Reuse Assistance Grant Progress Report

Kern County's Reuse Assistance Grant Project
(Part 4: December 2, 2004 to May 1, 2005)

Project Description

Kern County used their grant funds to kick-off an electronics reuse program for commercial businesses and residents in Kern County. Businesses and residents participated by donating dated electronics to the local, nonprofit thrift store network, including Goodwill and the Salvation Army. Collected electronic waste was transported to and processed by the Bakersfield Association of Retarded Citizens (BARC). Material in good working order, refurbishable, or marketable was managed by BARC technical staff and sold or donated through the thrift store network. Unmarketable material was demanufactured by BARC staff, with component parts used for the refurbishing program or responsibly recycled.

The steps required to accomplish their project are as follows:

Task 1: Consultant Time to Coordinate Outlying Communities and Nonprofits for Program Participation and Collection Events. (On-hold)
BARC's consultant has contacted prospective hosts in the outlying areas to stage collection events. Hosts include local thrift stores, County solid waste facilities, and other municipalities. The reason Task 1 is 40 percent complete is that mobile collection of electronic waste has been temporarily placed on hold to reassess strategy.

Task 2: Design Ads for Newspapers, Flyers, and/or Brochures. (Complete)
Newspaper ads have been designed. Task 2 is 100 percent complete.

Task 2.1: Print Ads in Local Metropolitan Newspaper. (On-hold)
Advertising in local papers for three events have been completed. Task 2.1 is 25 percent complete.

Task 2.2: Print Ad in Outlying City Newspapers. (On-hold)
Advertising for three events have been completed. Task 2.2 is 25 percent complete.

Task 3: Develop Letters Publicizing Collection Events for City-Wide Distribution. (Complete)
A draft flyer advertising the Bakersfield Metropolitan collection event has been completed. Task 3 is 100 percent complete.

Task 3.1: Supplies for 3,000 Copies of Letter. (Complete)
Printing supplies have been purchased. Task 3.1 is 100 percent complete.

Task 3.2: Print 3,000 Letters. (Complete)
Over 3,000 copies of the flyer had been printed. Task 3.2 is 100 percent complete.

Task 4: Develop Procedures for Collection, Storage, Safety, Documentation, and Transport. (Complete)
Procedures for collection, storage, safety, record keeping and transport have been completed. Task 4 is 100 percent complete.

Task 5: Train Collection Event Labor for Two Collection Events. (Complete)
Worker collection event training has been conducted. The supervisor of the Electronic Waste Department of BARC was trained and has exclusively handled the outlying mobile collection events. Task 5 is 100 percent complete.

Task 5.1: Train Collection Event Labor for Eight Collection Events. (On-hold)
Worker collection event training has been conducted. Training was conducted specifically for the Bakersfield collection event. Task 5.1 is ten percent complete.

Task 6: Purchase Pallets and Supplies. (Complete)
Pallets and supplies were purchased. Task 6 is 100 percent complete.

Tasks 7.0–7.3: Staffing Collection Event in Bakersfield and Rent Forklift. (On-hold)
The Ridgecrest collection event was conducted but had mixed results. Participants were very happy with the service and the thrift store electronic waste collection program was highlighted to residents who were unfamiliar with the availability of local options. Participants stated that radio advertising would have been more effective than advertising in local papers. Two pallets worth of electronic waste was collected. Tasks 7.0–7.3 are 100 percent complete.

Tasks 8.0–8.4: Staffing Collection Event in Shafter, Rent Forklift, and Trucking from Collection Event. (Complete)
The Taft collection event was conducted but also had mixed results. Only one pallet of mixed quality electronic material was donated. Even though it is very important to periodically advertise the electronic waste reuse/recycling program, the results of the first two outlying city collection events has led us to believe collection events may not be the most effective marketing mechanism. Also newspaper advertising does not appear to be effective. Tasks 8.0–8.4 are 100 percent complete.

Tasks 9.0–9.4: Staffing Collection Event in Ridgecrest and Rent Forklift. (On Hold)
The City of Delano has offered the use of their city yard to stage the event. Tasks 9.0–9.4 are 0 percent complete.

Tasks 10.0–10.4: Staffing Collection Event in Delano, Rent Forklift, and Trucking from Collection Event. (On Hold)
The Tehachapi collection event is on hold. Tasks 10.0–10.4 are 0 percent complete.

Task 11.0: Compile Data into a Progress Report. (Complete)
The progress report was completed by June 2004. Task 11.0 is 100 percent complete.

Tasks 12.0–12.4: Staffing Collection Event in Tehachapi, Rent Forklift, and Trucking from Collection Event. (On-hold)
The Shafter collection event has been placed on hold. Tasks 12.0–12.4 are 0 percent complete.

Tasks 13.0–13.3: Staffing Collection Event in Bakersfield and Rent Forklift. (Complete)
The Bakersfield collection event was staged with modest results. Over ninety vehicles were processed, however the electronic waste was not of high quality. Tasks 13.0–13.3 are 100 percent complete.

Tasks 14.0–14.4: Staffing Collection Event in Taft, Rent Forklift, and Trucking from Collection Event. (On-hold)
The second Bakersfield collection event has been placed on hold. Tasks 14.0–14.4 are 0 percent complete.

Tasks 15.0–15.4: Staffing Collection Event in Kern Valley, Rent Forklift, and Trucking from Collection Event. (On-hold)
The Kern Valley collection event has been placed on hold. Tasks 15.0–15.4 are 0 percent complete.

Tasks 16.0–16.4: Staffing Collection Event in Rosamond, Rent Forklift, and Trucking from Collection Event. (On-hold)
The Rosamond collection event has been placed on hold. Tasks 16.0–16.4 are 0 percent complete.

Task 17.0: Compile Data into a Progress Report. (Ongoing)
The progress report will be completed by the required due date. Task 17.0 is 100 percent complete.

Tasks 18.0–18.4: Staffing Collection Event in Arvin, Rent Forklift, and Trucking from Collection Event. (On-hold)
The Arvin collection event has been placed on hold. Tasks 18.0–18.4 are 0 percent complete.

As stated in previous reports, the mobile collection of reusable electronic material was not successful. Early collection programs were extremely successful, but as electronic waste handling evolved, collection was primarily handled through solid waste facilities and thrift stores.

No progress was made during the evaluation period. The work plan was being modified to include provisions to market the reuse program. The marketing strategies for BARC's electronic waste program was put on hold due to the hiring of a new marketing director and pending bid opportunities for County work derived through the implementation of SB20 and SB50. The County operates an electronic waste recycling program and BARC would like to win a contract to recycle this material. BARC receives electronic waste through the thrift store network; however, due to competition for this supply, BARC needs to increase the flow of electronics through their facility. Free collection of electronic waste has impacted BARC's Reuse program because residents and businesses can now have their electronic waste handled by new competition in the area. If BARC does not receive the work from the County or if they continue to lose more supply, the sustainability of their recycling and reuse program is in peril. The bid process for the County work should be completed by May 18, 2005, but the grant program ends May 1, 2005. A new marketing approach has being finalized by BARC but has been put on hold pending the award of the County project. The key was to sufficiently differentiate collection of reusable electronics rather that recyclable electronics. If BARC is awarded the contract, they would desire to market the reuse program; however, the funding period has ended. The County has invested time and effort in getting contracts in place and securing bids for television production and other promotional materials.

Reported submitted by Tony Bonanno of the Kern County Waste Management Department.

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

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Last updated: June 25, 2008