Elk Grove Citycast

Episode 6: Talking Trash (and Recycling) Over the Holidays with Elk Grove’s Recycling & Waste Manager

• EGPublicAffairs • Season 1 • Episode 6

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The holidays are upon us and big meals, gift exchanges, and holiday gatherings can generate a lot more waste. Elk Grove’s Recycling & Waste Manager, Kimberly Taylor joins us for this episode of the Elk Grove Citycast to talk about ways to work through the waste and divert more of what we toss away from the landfill and into the recycling stream. Show hosts John and Kristyn also share details about annual holiday events, the opening of the Enhanced Winter Sanctuary, and how you can support local animals. 

Announcer:

Welcome to Elk Grove Citycast, the podcast about Elk

John Hull:

Hi, everybody. I'm John Hull. Welcome to the Elk

Kristyn Laurence:

Hi, John. Happy November.

John Hull:

Happy November. And you know, we are recording this here, hasn't it?

Kristyn Laurence:

It is. It was a great turnout. Want to thank appreciative.

John Hull:

You know, I see up around Elk Grove Boulevard and

Kristyn Laurence:

Yeah, there's a program that was started back a lot of banners that are honoring Elk Grove veterans. And and nominations are accepted year round. The banners are recognize those veterans who have have served in our

John Hull:

And one really nice thing that the city of Elk Grove projects, new homes around the area, you've actually come up

Kristyn Laurence:

Yes, this was a program that came through that are named after police officers, firefighters, and through and they start naming their streets, they have the that's part of that program. And I think you know there's a lot

John Hull:

So how do they nominate?

Kristyn Laurence:

Details are available on the city's website.

John Hull:

Excellent, excellent. That's a wonderful program. And Well, the holidays are upon us in the coming weeks we'll be to help us work through this mess is Kimberly Taylor, the Absolutely.

Kimberly Taylor:

Absolutely. And thank you, John, for having me neighborhoods, both residential waste Republic Services and then recycling sustainability and trying to work to make Elk Grove

John Hull:

Okay, so let's get right on the topic of the... I recycle cart?

Kimberly Taylor:

The very short and very long answer is it's coated on it. And so it's a mixture of materials and so that unfortunately, a lot of it is truly garbage. And there's an when they're done with it.

John Hull:

I've seen that I've seen that wrap. Yeah, I've seen thicker. It just it just seems like it's a better wrap I guess.

Kimberly Taylor:

Really, anytime there's multiple materials that need to pull the plastic off. So if you can separate the of like...clamshell is not quite the right word, but any sort of absolutely encourage residents to hang on to and then make a

John Hull:

Yeah, because this is usually the time of the year

Kimberly Taylor:

it is 9255 Disposal Lane, ElkGrove.

John Hull:

Okay, so just south of East Stockton and Grant Line

Kimberly Taylor:

And Grant Line. Exactly. And you mentioned or TV can often be repurposed and reused. And so bringing

John Hull:

Okay, good. Good, because that's something I want our waste containers. And I noticed that the what used to be

Kimberly Taylor:

Yes.

John Hull:

Is that where the turkey carcass goes?

Kimberly Taylor:

You are absolutely right, John. A little things like plants have a lot of energy in them. And so there's that green bin, with your yard trimmings with your green waste,

John Hull:

I know that restaurants now are required by

Kimberly Taylor:

Yes.

John Hull:

And so we need to think similarly when we're

Kimberly Taylor:

Absolutely. At my house, I have young kids. And with their foot, they scrape their plates into the compost. comes around, they put it out in the green bin. There's a lot of

John Hull:

Okay. And by the way, no food containers in the Yes.

Kimberly Taylor:

Yes. If you would think about what what cart because that's that's what we're trying to create is really

John Hull:

This is something that's all pretty new to us. If indeed, in now, that's part of common waste disposal, right?

