Author: ilacsd

I Love A Clean San Diego and the County of San Diego Encourage All Residents to Recycle Their Organic Waste!

Tips and tricks for easy organic waste recycling

SAN DIEGO COUNTY (June, 2024) – With the Summer season upon us, I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD) and the County of San Diego provide tips on recycling your organic waste, including how to keep your green bin odor and pest-free.

According to the County’s Department of Public Works, about 40% of the waste in our landfills is organic waste, which includes food waste, food-soiled paper, and yard trimmings. When organic waste decomposes in a landfill, without the presence of oxygen, methane is produced, a potent greenhouse gas and driver of global climate change. Fortunately, “organic waste” is not waste at all; these organic materials can be composted to create a valuable soil amendment that increases moisture retention, helps with erosion control and builds healthy soil.

As of January 1, 2024, Senate Bill 1383 now requires all residents and businesses to recycle their organic waste. In addition, all San Diego residents and businesses now have access to an organic waste (green) bin, to separate organic waste from trash and other recyclables. This helps San Diego save space in our landfills and meet climate action goals

“Recycling organic waste is one of the easiest things we can do to conserve our natural environment,” says Steve Weihe, Recycling Specialists II, at the County of San Diego. “The methane produced from organic waste sitting in landfills is a significant contributor to climate change, but when organic waste is managed properly and turned into compost, it has a positive environmental impact.”

Organic Waste Recycling – What Goes in the Green Bin?

Organic Waste includes:

Food scraps (fruits, vegetables, meat, bones, dairy, eggshells, breads, coffee grounds, grains and prepared foods, moldy and spoiled food)
Food and liquid soiled paper (napkins, paper towels (not if used with cleaning agent), paper tea bags, paper plates, paper coffee filters, paper take-out containers, and greasy pizza boxes)
Yard trimmings (leaves, grass clippings, tree roots, flowers, branches, lumber, unpainted and untreated wood)

DO NOT include:

“Compostable” or “biodegradable” marked plastics, including: bin liners, produce bags, dishware, and more
Pet waste or kitty litter
Dirt, rocks, concrete, or soil
Liquids
Other inorganic material, including plastics, glass, and metals.

Tips for a pest-free and odor-free green bin:

Again, with Summer upon us, some residents may be concerned about possible smells and potential pests in the green bin that may arise. Follow these tips to ensure that your green bin stays clean and odor-free:

Collect food scraps in a smaller container before emptying them into your green bin. Some waste haulers offer free kitchen countertop containers- reach out to your waste hauler if you don’t have one already.
Empty your food scraps container into your green bin the night before collection. This is the BEST solution to help prevent pest and odor issues.
Keep your food scraps in the freezer or fridge
Wrap your scraps- use a paper towel, paper bag or newspaper to wrap your food scraps
Put yard waste at the bottom of your green bin to soak up extra moisture from food scraps. From there, alternate food scraps and yard waste to ensure a healthy and odor-free mix.
Add a bit of baking soda to your food scraps to help combat potential odors.
Rinse and dry your green waste bin periodically to prevent residue buildup.

Following these tips will help to ensure an easy transition to organic waste recycling. You can also find recycling guides on the County’s website and learn about sustainable practices by registering for one of I Love A Clean San Diego’s workshops and webinars at cleansd.org/events.

About I Love A Clean San Diego

Celebrating 70 years in 2024, I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD) is an environmental nonprofit supporting residents and businesses of San Diego County. ILACSD was founded in 1954 as the San Diego War Against Litter Committee (WALC), in the 1970s, “I Love A Clean San Diego” became the slogan for the organization’s anti-litter campaign, and in 1980, it became the organization’s name. Over the last seven decades, ILACSD has since evolved into the nonprofit it is today, providing programs that go far beyond litter cleanups and serve as environmental catalysts. Our programs inspire and empower San Diegans to be environmental and waste-free living leaders in their communities. For more information or to volunteer, visit CleanSD.org or call (619) 291-0103. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Thousands of Volunteers Clean and Beautify San Diego County at the 22 nd Annual Creek to Bay Cleanup

