In the two years spokesperson John Pope has worked for Newport Beach, he’s seen firsthand the challenges with messaging for COVID-19. Now there’s a new challenge: wrangling some 30,000 households into recycling organic waste instead of tossing it in the trash.
A state mandate from Sacramento has compelled cities across the state to distribute green bins to go alongside recycling and trash receptacles. Now the state has put in place hefty fines should cities choose not to comply and has leaned on these municipalities to enforce the rules upon their residents.
“The reaction is mixed. Most people understand this is a state mandate, and it’s not something the city is pushing,” Pope said. “The number of people who have said, ‘I don’t like this and I don’t want to participate’ is pretty minimal and there are a lot of people who see this as a necessary step to protect the environment.”
Some cities have pushed back their rollout date a full year. Newport Beach decided not to apply for an extension and began implementation Feb. 1. The city is delivering 400 to 500 new bins a week under Senate Bill 1383. The strategy decreases waste on overburdened landfills while attempting to curb the greenhouse gases produced by rotting fruits, vegetables and baked goods.