It can be challenging to know what information is accurate and when to pay attention. In 2018, we provided engaging, meaningful and lifelong learning through innovative community outreach programs.
Prima was the site for OCWR’s inaugural Earth Day Open House, co-hosted by Fifth District Supervisor Lisa Bartlett. The first-time event drew more than 350 guests, and offered landfill tours and more than 20 information and activity booths, which included a landfill heavy equipment display, a guide to proper disposal of household hazardous waste and a make-your-own composting bin station. Former Anaheim Ducks player Bryan Allen was on hand to sign autographs and talk about the team’s commitment to environmental stewardship.
One example of successful community outreach was OCWR’s inaugural Earth Day Open House held at our Prima Deshecha site and co-hosted by Fifth District Supervisor, Lisa Bartlett. The first-time event drew more than 350 guests, and offered landfill tours and more than 20 information and activity booths, which included a landfill heavy equipment display, a guide to proper disposal of household hazardous waste and a make-your-own composting bin station. Former Anaheim Ducks player Bryan Allen was on hand to sign autographs and talk about the team’s commitment to environmental stewardship.
HOURS INVESTED BY OCWR AMBASSADORS IN 18 COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS
LANDFILL TOUR PROGRAM PROVIDED
106TOURS TO 1,400+ RESIDENTS
We continued our robust education and marketing program through partnerships with the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Angels, which includes OC Waste & Recycling inserts in Kids Club Kits and 5K races, player signings at OCWR events, interior and exterior signage, radio and social media promotion.
OCWR’s social media presence received a makeover in 2018, and now uses multiple platforms and dynamic graphics and video to spread educational and informative messaging on waste and recycling. 2018 marked the first time OCWR used social media exclusively to promote National Drive-Thru Day, which included live videos from OCWR staff on the innovative services offered by our Household Hazardous Waste Collection Centers.
PEOPLE REACHED BY OUR SPEAKERS BUREAU
through educational presentations to educational, municipal and community organizations.
VISITORS AT THE DISCOVERY
CUBE ORANGE COUNTY ECO CHALLENGE EXHIBIT IN 2018
Discovery Cube also brought classroom programs to more than 3,000 5th- and 6th-grade students across Orange County.
In 2018, six organizations in Orange County received funding from the Regional Recycling and Waste Reduction Grant program, which is funded by the AB 939 Self-Haul Surcharge. The grant finances programs to support compliance with state-mandated organic waste diversion goals.
CITY OF ANAHEIM: Commercial food recovery and organics program.
INSIDE THE OUTDOORS: Composting and food recovery educational outreach program.
DISCOVERY CUBE: Organics recycling and composting educational outreach program.
CITY OF IRVINE: Commercial food recovery and organics collection program.
KATELLA HIGH SCHOOL: School recycling and composting program.
COSTA MESA SANITARY DISTRICT: Residential organics recycling program.
WASTE NOT OC COALITION: Helping resolve food insecurity by recovering edible food.
These unique and innovative programs reflect OCWR’s commitment to promoting creativity and forward-thinking in how we reduce waste in our landfills, especially compostable waste.
OCWR employs a Good Neighbor approach in responding to residents in communities adjacent to the landfills. This includes compliance-plus, meaning the sites go above and beyond the minimum standards established by regulators. For example, we researched the possibility of moving operations between two active fill areas to account for weather and wind patterns in order to have the least impact on our neighbors.
We also launched a mobile-friendly tool, the Neighbor Support Portal. It enables residents to contact over a dozen key management and site staff members at any of our locations, and receive a response almost immediately. And we integrated our Speakers Bureau program into the system, streamlining the response time and making it easier to track.