Over 4,000 registered volunteers of all ages at 106 sites took part in the region’s largest environmental cleanup during Earth Week.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY (April 20, 2024) – Today, I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD) estimates 4,000
registered volunteers will have removed over 80,000 pounds of litter and debris from streets, canyons,
parks, and shores in communities across San Diego County for the 22 nd Annual Creek to Bay Cleanup.
“We are thankful for all the volunteers and sponsors, from all corners of San Diego County, who
celebrated Earth Month with us at Creek to Bay this year” said Ann Marie Sack, Director of Community
Engagement at I Love A Clean San Diego. Results are still coming in from the 106 sites throughout San
Diego County and across the border in Mexico.

Volunteers included residents, corporate groups, and community organizations who turned their
appreciation for the region into action by cleaning up waste and completing restoration projects.
Volunteers helped restore the local environment by planting natives, mulching, weeding, painting park
structures, and removing invasive species and graffiti. Among the debris, there were several notable odd
items collected including half of a guitar, a hand-washing station, three lawn mowers, a bat mobile toy
car, and over 100 pounds of household hazardous waste.

San Diego Mayor, Todd Gloria, and 76 th District Assembymember, Chris Ward, kicked off the day at Linda
Vista Community Park in honor of Creek to Bay’s 22nd anniversary. Since its inception in 2002, Creek to
Bay has played a significant role in preserving San Diego’s environment. "It takes today's extra special
effort because sometimes our parks can get loved to death,” said Assemblymember Ward. “We have a
lot of utility here, families, and people who love to come out to these spaces, and sometimes things can
get left behind. We want to make sure that we are doing our part.”

About 80 percent of all marine debris begins inland, and all residents of San Diego County live in one of
11 watersheds, which all have their own habitats and lead to our bays and ocean. Litter enters our local
watersheds and flows out to the Pacific Ocean, becoming a harmful threat to the health of both marine
wildlife and people. Single-use plastics are among the most problematic products because they break
down into micro-plastics and can be ingested by animals and humans.

ILACSD invites volunteers to take waste reduction into their own hands this Earth Month.
Here are some helpful tips:
1. Visit WasteFreeSD.org to learn more about how to recycle effectively to reduce contaminated
materials from the blue bin. The free database includes a wealth of options on how to properly
dispose of or recycle unwanted items as well as donation and repair centers.

2. Say goodbye to single-use items and embrace reusable alternatives.
3. Ensure that all recyclable materials, such as plastic and glass bottles, aluminum cans, cardboard,
and paper products are placed in designated recycling bins.

The Creek to Bay Cleanup is one of two annual countywide cleanups hosted by I Love A Clean San Diego
that engages thousands of local families, community groups, and local businesses. The next major
cleanup event is International Coastal Cleanup Day on Saturday September 21, 2024. For more
information about upcoming events please visit Cleansd.org.

I Love A Clean San Diego is grateful for the support of the 22nd annual Creek to Bay Presenting and Gold Sponsors:

Think Blue San Diego, County of San Diego and its Watershed Protection Program, COX Communication,
Project Clean Water, Bank of America and Wells Fargo.

About I Love A Clean San Diego County

Celebrating 70 years in 2024, I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD) is an environmental nonprofit
supporting residents and businesses of San Diego County. ILACSD was founded in 1954 as the San Diego
War Against Litter Committee (WALC), in the 1970s, “I Love A Clean San Diego” became the slogan for
the organization’s anti-litter campaign, and in 1980, it became the organization’s name. Over the last
seven decades, ILACSD has since evolved into the nonprofit it is today, providing programs that go far
beyond litter cleanups and serve as environmental catalysts. Our programs inspire and empower San
Diegans to be environmental and waste-free living leaders in their communities. For more information,
to volunteer, or to make a gift, visit CleanSD.org or call (619) 291-0103. Connect with us on Facebook,
Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

