In this edition, we’re putting the spotlight on Deja Smith! Deja is an environmental education program coordinator and member of our Solid Waste Outreach and Marketing Team. Deja lends her expertise and passion to the team, primarily handling our Feed the Bin school recycling program.

How long have you worked with Wake County and what experience set you on the path to become an environmental education coordinator?

I’ve worked for Wake County for just over five years! I’ve been passionate about the environment since I was a little girl. As a Raleigh native, I grew up exploring Lake Crabtree County Park and learning more about nature and why it is important to protect our environment. In middle and high school, I participated in the Girls in Science and Junior Curator programs at the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences. There, I learned about environmental education as a career, and that my love for the environment and my gift of gab could actually get me a job! After studying environmental technology and management at N.C. State, I worked for a variety of places including the N.C. Office of Environmental Education, City of Raleigh’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Office and a local land conservancy. I landed here at Wake County in 2021, and have been educating folks about recycling and other waste reduction best practices ever since!

Please tell us a little bit about the waste reduction programs you lead/assist with most often.

I get to run the Feed the Bin Program! Feed the Bin is a free program for Wake County Public Schools and select charter schools to collect recycling from their campus. We collect items like paper, glass bottles and jars, plastic bottles, jars, tubs and jugs and metal cans from over 200 schools in Wake County!

What has been one of the most eye-opening or surprising experiences for you regarding waste reduction and sustainability?

The most eye-opening experience I’ve had was when I first took a tour of the landfill. Seeing the amount of trash that was being disposed of shocked me. It was so much stuff, a huge pile of trash with more trucks lined up to dump even more items onto the pile. I saw so many items that could have been recycled or reused. It was very impactful and I recommend everyone take a tour to see for yourself.

What is one recurring thing about your work that makes you happiest?

I love getting to talk to students of all ages about recycling! Teaching them something I’m passionate about and hearing their stories about how much they love recycling at school and home always warms my heart.

Please share the most memorable interaction you’ve had with a Wake County resident that reminded you why this work matters.

A few months ago, I gave a presentation on recycling to a group of first graders. They had great questions about how recycling protects the planet. I explained to them how recycling is good for the Earth, because when we recycle, we are taking used items and turning them into brand new products instead of throwing them in the trash. We don’t have to cut down any more trees or dig for new materials from the Earth. Later, I learned they did a project for their peers on what they learned from my presentation! This reminded me how important it is to educate the youth. They’re listening and they care!

What has been one of the biggest challenges you’ve seen with changing people’s ideas about reducing waste in Wake County?

There are a few myths about recycling floating around that I run into often. A common one I hear is that “recycling doesn’t matter, it all gets trashed anyways.” Here in Wake County, our recycling goes to a local Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in Raleigh to be sorted by material and baled. I give tours of this facility to school groups interested in learning about what happens to their recycling after it leaves the curb. Most of the materials stay in North Carolina to be turned into new products. For example, glass goes to Wilson and plastics go to Greensboro. Aluminum goes to Coca Cola down in Georgia. Once folks hear that (or even better, see it on one of the tours!), they tend to want to recycle more and better.

Have there been noticeable changes in behaviors among students, teachers, school faculty or other residents with waste reduction that you consider a personal win?

Definitely! We’ve done several Waste Characterization Studies of our Feed the Bin Schools and have noticed a big difference. In our 2023 study, the percentage of recyclable paper being thrown into the landfill reduced significantly compared to our 2013 and 2008 studies. The percentage of milk cartons and juice boxes being landfilled was reduced as well.

What’s one thing you’ve learned about yourself in your time working with schools and leading the Feed the Bin Program?

I’ve learned that I can take complex topics and water them down so that even the youngest of audiences understand the importance of recycling! It’s a skill I’ve sharpened over the years of public outreach and tabling events.

When you imagine the future of waste management in Wake County, what excites you most?

I’m most excited to learn what the future of waste disposal will be in Wake County. The current landfill is about 39% full, so now is the time to start thinking about and planning for the future. I’m curious to see how my role as School Recycling Coordinator plays into it.

What’s a message you hope stays with students that they’ll apply during the summer break and share with their families and friends?

I hope students continue recycling at home over break! During my school presentations, I always encourage students to take what they learned about what to recycle and why it’s important to recycle and share it with their friends and families. The more people we have recycling and reducing their waste, the better!