Repair…Don’t Replace! Tips for Items to Repair this Fall

After months of hard work, I Love A Clean San Diego is excited to present its brand-new REPAIR database, providing referrals to all the places in town that repair…well…almost everything! Check out our new site and let us know what you think! 

While we have been operating our recycling database, WasteFreeSD.org since 2007, we now have an exciting new addition to that resource, RepairSD.org, which will allow you to search for locations to repair items that you may have originally thought simply trash. Repairing items you already have rather than buying new ones will keep valuable resources out of our landfills, and maybe even help save some of your hard earned money!

Fall is already upon us (where did summer go?!), and as you prepare for our own version of winter weather here in San Diego, we encourage you to consider your options for repairing those old or damaged items you’ve got around the house before you run out and buy brand new ones. Here are some items that you may want to think about repairing instead of replacing…

As we all know too well, October is fire season in San Diego County. Ready San Diego recommends having a battery powered radio as part of your family’s emergency supply kit. Get that old battery powered radio that’s been collecting dust in your closet fixed up; you’ll be helping the environment and helping your family by being prepared for any emergencies that may come your way.

Repair your radio, don't replace it!
Repair your radio, don’t replace it!

Cooler temperatures outside mean you’ll definitely need that wetsuit when heading out into the chilly Pacific Ocean; find a shop that can repair your old wetsuit using the new RepairSD.org.  If your wetsuit is truly beyond repair, don’t trash it! You can get a little creative and turn your old one into a can koozie or even a laptop bag.

Try a DIY idea to re-purpose something that is beyond repair!

As you fashionistas out there know, it’s about time to swap out those summer sandals for some winter-ready boots! Did you pull your favorite pair out of the closet only to find them looking a little worn? No need to shell out your hard-earned cash to buy new ones; RepairSD.org has plenty of shoe repair location listings to help you get yours looking good as new in no time.

Boots
Ever heard of shabby chic?

Less sunlight in the evenings means more time spent at home. Have a guitar your old roommate left behind? Are your notes more sour than sweet? Use RepairSD.org to find a shop near you to repair your guitar, and impress your friends with your resourcefulness AND your musical talent!

Guitar_1
Sing the 4 R’s on your repaired guitar!

Go ahead and check it out for yourself today: visit the new RepairSD.org  to locate a business that can repair anything from vacuums to furniture to game consoles. And feel good about doing your part to reduce waste!

Meet Our New Marketing Intern, Bri Lobato!

We are all excited and lucky to have Bri on board as our newest intern. Bri will help out in the office’s marketing department; keep an eye out for her future blog and social media posts. She’s also taken charge of our ILACSD instagram account: follow us at ILoveACleanSD. Welcome, Bri!image

My name is Bri Lobato and I am the new marketing intern for I Love A Clean San Diego! I’m graduating this December from San Diego State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences. I’ve had a passion for sustainability and nature since childhood, so applying that to my career endeavors has been the goal for a long time. Being given this opportunity to work with one of San Diego’s most influential nonprofits one of my first steps in the journey, and I plan on learning a lot about marketing, event coordinating, and community outreach from this organization and each of the awesome people I’m getting to work with.

Things about me? Well let’s see, I’ll start with the fact that nothing puts a smile on my face more quickly than an English bulldog. A close second would be Mexican food of ANY sort, especially if my mom or my Nana is in the kitchen . I have a new found love for cooking, and I love to do yoga and draw in my spare time. I’m currently in the ironically frustrating process of learning how to meditate. I grew up in a suburban bubble I like to refer to as Valencia, California (Six Flags Magic Mountain?), and if you ever happen to drop by The Westin San Diego, you can find me at The Bar making drinks and making days. OH, and I am a huge fan of the nu-disco music scene. I go to music shows of all shapes and sizes at any chance I get, because music contributes to my happiness level more than anything else in this world. To put it all shortly: Environmentalism + Event Coordinating + Music = My Ultimate Dream Career Combination. Thank you to I Love a Clean San Diego for giving me the opportunity to learn, grow, contribute, and dive into the green movement!

Breaking Down Coastal Cleanup 2013!

Today’s blog post comes from our new marketing intern, Bri Lobato. Bri is currently studying environmental science and loves cheese enchiladas and English imageBulldogs. We’re thrilled to have her helping out at ILACSD!

As of September 21st, San Diego is free of 75 tons of debris thanks to each and every one of our 7,500 volunteers this year at I Love A Clean San Diego’s Coastal Cleanup Day! Families, friends, students, sponsors, locals, visitors, and even some loyal pets took some time out of their Saturday morning to help keep San Diego beautiful, and everyone involved made this event more successful than ever. Across a record breaking 102 sites in San Diego County, volunteers of all ages came out to give back to the city they love by picking up litter, participating in service projects, and storm drain stenciling.

