Setting up your Waste Survey space

Gather all your materials
1. Scale
2. Gloves
3. Small bundle of cardboard or plywood to place on top of the scale to make the base wider to keep floppy waste bags from touching the ground, which will throw off the weight. This is important! It makes weighing bags much more efficient.
Plan for a clear designated area to move waste after it is weighed
Designate an area for the scale to be set up. Must be on flat ground
Confirm you have the QR code to access the Survey Data Entry Tool
Make sure there are at least two people for the survey - even for a smaller building
Set up the scale - make sure to set the units to pounds “lbs”, not “kgs” by pushing the lbs/kg button
Test scale by standing on it - make sure it’s roughly accurate (you look fabulous today ;)

Start the Survey

Scan QR code to start Survey, enter your name, and click “Start Survey
Select the waste stream you will measure first, and gather the bags (or container(s) for that waste stream
Weigh as many bags from one unique waste stream at a time as possible
1. When cardboard or plywood is used to make the scale surface larger for floppy bags:
  1. Turn on the scale
  2. Place the cardboard or plywood onto the scale (you’ll see the weight of the cardboard or plywood appear)
  3. Press the ZERO button to tare the scale
  4. The weight of “0” should appear, even with the cardboard or plywood on top of the scale.
  5. You are now ready to start weighing bags
Tap the corresponding waste stream on the Survey tool
1. Enter the weight that corresponds to the weight you see on the scale and press Save
Save your data after you complete weighing or counting bags or containers for each waste stream
When you are finished, submit your data using the green “Complete Survey button at the bottom of the screen. Your data will not be submitted until you hit this button.