Waste and Recycling

Residential Program Evaluation
Client: Los Angeles County, CA
L.A. County retained Cascadia Consulting Group to conduct a broad assessment of the effectiveness of the County’s residential sector waste reduction and recycling programs. Information and data collection activities included a phone survey of 1,606 County residents, focus groups, and over 180 on-site waste and recycling audits in both single- and multi-family residences. The final report documents diversion rates from the residential sector and evaluates programs targeting both single-family and multi-family households. The report also highlights differences among five geographic areas and makes recommendations for future program enhancements.

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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