The next Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Lunch and Learn event on Wednesday, May 8, will host Jill McCutcheon of Sedona Recycles.

It takes a tough, nimble executive to steer an organization through stiff trade barriers with China, drastic reductions in governmental support and vigor­ously competing service providers. Thankfully, there is such a leader in Sedona with Jill McCutcheon, executive director of Sedona Recycles. She deftly manages a hard-working, dedicated team that handles many thousands of items few others want to touch, physi­cally or financially.

McCutcheon will be the guest of honor at the next Lunch and Learn, an enjoyable, informative, free weekly community event, being held Wednesday, May 8, from 1 to 2 p.m. in room 34 of Yavapai College’s Sedona Center on Cultural Park Place, across State Route 89A from Sedona Red Rock High School. Bring a lunch and drink at 12:30 p.m. or purchase lunch at the Center’s Sedona Café.

Meet McCutcheon and learn about the personal journey that led her to take on, maintain and flourish in this very responsible, challenging position. Find out how Sedona Recycles responded when it suddenly lost its largest and most reliable customer — the People’s Republic of China. Discover how they have managed to continue their opera­tions despite severe cuts in funding from several local governments that supported them.

Learn what they think about the quality of recycling provided by the for-profit curbside recycling services that operate in our community. Everyone knows that recycling is an important component of the worldwide movement to maintain and restore the quality of the environment. But are current recy­cling efforts sufficient? If not, what more might be done?

What should be the role of govern­ments — city, county, state and federal — in dealing with all the waste we create?

How might businesses in this area do a better job of recycling? What might individual householders do, besides depositing their steady stream of paper, plastic, glass, cardboard, etc., waste products in recycling bins? What impact have online retailers, like Amazon, had on the amount of stuff being recycled?

How well does her organization contribute to recycling efforts in nearby communities, such as the Village of Oak Creek, Cornville and Cottonwood?

OLLI offers academic, not-for-credit programs for adults 50 years old or older at program sites at Verde Valley Campus, Sedona Center and Camp Verde Library. OLLI at Sedona/Verde Valley is a program of the Division of Lifelong Learning at Yavapai College. Spring term started April 15 and regis­trations are now being accepted.

Information about OLLI at Sedona/Verde Valley is available by contacting Linda Shook, associate dean Sedona Center and OLLI director Sedona/Verde Valley, at the OLLI office at 649-4275 or ollisv@yc.edu or by visiting yc.edu.