Before committing to a full segregated collection schedule in Hunters, we ran a smaller pilot: a set of shared recycling bins placed at a handful of accessible points across the area, to test whether residents would actually use dedicated recycling infrastructure before investing in a full weekly route there. The results shaped how Hunters ultimately joined our schedule.
Why we piloted rather than rolled out directly
By the time we were considering Hunters, we'd learned enough from earlier expansions to know that assuming demand, rather than testing it, was a costly way to grow. A full weekly collection route requires committing collector time, transport and sorting capacity; if uptake turned out to be low, that capacity would be better spent expanding an area with clearer demonstrated interest. A lower-cost pilot — shared bins at a few points, monitored for use over several weeks — let us test genuine interest before making that bigger commitment.
How the pilot was set up
We placed recycling bins, clearly labelled for plastic specifically, at several accessible points across Hunters — near shops, along main pedestrian routes, and at a couple of estate entry points identified with input from local residents. Bins were checked and emptied on a set schedule over the pilot period, with fill rates and contamination levels — how much non-recyclable material ended up mixed in — tracked as the two main indicators of whether the model was working.
What the pilot showed
Uptake was, encouragingly, strong at bins placed near shops and main pedestrian routes, where the low effort of dropping in a bottle on the way past made participation easy. Bins placed at less-trafficked points saw considerably lower use, a clear signal that convenience and visibility mattered more to participation than simple proximity to housing. Contamination — non-recyclable waste mixed into the bins — was moderate but manageable, and dropped over the course of the pilot as repeat users seemed to internalise what belonged in the bins.
What we changed based on the results
The clearest lesson from the pilot was about placement: high-traffic, high-visibility locations dramatically outperformed technically convenient but less-visible ones. When Hunters was added to our full weekly collection schedule, buy-back and drop-off points were positioned based directly on pilot usage data, not on an even geographic spread across the area. We also used the contamination patterns observed during the pilot to sharpen the guidance we give new areas about what specifically belongs in recyclable bins, addressing the most common mistakes we'd actually observed rather than generic guidance.
Why piloting before full rollout is now standard practice
The Hunters pilot was informative enough that we've since used smaller-scale testing — shared bins, a limited trial schedule, or both — before committing to full collection routes in some subsequent expansion areas, rather than relying purely on baraza-style community consultation to gauge demand. Piloting doesn't replace direct community engagement; it complements it by testing whether stated interest translates into actual behaviour once a low-effort option is available.
What Hunters looks like now
Hunters currently runs on a Friday segregated collection schedule alongside Githurai, with drop-off and buy-back access shaped directly by what the pilot revealed about where residents were actually willing to engage. It's a small example of a larger pattern in how we've grown: test before committing at full scale, and let real usage data, not assumptions, decide where infrastructure goes.
The cost comparison that shaped the decision
Running the numbers after the pilot made the case for testing before committing even clearer. The shared-bin pilot cost a fraction of what a full weekly collection route into Hunters would have required in its first months — no dedicated collector time, no fixed transport schedule, just periodic checks and emptying of a handful of bins. Had uptake proven weak, we'd have learned that at low cost rather than after committing collector hours and fuel to a full route that residents weren't ready to use. Because uptake was strong, that same low-cost data gave us confidence to invest in full collection with far less risk than an untested rollout would have carried.
How Hunters residents responded to the shift from pilot to full service
The transition from pilot bins to full weekly collection wasn't universally smooth. A few residents who had grown used to dropping recyclables at their own convenience at a pilot bin needed to adjust to a fixed collection day discipline instead, which is a different habit than an always-available drop point. We addressed this with the same approach we've used elsewhere: direct communication about why a fixed schedule serves the area better long-term than an unstaffed, periodically-emptied bin system, paired with visible proof, over the first few weeks, that the new schedule was being kept reliably.
What we'd do differently running a similar pilot again
If we were designing this pilot again, we'd build in resident feedback collection more systematically from the start, rather than relying mainly on fill-rate and contamination data alone. Direct resident input on bin placement and convenience, gathered partway through rather than only inferred from usage patterns afterward, would likely have let us adjust locations faster during the pilot itself rather than only informing the full rollout that followed it.
How this pilot's lessons are documented for future use
Rather than letting what we learned from the Hunters pilot live only in institutional memory, we've kept a written internal record of placement decisions, usage patterns, and adjustments made, specifically so future expansion into new areas can draw on documented evidence rather than relying purely on individual recollection of how a past pilot went.
Frequently asked questions
Are pilot recycling bins still in place in Hunters?
The pilot has since been folded into our full weekly collection schedule for Hunters; current drop-off points reflect the locations that performed best during the pilot period.
Could a similar pilot happen in other areas being considered for expansion?
Yes, it's now a standard tool we consider alongside community consultation when assessing new expansion areas.
What made bin placement succeed or fail during the pilot?
Visibility and low effort mattered most — bins near shops and main pedestrian routes saw far higher, more consistent use than technically convenient but less-visible locations.
See the full current schedule for Hunters and every village we serve on our programmes page.