Waste and Recycling

Los Angeles County Base Year Study
Client: Los Angeles County, CA

As part of the effort to develop a new solid waste management Base Year Study for the Los Angeles County , Cascadia conducted a major characterization study of solid waste originating in unincorporated areas of the county. The study involved making arrangements with more than 250 businesses in targeted industry groups as well as 50 apartment buildings to obtain and characterize samples of disposed waste. It also involved arranging the interception of waste from 100 single-family curbside set-outs and 115 self-haul vehicles upon arrival at disposal facilities. The results of the study have provided the county with precise identification of key recycling and diversion opportunities throughout its waste stream.

 


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Cascadia began to immediately overhaul the way Resource Venture services were marketed, delivered, and tracked; ultimately resulting in superior outcomes. Among the dramatic changes we noted were (1) an increased level of accountability; (2) a more strategic focus; and (3) service documentation that demonstrated a more effective and efficient program. In particular, Cascadia’s “targeting and tracking” database made it possible to focus on the biggest commercial resources users with the greatest potential for conservation, and then measure their progress over time. The program’s unique targeted approach is extremely cost-effective; Cascadia has helped reduce the City’s program costs from about $100/ton diverted in 2006 to about $45/ton in 2008.


- Phil Paschke, Seattle Public Utilities