Task force reports new recycling and organics grants, ongoing outreach events

At a Dec. 5 meeting of the San Benito County Waste Management Task Force, staff reported recent grant awards and spending that will support bottle-and-can recycling, oil-collection outreach and edible-food recovery, and reviewed outreach and collection event results and upcoming cleanup dates.

The task force presentation said CalRecycle-funded ‘‘bottle and can’’ support for retail and school recycling totaled about $16,000 in fiscal year 2024 and that a roughly $20,000 award was made for fiscal year 2025. Staff said an oil-collection grant (referred to in the presentation as the OPP grant) was submitted in August 2025 and that the program expects an award in the $20,000–$21,000 range similar to prior years. A separate award under a regional program (referred to in the presentation as LWR4) totaled $216,157 and will fund several activities including reimbursements to a community food bank, edible-food recovery supplies, organics collection containers and education and outreach.

Staff described how award-funded purchases and outreach will be used: community oil-drain pans and filter drainers distributed at events; edible-food recovery supplies to support food-donation partners; and organics collection containers and program education. The presentation also covered reimbursements to a community food bank and the use of some funds for program staffing and advertising.

Presenters reviewed recent outreach and collection events. Examples noted: farmers-market engagement that reached roughly four residents per event at some appearances; distribution of about 52 oil drain pans and 11–12 oil-filter drainers across recent events; a community cleanup that removed an estimated 20 pounds of litter; and an August quarterly landfill event that had about 150 attendees and diverted 14.75 tons of material. A household hazardous waste and electronics collection day reported 129 participants — an increase of seven to 10 participants compared with a May event. Staff said monthly collection events typically see steady attendance; one monthly event in August distributed 118 light bulbs.

Upcoming events listed in the presentation include a unit cleanup on Sept. 20 (in partnership with Hollister High School and Valley Community Church) and additional monthly workshops and collection events held through the year; staff said a community event in San Juan Vista is scheduled for February. Staff also said a fiscal-year environmental report for 2024–25 has been finalized and will be distributed to San Benito County stakeholders.

Speakers emphasized outreach and door-to-door contact as the most effective tool for raising participation and urged task force members to share event notices via social media. Staff said printed and digital outreach materials accompany regular billing inserts and that staff perform business site visits to expand commercial recycling participation.

The task force was shown examples of event metrics and advertising, and staff said some program advertising ran in local movie-theater ad packages. No formal action was taken by the task force on the grants or events during the meeting.