Uppsala is Sweden's fourth largest city and has a relatively large proportion of students and young residents, which can affect both the amount of litter and involvement in environmental issues. The municipality has invested in various campaigns, including partnerships with associations and litter picking activities to raise awareness of littering.
The goal is clear: to make Uppsala the cleanest city in Sweden.
How can we encourage more people to do the right thing?
According to Ka Widebeck, project manager at Uppsala Municipality's waste management department, it's about making it easy, attractive and, above all, fun to put your rubbish in the right place. By combining creativity and practical action, Uppsala Municipality is working to change how residents view littering and how they get involved in keeping the city clean.
Photo: Stadsbyggnadsförvaltningen Uppsala / Rena Nyheter
The bins have become part of the cityscape and are actively used as communication surfaces to encourage the right behavior. Foiling with colorful messages, highly visible locations and thoughtful design have made residents both see and use them more.
"A nicely designed barrel becomes a natural part of the cityscape and makes it easier to make the right choice"
There is even evidence that a visible bin attracts more people than a neutral or hidden one. When the municipality tested placing both a yellow and a neutral bin at the same distance from the footpath, an overwhelming majority chose to use the more conspicuous one.
Pelle Svanslös, Skräpkören and other creative approaches
It's about going the extra mile - what makes someone take an interest in the bins and get active in the first place? It's very difficult to change behavior, but by making the bins as attractive as possible, we can have an impact," says Widebeck.
One of the most high-profile initiatives in Uppsala is the litter choir. The idea was born out of the municipality's strong choral tradition and has become a popular initiative, especially among children who react and get involved. "Children think it's fun and they react immediately when they see us singing about litter," says Widebeck.
Ownership leads to greater engagement
Uppsala municipality manages its own waste management, with a team of around 30 people who empty, pick up and keep clean on a daily basis. In addition, city hosts, who are part of labor market measures, work to keep the urban environment clean.
"The initiative for 'Yellow Wave' was born out of our own work at the sanitation department, we were listened to by management and since then Yellow Wave has only grown. Seeing something grow from an idea to a concrete and successful venture creates pride and a desire to continue developing new solutions," says Widebeck.
Image: Stadsbyggnadsförvaltningen Uppsala / Rena Nyheter
What is the cost of littering?
Litter is not only an aesthetic problem, it is also a major financial expense for municipalities. Emptying a bin is a planned expense, while cleaning up litter from the ground is an unexpected and unnecessarily expensive expense. Preventing littering through properly designed bins and communication is more cost-effective than sending staff out to pick up litter.
"It's about lifting the pride of waste pickers and showing how crucial their work is. When there have been garbage strikes in other countries, like France, we have seen how quickly everything falls apart when garbage is no longer emptied. It's a reminder that without the daily work of cleaners, we would quickly see the consequences."
Keeping the city clean through well-placed bins and behavioral design is much more cost-effective than having to pick up litter from streets and parks," she explains.
Image: Stadsbyggnadsförvaltningen Uppsala / Rena Nyheter
Safety and challenges in the urban environment
A clean city is a safe city, but like many other municipalities, Uppsala is struggling with problems such as graffiti, cans and illegal posters.
"We have to keep it under surveillance all the time. It's fast, it's hard - lots of stickers, lots of vandalism. But we have seen that designed bins are tagged and vandalized much less than neutral bins"
By addressing both function and aesthetics in the design of waste solutions, both littering and vandalism can be reduced while making the urban environment more pleasant.
Five tips for a cleaner city
- Use the bins as a creative surface - Create a design that stands out and captures interest.
- Place bins visibly and accessibly - A beautifully designed bin is used more than a hidden one.
- Make it fun and meaningful to dispose of litter correctly - Engage residents through incentives and reward systems.
- Highlight the important work of cleaners - Without them, the city would quickly fall into disrepair, and their contribution needs to be made visible.
- Think long-term and involve more stakeholders - Businesses, associations and residents can contribute to a cleaner city through dialogue and joint efforts.
Conclusion: When creativity changes behavior
To change people's behavior in the long term, it must be interesting and engaging to do the right thing. Uppsala Municipality has shown that by combining creativity, visual cues and positive incentives, more people take responsibility for their surroundings. When litter picking becomes part of a fun and inspiring process, people are more likely to actually do it - not because they have to, but because they want to.
Thank you to Ka Widebeck and the colleagues at the cleaning department in Uppsala Municipality, you do a fantastic job and thank you for sharing your tips!
