10 Draft Integrated Waste Management Plan - City Council - City of ...

2012 Davis Integrated Waste Management Plan
Create contests
More frequent postings
Facebook ads
Use Facebook Events for composting classes, and other special events
A Twitter outreach campaign may have the following elements:
Update Twitter page
Create a brand look for DavisRecycling on Twitter specific to the message being sent
More frequent posting
Ask questions
Create contests
The City may also look into further encouraging other online reuse options such as Facebook Marketplace,
Freecycle and Craig’s List.
6.2.4 Quarterly Mailer
The City could create a quarterly mailer that addresses recycling, composting, waste reduction and other solid
waste issues (such as the Utility Connection newsletters used to do). This is a very effective method of outreach
as it can reach every address in Davis. This outreach piece could be mailed out to all customers on a quarterly
basis. The mailer can address current issues (for example: composting in the spring, reducing waste and
moving information in the summer, general recycling information in the fall and HHW and U-waste in the
winter). Staff can design the mailer in-house and find a local printer to produce and mail the outreach piece. A
postcard size might be the most economical and effective method to produce and mail a simple and
straightforward outreach piece.
This alternative may be costly, depending on the size of the mailer. As mentioned in 10.1.9, the most expensive
part is often not the printing, but the postage. When sending out a quarterly mailer, the City can take advantage
of bulk mail postage rates (which are cheaper than first class), but this is still likely to be very expensive. The
bulk postage to send out a simple flier to all Davis addresses in February 2011 was $4,513.
DRAFT
Staff can work with local printers to keep printing costs down by adjusting the document size, etc. The City
may be able to use CalRecycle grant funds to pay for the mailer, depending on the outreach messages and
content of the mailer.
Another issue that comes up with this option is public perception. Anytime the City releases a printed outreach
piece, there are always a few folks who complain about the City “wasting money.” The issue is particularly
sensitive with the recent economy and City budget issues. To mitigate this, Recycling Program staff are always
careful to select a paper and printing style that does not “look expensive”. A matte-finish paper instead of high-
gloss gives a better impression of being frugal with ratepayer’s money. Although sometimes it can be cheaper to
print full color on glossy paper than two color print on matt-finished paper, public perception of what is
expensive is important. The City wants customers to feel at ease that the City is not wasting their money. Staff
strives to choose an economical printing option, while keeping in mind customer concerns. The City can also
mitigate potential complaints by highlighting when grant funding is being used for a printed item, making that
text prominent and including the CalRecycle logo instead of, or more obviously than, the City logo.
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