City of Modesto Reuse Assistance Grant Project (Part 1: March 1, 2002 to September 1, 2002)

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California Integrated Waste Management Board

Project Description

The City of Modesto used their grant funds to develop a quarterly newsletter for all Modesto businesses to promote the reuse of various materials. Each newsletter highlighted reuse ideas about a particular material or product (e.g., food, office furnishings, etc.), as well as showcased businesses that are already successfully reusing their waste products. The newsletter also acted as a forum to further promote the City's Business Recycling Awards Program to encourage more businesses to think creatively about their waste reduction programs.

The steps required to accomplish their project are as follows:

Tasks 1.1-1.7: Newsletter #1
The City of Modesto purposed to develop a quarterly business newsletter to promote the concept of reusing products and waste materials of local businesses and to develop a network exchange program to reduce the waste stream. Each newsletter is to highlight a different waste stream.

Each newsletter includes the following designated tasks: 1) research materials for newsletter, 2) develop newsletter, 3) print newsletter, 4) mass mail 11,000 newsletters, 5) arrange and distribute 1,000 newsletters, 6) follow-up with businesses and haulers, and 7) update mailing lists. Only Tasks 3 and 4 are reimbursable by the grant; all other tasks are matching funds.

The first newsletter's featured article was on electronic waste. It informed businesses about the hazardous aspects of cathode ray tubes (CRTs), explained the City of Modesto's CRT recycling program, and spelled out current State legislative proposals. It also provided information on other recycling and disposal options. The newsletter introduced the Network Modesto! column that links businesses together by providing a local buy/sell/trade network.

The newsletter was mass mailed to approximately 9,000 local businesses. The mailing list was developed from the local business license list and included businesses located within the city limits and those outside the limits that do business within the limits. It encompasses a 50-mile radius. The list was originally thought to contain 11,000 businesses. Additionally, 1,000 copies were made available at city counters throughout the community and it was published on the city's Web site. Also, the first edition of the Network Modesto! column was published on the Web site. The immediate response was very positive. Staff received a swarm of calls from local businesses regarding the disposal of their CRTs and from businesses wanting to be published on the Network Modesto! column.

Due to some technical difficulties with software compatibility, the mailing address had to be manually entered into the database and therefore caused a significant delay from the original work statement timeframe. The first newsletter was mailed at the end of July 2002 instead of the end of June 2002. The existing mailing list only needs to be updated for subsequent newsletters. Tasks 1.1-1.7 are 100 percent complete.

Tasks 2.1-2.7: Newsletter #2
Due to the late mailing of Newsletter #1, Newsletter #2 is expected to be sent out in early September of 2002. Tasks 2.1-2.2 are currently underway. The featured article will focus on office paper. Newsletter #2 is 10 percent complete.

Tasks 3.1-3.7: Newsletter #3
These tasks will be completed between October and December 2002.

Tasks 4.1-4.7: Newsletter #4
These tasks will be completed between January and March 2003.

Tasks 5.1-5.7: Newsletter #5
These tasks will be completed between April and June 2003.

Tasks 6.1-6.7: Newsletter #6
These tasks will be completed between July and September 2003.

Tasks 7.1-7.7: Newsletter #7
These tasks will be completed between October and December 2003.

Task 8: Final Report and Payment Request
This task will be completed in February 2004.

*Permission was obtained from grant recipient to publish project profile.