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HomeMy WebLinkAboutUkiah Waste Solutions, Inc. 2021-10-12 �P5TC- 5�l October 12, 2021 Sage Sangiacomo City Manager City of Ukiah 300 Seminary Avenue Ukiah, CA 95482 Dear Sage, Please accept this letter and it's attachments as our recap of Public Education and Outreach activities that Ukiah Waste Solutions has undertook in 2021, as well as activities planned for 2022. Unfortunately, again this year with the continuance of COVID-19 most if not all of the tabling events and outreach opportunities have been canceled. That being said, we continue to reach out to our customers via newsletters, our main website, as well as our Ukiah specific website (Ukiah Recycles.com). We also post information on social media platforms and continue to have interaction with individual customers. Hopefully the planned events for next year will come to fruition. The importance of keeping the material placed in the blue cart clean and dry remains of upmost importance in order for us to effectively market the material. If you have any questions or comments, as always please feel free to contact me directly. Sincere Bruce McCracken Ukiah Waste Solutions Ukiah Waste Solutions Outreach Activities in 2021 Newsletters and Directed Literature • Newsletters were inserted in customer billings in April and will be in October • A variety of materials were provided to the City's Utility Department for display and or handouts when residents visit City Hall. These materials included such items as targeted recycling information, company newsletters and recycling magnets for home use. ® All new customers were provided with recycling information upon initiation of service. Digital banners were placed on the city's website promoting the biannual Leaf Collection Program. An ad was placed in each edition of the City Recreation Guide promoting proper recycling. City of Ukiah Website Announcement of the online interactive recycling guide UKIAHRECYCLES.COM • Announcement of the biannual Leaf Collection Program was included on the City's website. Specific Outreach • Ukiah Waste Solutions educated commercial customers about the mandatory commercial recycling requirements required by CalRecycle • Ukiah waste Solutions made contact with commercial accounts to inform them of the new Mandatory Organics Collection required by CalRecycle. Community EventslPresentationslTours The continuance of the COVID-19 pandemic again diminished our ability to provide face to face outreach. We are however encouraged by being able to table for this year's Pumpkin Festival. Route Activities Collection Routes were audited to assure customer compliance with recycling requirements in an effort to reduce contamination of materials. Information was left on customer's carts, literature mailed, and follow-up phone calls were made as necessary. • Route audits were made in both the spring and fall to assure that company carts were properly marked and labeled. Social Media/TV Ukiah Waste Solutions utilized their Facebook Page to interact with customers in a convenient and timely manner. Page 2 • Ukiah Waste Solutions started several weekly Facebook posts to engage local community and introduce them to the crew members servicing their weekly carts as well as handling their materials through the Ukiah transfer station and Material Recovery Facility. Ukiah Waste Solutions Planned Outreach Activities for 2022 New for 2022 UK/AHRECYCLES.COM will continue to be promoted as a valuable tool providing the community a digital outlet to strengthen efforts towards waste reduction and proper recycling. Ukiah Waste Solutions is looking to produce more social media content to be used for outreach and education. • Educational decals will continue to be updated and placed on our fleet of collection trucks. Newsletters and Directed Literature Newsletters inserted in customer billings for April and October • Continue providing materials to the City's Utility Department for display and or handouts when residents visit City Hall. These materials include items such as targeted recycling information, company newsletters and recycling magnets for home use. • All new customers will be provided with recycling information upon initiation of service. • General announcements will be placed in local print publications, as well as online versions, highlighting both recycling and mixed organic waste education as well as additional programs offered. Advertisements will continue to be placed in the City Recreation Guides promoting recycling and food waste services. Additional ad placements will be made in both online and print versions of local publications. City of Ukiah Website • Announcements of programs such as the biannual Leaf Collection Program will be advertised through the city website as well as encouraging city residents to visit our online recycling guide at UKIAH RECYCLES.COM. Direct Mail • Additional direct mailers regarding single stream recycling and mixed organic waste collection may be sent as needed. Specific Outreach • Ukiah Waste Solutions will continue to educate commercial customers aboUH 93 mandatory commercial recycling and organics requirements under State regulation. Site visits will be made to any commercial customer covered under this regulation found not to be participating in or complying with the recycling requirements. Community EventslPresentationslTours • Ukiah Waste Solutions hopes to be able to participate in staffed informational booths at events such as Earth Day events, the Pumpkin Festival, the Redwood Empire Fair, and The Mendo Human Race. Ukiah Waste Solutions is looking to creative ways to provide presentations to local classrooms via zoom. Any organization who would like to educate their members on proper recycling and waste reduction are welcome to request a presentation. A Ukiah Waste Solutions staff will work in conjunction with city staff to ensure that both recycling and mixed organic waste carts will continue to be provided and properly utilized at various City events. Route Activities • Collection Routes will be audited to assure customer compliance with recycling requirements in an effort to reduce contamination of materials. Information is left on customer's carts, literature mailed, and follow-up phone calls made as necessary. Route audits will be made to assure that company carts are properly marked and labeled. Social Media/Internet outlets • UKIAHRECYCLES.COM online recycling guide will continue to be updated as recycling requirements change. This internet based platform will allow members of the community to access up to date recycling and waste reduction information. Ukiah Waste Solutions will continue to utilize their Facebook Page to interact with customers in a convenient and timely manner; supplying content to educate the community about recycling challenges and waste reduction. Page 4