What Happened?
Gresham, Oregon, is sending residents reminders about trash day through digital channels. The city hopes to reach citizens with friendly alerts through preferred communication channels such as social media, email, text message or phone calls.
Goal
Gresham has employed a technology to send residents alerts remaindering them of upcoming trash days so they do not forget to put their cans on the curb. Residents can sign up for the alerts and select how the information will be delivered to them: texts, emails, social media, electronic calendars, recorded phone calls, etc.
The GoCart! program is available through the city’s website, where residents can select alert delivery preferences. The direct communication technology will not only remind residents of when to put out their trash or recycling bins, but also share important tips on how to increase recycling efforts and reduce household trash. Residents can learn how to save money as well by switching to less frequent pickups or smaller garbage bins, Oregon Live reported.
Gresham pays for an annual subscription to the digital alert technology totaling $8,000. This number is based on the population size of the municipality. Gresham officials believe the savings generated from the system – such as elimination of printed newsletters and reductions in garbage hauling and dumping - are enough to offset the subscription costs.
Clean Up Apps
Tyler City Council in Texas is implementing a similar program that sends residents reminders and updates regarding trash collection services via a smartphone application. The smartphone app program will cost the city $10,000 annually and will connect directly with residential and commercial solid waste customers, Tyler Morning Telegraph reported.
Tyler can send out branded emails and phone messages directly to customers’ smartphones about trash service updates and changes – including schedule disruptions due to bad weather or holidays. The city can send targeted campaign messages that may only apply to specific neighborhoods, routes or collection days. In addition, residents can open the app, type in their address and receive up-to-date information on their track pickup service before reminders are sent. Officials believe the money saved in outreach and advertising will pay for the annual subscription.
The Belfast City Council has also invested in a mobile app to tell residents when trash and recycling bins are collected in their area. The BinSmart app also explains what materials can be recycled instead of thrown into trash cans. Residents can receive the information as well as report litter, dumping and other concerns directly to the city council via the app. The goal is for the app to increase efficiency and resource management, while engaging citizens in maintaining cleaner neighborhoods, News Letter reported.
Similarly, Boston has a smartphone app that allows residents to pay for parking tickets from their mobile devices. The city collected ideas from various organizations on how to improve the parking ticket payment process and the new mobile app emerged. Residents will be able to pay off tickets faster and more efficiently, while the city will save on payment processing overhead.
More Efficient Residents
Gov1 has reported on new ways cities are alerting residents to public services information, which then makes delivery of services more efficient and cost-effective.