General FAQs
- Q: How long has I Love A Clean San Diego been around?
- A: I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD) has a long and successful history as a non-profit organization committed to the conservation of San Diego's coastal and inland resources. Our roots go back to 1954, when the San Diego City Council and the County Board of Supervisors created a joint War Against Litter Committee (WALC). Throughout the early 1960s, the WALC organized neighborhood and beach cleanups to help raise public awareness of San Diego's litter problems. In the late 1970s, "I Love A Clean San Diego" became the slogan under which the WALC publicized its special events and ongoing beautification program. The slogan was later adopted as the organization's name.
- Q: Is ILACSD a 501(c)(3) non-profit?
- A: Yes, I Love A Clean San Diego became a 501(c) (3) non-profit in 1974. For more information concerning our non-profit status, please call our main line at 619-291-0103.
- Q: How do you get your funding?
- A: ILACSD is funded through private foundation contracts and grants, corporate sponsorships, government agencies, and private donations and memberships.
- Q: Can I make suggestions or comments to help ILACSD improve their service to the County of San Diego?
- A: Yes, please. ILACSD welcomes all questions, comments, and concerns. We are here to serve you and our community. Please, send comments to hotline@ilacsd.org
- Q: How can I get involved with ILACSD?
- A: There are several ways to get involved! We have several volunteer events, which include: Storm Drain Stenciling and Adopt a Beach, beach and inland cleanups. Click here for a schedule of upcoming events or contact the volunteer department. We also coordinate County-wide special events such as Creek To Bay and Coastal Cleanup Day. For more information, regarding the special events, click here. And we can always use help in the office, contact mjusticeblack@cleansd.org if you are interested.
- Q: How can I support ILACSD?
- A: You can become a member of ILACSD to assist us with our mission to provide environmental outreach to the San Diego Community. Find out more by clicking here. There are other ways to support ILACSD, such as signing up for a specific search engine, or buying your coffee from a specific company. To find out more ways to support ILACSD, click here.
- Q: Where can I buy ILACSD items?
- A: We have teamed up with CafePress.com to offer an ILACSD organic cotton t-shirt, reusable canvas tote bag, and ceramic mug. Check them out and buy yours today at www.cafepress.com/cleansd. Proceeds go to continuing ILACSD programs that protect San Diego's resources and natural areas
Volunteer FAQs
- Q: What do I need to bring to your events?
- A: ILACSD will provide all necessary supplies at our events (i.e. bags, gloves, trash grabbers, etc). We suggest you wear closed-toe shoes, a hat, bring sunscreen and water. Every volunteer is required to sign a waiver form upon arrival in order to participate. If volunteers are under the age of 18, a parent or guardian signature is also required. You can download the waiver form from our web site before the event to streamline the registration process.
- Q: How can I find out information about beach cleanups or volunteer to help the environment?
- A: Please check out our volunteer page or our calendar of events.
- Q: How old do I have to be to volunteer?
- A: We encourage all ages to volunteer! If you're under 18, however, you will need to fill out a liability waiver form. Download and complete our waiver form and bring it with you to the event to streamline the registration process.
- Q: If I am a returning volunteer, do I have to sign another waiver at each volunteer event?
- A: I Love A Clean San Diego has a very large volunteer pool, and therefore requires all participants to sign a waiver at each volunteer event they attend.
- Q: When is your next event?
- A: Upcoming events can be found in our calendar of events. You can also stay up to date on our events by subscribing to our Volunteer Newsletter that is emailed out once a month.
Recycling FAQs
- Q: Who do I call to about getting a new trash, recycling, or green waste bin? Who do I call to if my trash service did not pick up on the scheduled day?
- A: With the exception of the City of San Diego, which has its own trash/recycling collection service, all of the cities and the unincorporated county areas have franchised trash and recycling services. This means that each city has either an exclusive service agreement with one trash/recycling company or, as in the unincorporated county area's case, a number of them. All franchised companies operating in San Diego County offer recycling collection services.
Waste Haulers
EDCO:
619-287-7555
www.edcodisposal.comAllied Waste Services
(formerly known as Pacific Waste Services)
619-421-9400
www.sd.disposal.comWaste Management:
619-596-5100
www.wastemanagement.comExpress Waste and Recycling
858-677-0881
www.expressrecycling.com/
Cities and Unincorporated County Areas
City of San Diego:
858-492-5060Encinitas:
760-436-4151Oceanside:
760-439-2824Carlsbad:
760-929-9400Escondido:
760-287-7555Poway:
858-679-5402Chula Vista:
619-691-5122Imperial Beach:
619-287-7555San Marcos:
619-287-7555Coronado:
619-287-7555La Mesa:
619-287-7555Santee:
619-596-5100Del Mar:
760-929-9400Lemon Grove:
619-287-7555Solana Beach:
858-350-8544El Cajon:
619-596-5100National City:
619-474-8855Vista:
760-744-5615
- Q: How do I start recycling at my apartment or condominium complex?
