Solid Waste awarded Carolina Recycling Association Award

The City of Columbia Solid Waste Division was recognized by the Carolina Recycling Association for the City’s innovative use of technology in the recycling program.

CRA held their annual conference in Myrtle Beach, SC and held the awards luncheon on Wednesday, March 29, 2017 where Samantha Yager, solid waste assistant superintendent, accepted the award on the City’s behalf.

CRA was impressed with the City’s use of mobile technology when communicating with residents, specifically college students, about collection schedules and education.

The City was finding that less people wanted to pick up the phone and call – they want to receive information the way they receive everything else – via apps, the internet, or instant messaging.

So, the Solid Waste Division started using the free Columbia, SC Solid Waste app that helps the City of Columbia communicate with residents in all the ways they want to communicate – and on their terms. This was revolutionary to the way we interacted with students.

With the app, the resource is right there. These days, we feel like our phone is almost an extension of ourselves. We are used to inquiring with it, constantly trying to learn more. The app now allows for that, allowing residents to receive notification about recycling and waste days, and interacting with easy tools to find information about products, places and services available to them.

CRA recognized the City of Columbia’s hard work and dedication to recycling in the Carolinas.