keeping your public restrooms clean.

As a local government worker, you can help prevent people from throwing trash in the toilet. By taking these simple steps, you can raise awareness about this problem and keep our environment clean.

Partner With Goldstreet Designs Today

Goldstreet Designs is on a mission to help local governments by providing public outreach solutions that grab attention and get results. We partner with forward-thinking organizations like yours to get the word out and make a lasting difference. Together, we can build healthier communities and protect our environment.

Contact Goldstreet Designs today to learn more about how we can partner with you to make a difference. Let’s work together to keep our communities clean and healthy.

The post Do Not Throw Trash in the Toilet: How To Get Communities To Listen appeared first on Goldstreet Designs.

In addition, just 2 years prior, they hired a full-time Commercial Businesses Stormwater Inspector, but had been disappointed with the progress being made by the restaurants in particular, even with monthly site inspections. Basic stormwater best management practices were not being followed to the City’s satisfaction in the outdoor areas behind the restaurants, causing unknown amounts of pollution to enter local storm drains on a daily basis.

They were interested in finding an innovative way to reach restaurant staff through education and increase the use of stormwater best management practices occurring in the spaces outside of restaurants in the City.

Results: Goldstreet’s Consulting Staff and the City of Oak Harbor worked collaboratively to employ Community Based Social Marketing techniques to gain a solid understanding of the target audience in order to develop a targeted, effective and well thought out plan for inspiring a change in behavior from restaurant staff to improve water quality in the Puget Sound region.

We compiled and analyzed the data and provided a detailed summary of the findings. Background research was also explored to uncover similar projects designed to reach the target audience. The data was then used to identify motivators and barriers to reaching restaurant staff, as well as set project goals and objectives and to develop a marketing strategy. As part of the marketing strategy, we also uncovered existing grant opportunities to provide free spill kits and professional training to restaurant staff in Oak Harbor.

The marketing strategy prompted the development of three different products by Goldstreet’s Creative Design Team:

1. A multi-purpose brochure, which serves as a training tool for restaurant managers, and folds out into an eye catching, yet simple poster, targeting the restaurant staff.
2. A big and bright dumpster sticker, reminding staff how to properly maintain the dumpster area.
3. A training program designed specifically for the local high school culinary school which will focus on the proper outdoor BMPs to follow at any restaurant and the basics of how restaurants can have an impact on water quality.

Evaluation of the products was the final step and provided the City with astounding measurable results for permit reporting. Following distribution of the restaurant poster and dumpster sticker to restaurants in Oak Harbor, the following changes in behavior were observed:

• The occurrence of open dumpster lids was reduced by 76%
• The occurrence of garbage on the ground around the dumpster was reduced by 51%
• The occurrence of uncovered cardboard outdoors was reduced by 30%

The post Success Story: City of Oak Harbor, WA Uses Community Based Social Marketing & Brochures to Reduce Water Pollution from Restaurants appeared first on Goldstreet Designs.

The lack of toilet paper has caused consumers to turn to alternative paper products such as paper towels, wet wipes, and in one case, shredded t-shirt material, which resulted in a clogged sewer line at a lift station in Redding, CA. Wastewater workers responded immediately, helping to prevent a dangerous sewage spill, while City officials placed the door hangers on resident’s homes, reminding them of the dangers of non-flushable materials. The story quickly drew media attention and was covered in a national news story highlighting the use of the door hangers to emphasize the importance of not flushing improper materials down the toilet. The article also provided images of the print graphics themselves, helping to further raise awareness to readers throughout the U.S.

Nationwide, local utilities have been on high-alert trying to quickly create and distribute informational materials warning residents of the dangers of flushing non-flushable items, but the City of Redding was already prepared, says Tracy, who notes “Having pre-printed materials on our shelves ahead of time was extremely important. In a sewer crisis/overflow situation, sewer departments do not have the luxury of time to develop educational materials and have them printed. We were prepared for this type of public outreach and response to a sewer backup because we planned ahead and had the public education materials available at our office.”

While the Coronavirus disease and toilet paper shortages could not have been anticipated, The City of Redding’s proactive approach to educating residents on an already growing problem allowed them to preempt it during an unprecedented time of crisis.

The post Success Story: City of Redding, CA Makes National News With “Think Before You Flush” Door Hanger appeared first on Goldstreet Designs.

Improper disposal of HHW – such as pouring them down the drain or toilet, onto the ground, into storm sewers, or even into the trash—can – pollute the environment and contaminate septic tanks or drinking water. Most people don’t realize that throwing these items away can result in physical injury to people or pets, but some cities have started campaigns to increase public awareness.

The City of Indio recently teamed up with the Riverside County Department of Waste Resources to double the amount of free hazardous and toxic waste drop off events throughout the year. These events are part of the city’s “Box It and Bring It” campaign, which it has used for the last few years, and which it plans to continue through 2020.

Because this campaign presented a real challenge for creatively communicating a great deal of information and increasing public participation, The City of Indio reached out to Goldstreet for help educating and engaging the community. The city wanted to create materials that contained an explanation of HHW items, a list of acceptable items to bring to the drop-offs, collection dates and locations, and tips for HHW disposal. They needed comprehensive materials that could be used for several years by simply changing the event dates each year.

Goldstreet Designs, the City of Indio, and The Sustainability Commission all worked together to create the HHW campaign. The three organizations started by focusing on a succinct campaign message, along with a tagline. Next, they turned to the design of the materials, using catchy colors and photo illustrations to complement the message. With so many partners collaborating, the campaign approval process went through several rounds of brainstorming, drafting, and change-making. Both the City of Indio and the Sustainability Commission offered Goldstreet guidance as the agency brought the “Box It and Bring It” campaign to life.

