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