Volunteers cleaning a creek bed near Gompers Park
Volunteers cleaning up Chollas Creek near Gompers Park

Kickoff started at 9am at the Gompers Park site where 250+ volunteers heard from Supervisor Greg Cox, Mayor Todd Gloria and Councilmember Myrtle Cole, as well as I Love A Clean San Diego’s very own Executive Director, Pauline Martinson, to get them fired up before going out into the neighborhood and local creek to hunt for waste. News crews were there to capture their influential words about why events like Coastal Cleanup Day are important to both the environment and the community. Volunteers at this site were able to choose among creek cleanup, mulching, invasive plant removal, painting a mural made of tire scraps, trail building and stenciling storm drains, so everyone was able to take part in their own way. No matter the task, every volunteer across the County was given a free Chipotle coupon as a reward for their efforts…and who doesn’t love Chipotle!?  When 75 tons of trash is involved, you bet there were some unusual and interesting items we heard about:  bowling balls, a rooster, a steering wheel, and even a sweet female pit bull puppy were recovered! (She has been rescued and is on the road to recovery).  There was also a “Bling Your Bucket” contest, where kids decorated their own reusable litter hauling bucket.

We found bowling balls! One of ILACSD's staff managed to shot put these guys into the dumpster
We found bowling balls! Some of ILACSD’s staff managed to shot put these guys into the dumpster
"Bling Your Bucket" contest entrants, each doing their part to "make this world happier"
“Bling Your Bucket” contest entrants, each doing their part to “make this world happier”

Shout out to our site captains who were instrumental in making the event run smoothly and effectively. BIG thanks to our sponsors San Diego Gas & Electric, the Country of San Diego, Think Blue San Diego and MANY more for making Coastal Cleanup Day an event that so much of the community could participate in and enjoy! A very special big thank you goes to all of the volunteers who made Coastal Cleanup Day worthwhile, and who made a difference by taking part in the largest volunteer event that San Diego County has to offer. It wouldn’t be possible without you guys! We will see you all next year for CCD 2014!!

Top Six Reasons to Volunteer for Coastal Cleanup Day!

With Coastal Cleanup Day just a few days away, we thought we’d give you a few more reasons why you should get up early on Saturday and join us to volunteer! If these reasons don’t motivate you to give back this weekend, we don’t know what will! Sign up now at www.cleanupday.org.

You should volunteer for Coastal Cleanup Day if…

…you think albatross’ stomachs shouldn’t be filled with plastic!

Kure Laysan Carcass

…you like free stuff, like reusable tote bags and lunch from Chipotle!

ccd_tote13

…you need community service hours for school or work!

 

…you can’t afford a gym membership, but you want to get a workout in – we’ve got tires galore to push up canyons!

cc66

…you’ve ever swam in the ocean with a cigarette butt!

butt_water

KAAB 2011 shark and mission bay

…you want to keep San Diego America’s Finest City!

Show Some Love for Our Coast (and Canyons): Adopt A Beach!

Yesterday, local San Diego company The Control Group rounded up its employees for a cleanup.  But this wasn’t just any cleanup- the Control Group was out at their very own “adopted” beach, Pacific Beach.  So how can you or your company get in on this cool program, encourage employee engagement, help the environment, and even get free recognition signage?

Adopt-A-Beach gives people of all ages the opportunity to learn about and actively participate in conserving coastal resources. ILACSD’s most popular volunteer program, AAB involves over 10,000 volunteers annually!

The Control Group team, out enjoying their beach
The Control Group team, out enjoying their beach

The Adopt-A-Beach program is not just about trash. It’s about the need for clean oceans, shorelines, and waterways. It is about Californians acting together to create lasting solutions to marine pollution. Our oceans and waterways have been a dumping ground for man-made debris. The harmful effects of marine debris are severe and include:

  • Negative economic and aesthetic impacts
  • Harm and risk to human health and safety
  • Injury and death to animals through entanglement and ingestion
  • Habitat destruction

I Love A Clean San Diego has expanded the Adopt-A-Beach program to include inland areas, in order to highlight the fact that almost 80% of marine debris originates from inland sources. By adopting a canyon or park inland, your group can prevent trash from making its way to waterways and eventually the ocean.

Revised-AAB-Bumper-Sticker-Beaches

What beach would you chose to adopt? Visit the program website at www.AdoptSD.org for more information and sign up!

You can also help support this free program by providing a donation to ILACSD.