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CRRA 2023 Conference and Trade Show

August 13–16, 2023

Hyatt Regency Burlingame, CA

To Pail or Not to Pail?

Track

Outreach

Speakers

Chelsea Nelson, Action Research
Title

Project Manager

Speaker Biography

Chelsea Nelson is the Project Manager at Action Research where she supports the development of research-based outreach programs to spark behavior change related to pollution prevention, food scraps diversion, and recycling. With over five years of experience in the behavioral and environmental sciences, she has worked closely with local and state government agencies to launch campaigns to reduce household food waste and support the implementation of SB 1383. Chelsea graduated with honors from the University of San Diego with a BA in Environmental Science and Psychology.

Abstract Title

To Pail or Not to Pail?

Speaker Abstract

In January 2022, SB 1383 went into effect, prompting California agencies to develop new outreach efforts to promote participation in residential food scraps collection programs. At the same time, most of the available research was focused on reducing household food waste, and little was known about effective behavioral approaches to engage residents in proper organics disposal. Beginning in April 2022, Action Research, in collaboration with the Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority, developed, implemented, and pilot-tested new outreach approaches with the goal of identifying the most cost-effective method for promoting participation in the residential organics collection program. The outreach was developed and tested using the community-based social marketing (CBSM) framework. CBSM is a data-driven process that focuses on reducing barriers to target behaviors while incorporating behavioral science tools to enhance motivation. The outreach strategies were informed by a mail survey administered to Salinas Valley residents to identify the perceived benefits and barriers to participating in the curbside food scraps collection program. Three strategy variations were pilot-tested and compared to a control group of households who only received information about the program. The strategies consisted of three core elements: an educational flyer, a normative feedback letter (mailed to two groups), and a countertop pail (delivery or pickup). Participation rates were evaluated using lid flips in three treatment neighborhoods and one control neighborhood. The results of the lid flips demonstrated that outreach approaches incorporating countertop pails were significantly more effective than education alone in getting residents to participate in food scraps diversion.

Moderator

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