By Jessie Dirks

It was set to be one of the hottest days of the summer. As my outreach partner and I set up our tent for shade, event organizers busied themselves with mic checks and colorful, flowered decorations. I hadn’t been to this event before, but something about it felt familiar.  

My partner Viviana and I were preparing the Waste Management booth for Lynnwood’s Afro Latino Festival. Our task was to answer any questions that people might have about recycling. As interns with the Waste Management Recycle Corps, we were part of a multilingual, multicultural team of college students on the job to educate communities across King and Snohomish County about how to Recycle Often, Recycle Right. 

For me, the Afro Latino Festival, a celebration of culture, felt like coming home. I attended Chief Sealth International High School, which serves one of the most racially and culturally diverse student populations in Washington state.  

My experiences in this inclusive high school community positioned me well for the work I’ve been able to do this summer on behalf of Waste Management. The company takes an inclusive approach to sustainability, and the WM summer interns have a key role making recycling accessible and easy for people of all languages and cultures.

In addition to attending events like the festival, our work involved going door-to-door at apartment complexes and meeting with property managers to troubleshoot recycling challenges, reorganizing recycling systems and providing materials in appropriate languages. My time speaking with folks in diverse communities throughout the Puget Sound region taught me that listening is the most important part of inclusive education.   

Working at community events, knocking on doors, and meeting with business owners, I heard many stories and was a sounding board for people who are passionate about the environment, but may not feel they have power to create a solution. Careful listening helped me respond creatively with advice and materials for unique situations. I was able to help people gain access to sustainable options like recycling.

Not everyone feels they can take time to petition for climate policy or plant a tree, but every day people throw away materials that can be reused, recycled, and composted. Rethinking waste is one way everyone can collaborate and collectively make a positive impact.