Sara Toyoda, from The City of Indio, says, “I’m happy with the way everything turned out. The community is responding to the events. People tend to bring the items on the list and there is less confusion at the events. There are still some questions, but not many, since the outreach material is clear on what to bring.”

In the end, the “Box It and Bring It” campaign included several types of materials, including bill inserts and social media snackables. The playful visuals of the materials’ photo illustrations have helped get readers’ attention, while the bright colors and bold fonts are perfect for emphasizing the most important pieces of information. A comprehensive PDF is also now located on the website, serving as a resource for all things Household Hazardous Waste and proper disposal.

Toyoda says, “The colors, taglines and branding are all very recognizable. Now people know what to look for and that this outreach is for the HHW collection.”

Through their collaboration with Goldstreet, The City of Indio was able to create a memorable and educational campaign that they’ll now be able to use for years to come.

The post Success Story: The City of Indio Tackles Household Hazardous Waste appeared first on Goldstreet Designs.

Newsletters are one of the best ways to communicate important information with a wide audience, but first you have to get people reading what you send!

Here are six great tips for making sure your newsletter is one that customers will want to engage with:

1. Spend Plenty of Time on Your Subject or Headline.

Although it may seem like a newsletter headline or email subject doesn’t matter much, it’s usually the first thing your reader sees. It gives them an immediate impression and helps determine whether they want to find out more. Go with a subject or headline that’s short, direct, and positive. The headline of a printed newsletter should also be eye catching and prominently placed to ensure that any reader will see it. To see how yours stacks up, try this free headline analyzer from the Advanced Marketing Institute.

2. Simplify, Simplify, Simplify.

It’s crucial that you don’t overwhelm your readers with too much information. Be concise and focus on one clear message. Before you mail out your newsletter or hit send on the email, make sure you’ve cut out everything that’s not necessary. That might even mean stepping away from your content for awhile and coming back for one last pass at trimming it down.

3. Create a Hierarchy of Information.

In addition to keeping your newsletter simple, you also want it to be well organized. Since most people only spend a limited time reading a newsletter, it’s crucial that you put your most important information first. If you have a lot of information to communicate and you’re sending an email, consider linking out to your website.

4. Provide Information that Educates Your Customers.

Your newsletter should offer reliable and informative content. Send your customers information that is useful to them, and they are more likely to engage with it. Regularly sending educational content can help build your customers’ trust in you as they come to see you as an expert in your field.

5. Keep Your Layout Clean.

No matter how helpful your information is, it also needs to be visually appealing and easy for your readers to digest. In our age of social media, most people are used to reading in short bursts, so your newsletter should cater to a short attention span. Use headers to break up sections and present information in bulleted lists that are easy to read. Keep your design simple and use plenty of white space.

6. Create a Customer Feedback Loop.

Creating an engaging and educational newsletter is important. Getting customer feedback on your messaging is just as important. Customer feedback loops are extremely efficient ways to improve your services and to meet customer’s needs. Creating this customer interaction, you can gather information that is important to your audience, learn from it and tweak your messaging to make it more meaningful. Make sure you include avenues for feedback in your newsletter, invite people to participate in the conversation through surveys. Offer incentives for feedback. Some examples are: a free inspection or a giveaway of a promotional item. Make sure to include an email address, survey link and contact information.

The post 6 Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Newsletter appeared first on Goldstreet Designs.

In April, Sierra Madre faced a vote to repeal their UUT, or Utility Users’ Tax. A repeal of this tax would have slashed the city’s budget by 24%, or about 2.6 million dollars. It would have meant layoffs for the Police and Fire Departments and would have decimated funding for the Library and Community Services.

Luckily, the Police Association decided to create and distribute a flyer breaking down the realities of the UUT repeal. Detective Supervisor Henry Amos explains that the Police Association was planning to distribute a flyer alongside one from the City, but when the City’s didn’t materialize, the Police Association decided to create their own to get the word out. The Association isn’t active on social media, so they didn’t think that trying to make a push on Facebook made sense. They decided that they could actually reach more community members with a mailer campaign than via the Internet.

The Measure D to repeal the UUT was worded in such a way that a vote of “no” would save the tax, while a vote of “yes” would cut it. It was crucial that the Police Association make sure people understood that they needed to vote “no” in order to keep the funding. They knew they needed to spell out the facts about losing the UUT in a way anyone could understand.

“Because people don’t always read the fine print,” says Amos. “We wanted the big, bold letters to say VOTE NO.”

A flyer with clear graphics and a focused message was exactly what they needed. They worked with Goldstreet Designs to communicate the most important information in the clearest way possible. Says Amos of working with Goldstreet: “They were able to research information the Association didn’t have the skillset to find, and they were also able to get the info to where it made sense.”

The final flyer uses graphics to show just how many positions and services would be lost if the UUT was repealed. It translates the complicated wording of Measure D into concise points of information that get at the heart of what was at stake. It was distributed as a mailer, so voters would be able to hold it in their hands as they read it, rather than just clicking past it online.

In the end, the UUT was not repealed, and the vote was shot down 1841 to 400, according to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune. Does Amos think the flyer helped win the vote they needed? “Oh yeah,” he says, “The repeal was shot down by about 80% because of it.” The largest margin of victory in voting history.

The post Success Story: City of Sierra Madre Saves Funding with a Flyer appeared first on Goldstreet Designs.