-
1. Choose a recycling hauler
Decide which company can best meet your complex's needs, keeping the following in mind:
- What recyclable materials can the hauler take?
- Are the hauler's bins well labeled and lockable?
- Does the hauler provide any handouts for residents?
- Will you see cost savings in the hauler bill once you start recycling?
2. Involve residents in setting up the program
- Recruit other tenants to help with the initial legwork, such as distributing in-unit collection bins and educational materials.
- Maintenance and grounds staff may need instructions on maintaining the recycling areas, emptying any recycling containers in common areas, and checking on bins when the recycling service first starts up.
3. Choose container locations
- Large recycling bins should be placed in or near trash enclosures.
- Smaller containers, if used, can be placed in laundry rooms, near swimming pools, clubhouses and mail stations.
4. Spread the word
- To inform residents about the new recycling program, provide a “how to recycle” handout which could be distributed along with any in-unit recycling containers. Haulers may have handouts available.
- Post notices on bulletin boards and laundry room walls when you start the program, as well as progress reports when changes are needed.
- Include details and instructions for the recycling program in tenant or homeowner association newsletters.
5. Start recycling!
6. Share your success
- As trash bins are eliminated or additional recycling bins are set out, share the good news!
- List your recycling program when advertising for new tenants.
- Include recycling achievements in your tenant or homeowner association newsletters.
- If your complex is located in an unincorporated county area, call (858) 874-4020 for a free on-site consultation. The County of San Diego will provide you with free in-unit containers, assistance working with haulers, labels for recycling bins and educational materials for residents.
Download the complete recycling guide for apartment and condos.
- Q: Where can I recycle cell phones?
- A: ILACSD has a cell phone recycling program. Recycled or refurbished, these phones are sold in order to fund various ILACSD education programs and volunteer events. All donations are tax deductible. You can mail or drop off your phone at our office.
- Q: Where do I recycle household hazardous wastes such as paint, pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, computer monitors, television sets, florescent light bulbs, household batteries, contaminated motor oil?
- A: Household hazardous waste facilities are jurisdictional based on proof of residency. Locate a center near by accessing ILACSD's online recycling database.
- Q: What is household hazardous waste and why do I have to take it to a special facility?
- A: Leftover household products that contain corrosive, toxic, ignitable, or reactive ingredients are considered to be "household hazardous waste." For example, paint, cleaners, oils, batteries, and pesticides all contain potentially hazardous ingredients require special care when you dispose of them. It is both your legal and social responsibility to dispose of household hazardous waste properly. Improper disposal of household hazardous wastes can pollute the environment and pose a threat to human health. Pouring them down the drain, on the ground, into storm sewers, or in some cases putting them out with the trash will pollute local waterways, harming humans and wildlife.
- Q: Where is the nearest recycling center to take my CRV recycling items?
- A: Find information regarding a recycling center near you by visitng our online recycle center. You can also call Nexcycle at 1-800-969-2020, Tomra at 1-800-266-2453, or ILACSD's recycling hotline 1-800-237-BLUE.
- Q: Who do I call to report any of the following incidents?
-
Car Cigarette Littering
Noise Pollution
1-800-NO-SMOKE 858-694-3741 Smoking Vehicles
Animal Control
1-800-28-SMOKE 619-236-4250 Marine Pollution
Storm Water Pollution
Coast Guard's 24 Hour National Response Center:
1-800-424-8802Coast Guard Station on VHF Channels 9 or 16
City of San Diego:
858-492-5055 (City Property)
619-236-5500 (Private Property)
County of San Diego: 1-888-846-0800
- Q: How do I get brochures about recycling?
- A:Call ILACSD's Recycling Hotline at (800)234-BLUE for a copy of a brochure listed in the golden box to the left or download a copy.
- Q: How can I reduce receiving wasteful junk mail?
- A: Follow the steps in County of San Diego's Junk Mail kit or call our recycling hotline (800)234-BLUE so we can mail you a brochure.
- Q: Where do I find my local government's website?
- Q: Who do I call if I have a complaint about a recycling center?
- A: Call the State of California at 1-800-RECYCLE (1-800-732-9253)
- Q: Where do I find more information on California Redemption Value?
- A: At the State of California's website or at www.bottlesandcans.com.
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