Case Study: Recycling Calendar shifts to Google

When the Town of Teaneck increased its recycling collection to bi-weekly from monthly and began to collect all paper and plastics, metal and glass, there was confusion. Special collections were not listed in the calendar published online and the different zones made it hard for people to keep track of when to put out materials, especially for people who rely on phone or PC-based calendars. The Advisory Commission on Sustainability used its own website, Google Calendar and Facebook to publish electronic calendars so that a resident could download and print, or use their online calendar program (Google, Yahoo, iPhone, Blackberry, Outlook etc) to subscribe to calendars for just their zone plus special pickups for hazardous materials, electronics, etc. Electronic calendars are easy for the town to update, and updates automatically appear on everyone's calendar when a date changes. The calendars made for a good angle for press coverage of the launch of the Website, with information on "greening" homes and businesses.