Kimberly Taylor:

Absolutely. And it's change and change is hard. reality, it's incredibly complicated. There's this entire system. And so we at Elk Grove, one of the things that the city recycling was started, it was really just like, you know,

John Hull:

What about Christmas trees, because there's always out in Laguna Creek. So that's... where do we put our

Kimberly Taylor:

For residents in Elk Grove, it could not be if you have a Christmas tree, a natural one, a wooden one, we're the curb next to your green waste bin on your normal bin. If it's over six feet, but under six feet, just put it out

John Hull:

Okay, that's good to know. And I hope everybody does landfill?

Kimberly Taylor:

Absolutely. And John, I'm so glad you asked that not just thinking about where it goes when I'm done with it, transportation impacts. And so when we think about our stuff, people to get creative and think about gifts they can give that locally as well. If you think about every time you order involved and reducing the amount of transportation things don't using things that are durable things that you use over and reformed. And that style of ribbon is beautiful. It's very reuse something and to have a neat family tradition.

John Hull:

Special waste collection, let's talk about does what people how people can use it.

Kimberly Taylor:

Absolutely. Well, we call it the special throw them away. Things like batteries, things like motor programs. We have an area kind of around the backside where pretty unique. We have a very unique program for E cigarettes facility. It also has a Reuse Room. From a waste reduction the special waste collection center and drop off maybe a load waste collection center, instead of just processing it and Reuse Room to actually utilize them. And again, from a waste

John Hull:

Okay, a lot of leaves coming off our trees this time

Kimberly Taylor:

So in Elk Grove, one of the unique things recycling bins. And so while it may not make sense to have those collect them progressively and get them out to the curb. One make sure they're raking the leaves in the front yard,

John Hull:

And one more thing that we want to talk about is

Kimberly Taylor:

Well, if the material they have is actually off. I think the situation that people end up in more often is pickups from Republic Services every year. And this is an of different things. Maybe you have a toaster and an old chair can be reused and recycled. And about 70% of the material get schedule a bulky waste pickup, and let them do the work for

John Hull:

Our guest has been Kimberly Taylor, the city's

Kimberly Taylor:

Absolutely. The number one resource I recommend have an item and you're not sure what to do with it, you can just months, the recycling and waste division includes information in right in front of you that has your days for when your

John Hull:

And one more thing, it's kind of a pet peeve of the not having to get out of their truck and pry them apart. And

Kimberly Taylor:

Absolutely. They need space for that claw

John Hull:

Yeah. All right, Kimberly, this has been great.

Kimberly Taylor:

Thank you.

John Hull:

Time now for our rapid fire segment where I put All right, as we've been talking about today, Kristyn, we're

Kristyn Laurence:

Yeah, we have quite a few annual holiday morning. And that benefits their nonprofit organization. There's Town with the Old Town Elk Grove Dickens Street Faire. And that's there. As I understand, you know, our annual tradition Avenue so you can visit Old Town on November 25 and kick off the accepting parade entries. So if you want to be in the parade, That's on Saturday December 2. And it takes place in the parade and for the festival. We have both and an indoor and can happen in good weather. So, please keep your fingers crossed

John Hull:

That's wonderful, great events, great events. Our

Kristyn Laurence:

winter sanctuary. It piggybacks off of cold winter months. So it is operating at 9260 Elk Grove the facility through the month of March for us. There are meals at their Enhanced Winter Sanctuary. And if you go to

John Hull:

Okay, thanks, Kristyn. Question, our final this one topic because this department does a lot in animal

Kristyn Laurence:

They definitely could. In fact, we shelter right now. They truly care for them and they want to really do need the help. We're looking for community members those fees might even be waived. We've had a couple of campaigns want to come in and visit, it's open Tuesday through Sunday from looking for those kinds of opportunities, and they also help out, you can contact our volunteer coordinator Koreena

John Hull:

Okay, that's great, Kristyn. And if you have any across town just a little quicker and safer. Kristyn, for

Kristyn Laurence:

People can find the Elk Grove Citycast just and she'll play an episode for you. But if all else fails, feel

John Hull:

All right, great spinning this, this entire

Announcer:

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