I Love A Clean San Diego Provides Springtime Waste Reduction Resources to San Diego County Residents

I Love A Clean San Diego Provides Springtime Waste Reduction Resources to San Diego County Residents ILACSD and the County of San Diego share a reminder about the free WasteFreeSD.org database and recycling best practices to benefit residents this Spring Cleaning season

SAN DIEGO COUNTY (April 8, 2023) – With the spring season comes spring cleaning, I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD) and the County of San Diego remind residents of the free WasteFreeSD.org database and proper recycling practices. “Spring is a great time to downsize or part with items that you don’t use, have outgrown or simply don’t need,” says Steve Weihe, a Recycling Specialist with the County of San Diego. “Consider passing on usable items to neighbors through Facebook’s Buy Nothing or Marketplace groups, NextDoor, Offer Up, Craigslist or your local thrift store. You’ll be helping your neighbors as well as keeping items out of the landfill.”

WasteFreeSD.org Database and Hotline As residents conduct their spring cleaning, they are encouraged to use I Love A Clean San Diego’s free online database, WasteFreeSD.org, which provides information on thousands of repair, recycling, and donation centers throughout the region. The free database also includes a wealth of options on how to properly dispose of or recycle unwanted items. The R1 Earth Hotline is available for residents who have questions or may need help locating a center near them. Hours run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday. Incorporated city residents, please call 1-800-237-2583; unincorporated residents may call 1-877-713-2784. “During Spring cleaning, we encourage residents to practice reuse, reduce, donate, and repair to limit the number of items that end up in the landfill,” said Ann Marie Sack, “WasteFreeSD.org is a wonderful and free resource for residents to help them achieve their zero-waste journey this season.” Recycling Best Practices As families continue their spring cleaning, having items to recycle is expected, but placing the correct items in the blue bin is important. Proper recycling practices ensure items remain valuable, make it through the recycling process, and reduce the hazard to workers and machinery at recycling facilities (MRFs). There are four main groups of materials that San Diego county residents can place in their blue recycling bins:

Paper, cardboard, and cartons
Plastic bottles and containers
Glass Bottles and Jars
Metal and aluminum cans and foil

Plastic bags, bubble wrap, and plastic mailers are recyclable but should NEVER be placed in your blue bins. These materials can be returned to participating retailers or reused.

Recycle Right in three simple steps:

EMPTY-No or minimal food residue left
DRY-No liquids remaining. Avoid getting items wet by closing bin lids
LOOSE-Recyclables must be placed in the bin loose, not bagged

Film plastics like grocery bags and bread bags; tanglers like textiles and hoses; and household hazardous waste (HHW) such as batteries, fluorescent bulbs, and electronics DO NOT belong in the blue bin.

Residents can also find recycling guides on the County’s website and learn about sustainable practices by registering for one of I Love A Clean San Diego’s workshops and webinars at cleansd.org/events.

About I Love A Clean San Diego

Christmas Tree Recycling Guide 2023- DROP OFF LOCATIONS

The holiday season is here! Dropping off your Christmas tree at a collection site is a great way to help divert your Christmas tree from the landfill following the holiday festivities.

Many communities in San Diego County have options for curbside Christmas tree recycling. Read this article HERE for curbside hauling instructions.

Still not sure where to take your Christmas tree for recycling after reviewing this list? Visit WasteFreeSD.org for more options, or call I Love a Clean San Diego’s hotline for help from a live attendant Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM.

Incorporated County Residents, please call 1-800-237-BLUE

Unincorporated County Residents, please call 1-877-R-1-EARTH

Drop Off Locations by City

COUNTYWIDE

Drop-off locations are for Christmas Trees ONLY. Christmas trees do not need to be cut down for recycling at drop-off locations.

