Ten Steps to open a Recycle Swop Shop
1. Visit a Recycle Swop Shop near you (or arrange for Marilyn to come and share her Powerpoint Presentation and ask LOTS of questions!) and learn all you can about how they operate. Ask questions and develop a vision of how can you can apply the idea in your own community.
2. Identify a location where the ‘swop shop’ will happen each week. This can be a street corner if you plan a mobile ‘swop shop’ or a community space you have organized for the purpose.
3. Set a day and time each week that is convenient for the children. Keep in mind the school schedule of sports and other after school activities. Liaise with the local school to help spread the word and identify the best afternoon.
4. Collect the items you will need: supplies for swop (see price list), sorting bags for recycling (4 or more large wool bags or bags made out of shade cloth), milk crates or boxes to store & display items for the “shop”, coloured marker and paper squares for tickets.
5. Advertise the concept with a few children in the neighbourhood of choice to start. Word of mouth is the best way because children who understand the concept will teach others. Do not open on a large scale as it will be overwhelming. Let excited children tell others, let it grow.
6. Keep record of the numbers of children attending, amounts of recyclables collected and so on. This will be useful when sharing with others your effectiveness to gain support.
7. Consider outings for the children as incentives to collect more and as an educational tool to inform and sensitize children to community and environmental issues.
8. Inform the local community of your activities through outings where they can see your action with children, send articles to the newspaper, invite people & organizations to visit.
9. Approach clubs, charities, individuals and businesses to help you, as your needs increase. Show statistics to prove your success.
10. Enjoy.
Handbook to assist you under revision and will be posted here soon.
