ENVIRONMENT

shift . Just changing habits at home can be really difficult ,” she says .

That includes targeted campaigns to educate the many non-native English speakers in Sacramento . While working on outreach efforts to keep standard recycling from getting contaminated , the city worked with immigrant communities and several local embedded non-governmental organizations . Through that experience , it learned what makes for the most effective communication for communities , and it ’ ll likely call upon those relationships again , David says .

What ’ s the greatest source of concern for contamination of the organic waste stream ? Plastic . “ It can be complex , like containers that look like just paper or a coffee cup that looks just like paper . It might actually have a thin layer of plastic around it ,” David says . “ It ’ s hard to get people to distinguish that and to convey that messaging .”

To simplify education and minimize contamination , Kashuba says waste such as coffee filters , napkins , paper towels , food-soiled paper containers ( think pizza boxes ) and food scraps , including bones , dairy and meat , will be what is primarily accepted .

The first couple of years will be about education and trying to get people in this new mindset , Treadwell says . “ But it is also incredibly prescriptive as a law for enforcement .” After 2024 , jurisdictions are required to issue notices of violations and fines , and perform lid flips and check for contamination . “ That ’ s built into the state law . We may not have necessarily laid it out like that , but that ’ s what the state ’ s requiring us to do .”

Wagoner says if Sacramento County is finding that the behavioral change isn ’ t happening and they ’ ve implemented the regulations and done all of the inspections , they may have to figure out some sort of enforcement program .

As the program gets underway , the message to residential customers is simple : “ Don ’ t panic ,” Treadwell says .

For most folks , “ You ’ re moving your food waste that ’ s already going into the garbage into the green ( waste ). It ’ s just shifting from one container to the next .”

For commercial customers , it ’ s a bit more complex . “ We hear a lot of , ‘ But I ’ m not a restaurant . But I don ’ t sell food .’ That ’ s no longer the benchmark . It ’ s : Are you a human or are you eating ? … It ’ s not quite that basic but it ’ s no longer ‘ I ’ m not a restaurant .’ That doesn ’ t matter if you generate waste . Food waste is now part of our life ,” Treadwell says . “ Once it comes into the residential sector , it ’ ll be everywhere , just like bottle recycling is everywhere . … No matter where you are … food waste recycling is just part of the deal , so I think it ’ ll eventually be an easier process when it ’ s just everywhere .”

Jennifer Junghans holds degrees in biological sciences and horticulture , and writes about environmental health , agriculture and food systems , wildlife and conservation . More at www . jenniferjunghans . com .

SATURDAY , APRIL 16TH

We offer monthly events and classes ! Inquire about renting our space for your special occasions !

Join us for a virtual community event where participants choose the activity of their choice to support local youth in foster care .

92 comstocksmag . com | March 2022