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Talking Trash: Recyclables and Organic Waste Most interviewed jurisdictions collaborate with haulers to create and distribute educational materials. Others also use consulting services for that purpose. Outreach strategies, the number of outreach events and communications, as well as participation rates vary greatly from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, but most rely heavily on paper mailings, which may not be the most effective way of reaching the public. If combined with junk mail, the educational material may go unread into a recycling bin, if not the trash. Frequently, the information flyers are mailed together with hard -copy utility bills, which may overlook those who subscribe to electronic billing. As part of their outreach/education campaigns, some of the interviewed jurisdictions purchased kitchen pails for recycling food scraps to distribute to some or all households. These purchases were funded through SB 1383 assistance grants from CalRecycle, which most of the Orange County jurisdictions applied for and received. The OCGJ reviewed a sampling of educational materials being distributed by several cities and concluded that the quality of these materials can range from highly informative publications with accessible and attractive designs to flimsy "newsletters" issued by haulers for their respective jurisdictions with graphics and instructions that are barely legible. Paper mailings have their role but represent only one of many possible outreach methods. The recycling industry itself is embracing technological advancements, including the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), in waste sorting, predicting trends, the use of smart hauler trucks and smart bins, as well as in outreach and education (Recycling Inside, 2023). According to Recycling Inside, "Al can play a pivotal role in educating the public about recycling practices. Chatbots and virtual assistants powered by Al can provide real-time guidance on waste disposal, recycling guidelines, and collection schedules. By engaging with individuals through personalized interactions, Al -driven platforms can raise awareness, promote recycling behavior, and facilitate proper waste management at the consumer level." According to research by the Recycling Partnership, "People have a misconception that what is recyclable doesn't change. They are recycling incorrectly in some cases because they are basing decisions on past guidelines and recycling knowledge such as believing milk cartons are wax coated and should not be recycled, or envelopes with windows should not be recycled. They think they know what they need to know about recycling because that's what they've always known." (Center for Sustainable Behavior & Impact, 2022) More than seventy percent of people surveyed wish there was an easier way to get information on what can and can't be recycled in their community. (Center for Sustainable Behavior & Impact, 2022) 2023-2024 Orange County Grand Jury Page 13 City Council 11 — 15 8/20/2024