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CRRA 2022 Conference & Tradeshow

September 6–9, 2022

The Seabird Resort in Oceanside, CA

Processes and Behavior - Combating Contamination

Wednesday, September 7, 2022 at 10:45 AM–12:15 PM PDT
Breakwater
Track

Potluck

Speakers

Moderator

Susan Collins, Container Recycling Institute

Strategies for Addressing Contamination - Results from a Nationwide Study

Track

Potluck

Speakers

Ann Gibbs, SERA
Title

Research Analyst

Speaker Abstract

A recently completed study on successful strategies in addressing contamination examined more than two dozen options.  The project examined “usual suspect” local choices related to program design, education, processing improvements and other options to identify those with the biggest impact and lowest cost.  In addition to case study information, detailed modeling work examines the tradeoffs from including and excluding specific materials and specific “advanced” processing technologies (robots, optical scanners, etc.) on diversion, costs and profitability, and how the results are affected by market prices and disposal fees.  The results of this study provide best practices to help communities and haulers make successful choices in cleaning up the recycling stream.

Moderator

San José Cart Lid Replacement Pilot Project Improves Recycling Behavior

Speakers

Jennie Loft, City of San Jose, Environmental Services Department
Title

Public Information Manager

Speaker Abstract

In spring 2021, the City of San José’s Environmental Services Department conducted a successful pilot program to improve residents’ recycling behavior by providing recycling cart lids with trilingual (English, Spanish and Vietnamese) labels showing what is recyclable and what isn’t. The program sampled recycling material from nearly 5,000 single-family homes along five collection routes in north and east San José where the graphic labels had been distributed. The contamination rates along those routes dropped by an average of 20 percent.

 In the conference workshop, the presenters will talk about:

 

  • Problem: Contaminated recyclable materials in recycling containers
  • Reaching Spanish and Vietnamese speaking audiences
  • Program Operations: Working with a hauler on how to deploy new cartlids w graphics
  • Visual graphics conveying what to recycle and what not to
  • San José’s major Recycle Right campaign
  • Results of the pilot program
  • Next Steps
Valerie Osmond, City of San Jose Environmental Services Department
Title

Deputy Director

Speaker Abstract

In spring 2021, the City of San José’s Environmental Services Department conducted a successful pilot program to improve residents’ recycling behavior by providing recycling cart lids with trilingual (English, Spanish and Vietnamese) labels showing what is recyclable and what isn’t. The program sampled recycling material from nearly 5,000 single-family homes along five collection routes in north and east San José where the graphic labels had been distributed. The contamination rates along those routes dropped by an average of 20 percent.

 In the conference workshop, the presenters will talk about:

 

  • Problem: Contaminated recyclable materials in recycling containers
  • Reaching Spanish and Vietnamese speaking audiences
  • Program Operations: Working with a hauler on how to deploy new cartlids w graphics
  • Visual graphics conveying what to recycle and what not to
  • San José’s major Recycle Right campaign
  • Results of the pilot program
  • Next Steps

Moderator

A First Glimpse – Using SB 1383 Route Reviews and Facility Audits to Reduce Contamination

Track

Potluck

Speakers

Tim Dewey-Mattia, Napa Recycling & Waste Services
Title

Recycling & Public Education Manager

Speaker Abstract

Contamination continues to be a hurdle for all of our recycling and composting programs.  As a hauler, recycler and composter, Napa Recycling deals with this at multiple levels of collection and processing. SB 1383 includes multiple requirements for regular route reviews and facility sampling audits, and Tim will give a first glimpse at how jurisdictions and haulers can use these SB 1383 flip-the-lid reviews and facility audits to help understand, monitor and reduce contamination.

Moderator

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