Community	Dates Available	Drop Off Address
Bonsall	December 26 2023 – January 5 2024	River Village – Northwest parking lot 5256 Mission Road Bonsall, CA 92003
Carlsbad	Dec 26 2023 – Jan 14 2024	Calaveras Park 2997 Glasgow Dr Carlsbad, CA 92010 Poinsettia Park 6600 Hidden Valley Rd Carlsbad, CA 92011 Stagecoach Park 3420 Camino del los Coches Carlsbad, CA 92009 City of Carlsbad Fire Station I 1275 Carlsbad Village Dr. Carlsbad, CA 92008 Palomar Transfer Station 5960 El Camino Real Carlsbad, CA 92008
Coronado	December 26 2023 – January 14 2024	Glorietta Bay Park – boat ramp parking lot 1975 Strand Way Coronado, CA 92118 Cays Park- Parking lot off across from Fire Station 99 Grand Caribe Isle Coronado, CA 92118
Del Mar	Dec 26 2023 – Jan 19 2024	Del Mar Public Works 2240 Jimmy Durante Boulevard Del Mar, CA 92014
El Cajon	December 26 2023 – January 15 2024	Wells Park 1153 E Madison Ave. El Cajon, CA 92021 Public Works Operations Yard 1050 Vernon Way El Cajon, CA 92020 Drop-off locations are for Christmas Trees ONLY. Christmas trees do not need to be cut down for recycling at drop-off locations.
Escondido	December 26 2023 – January 5 2024	Kit Carson Park– south entrance, first parking lot on the right, across front the adult softball complex 3333 Bear Valley Parkway Escondido, CA 92025 Jesmond Dene Park– parking lot next to the ball fields 2401 N Broadway Escondido, CA 92026
Imperial Beach	December 26 2023 -January 27 2024	Imperial Beach Public Works 495 10th St. Imperial Beach, CA 91932 Boys and Girls Club 847 Encina Ave Imperial Beach, CA 91932 Drop-off locations are for Christmas Trees ONLY. Christmas trees do not need to be cut down for recycling at drop-off locations.
La Mesa	December 26 2023 – January 14 2024	EDCO Station 8184 Commercial Street La Mesa, CA 91942 Hours: Mon -Fri 5:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Sat 7:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Sun 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Lemon Grove	December 26 2023 – January 14 2024	Treganza Heritage Park – formerly Civic Center Park 3200 Main Street Lemon Grove, 91945 Drop-off locations are for Christmas Trees ONLY. Christmas trees do not need to be cut down for recycling at drop-off locations.
National City	December 26 2023 – January 12 2024	Las Palmas Park – Pool Parking Lot 1800 E 22nd St. National City, CA 91950
Otay Mesa	January 1 2024 – January 31 2024	Otay Mesa Compost Facility 434 Alta Road San Diego, CA 92154 Mon-Fri: 6:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.To qualify for free drop off, Christmas trees must:• come from personal residences/non-commercial sources. • be free of ornaments, stands, flocking and netting. • No artificial trees accepted
Oceanside	January 1 2024 – January 31 2024	El Corazon Compost Facility 3210 Oceanside Blvd. Oceanside, CA 920567:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. \| Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. \| Saturday Closed SundayTo qualify for free drop off, Christmas trees must:• come from personal residences/non-commercial sources. • be free of ornaments, stands, flocking and netting. • No artificial trees accepted https://agriserviceinc.com
Ramona	Dec 29th 2023 – January 2nd, and Jan 5-8 2024	Ramona High School 1401 Hanson Street, Ramona, 92065 The Village Shopping Center in SD Country Estates 23658 San Vicente Rd Ramona, CA 92065 8AM-3PM No Flocked Trees
San Marcos	December 26 2023 – January 5 2024	Senior Center 111 Richmar Ave San Marcos, CA 92069
San Pasqual Valley	December 26th, 2023 – January 7th, 2024	San Pasqual Valley Soils 16111 Old Milky Way, Escondido, California 92027(760) 746-4769 www.spvsoils.comHours of operation: Monday – Friday: 7:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Saturday: 7:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Sunday: Closed No flocked or artificial trees accepted.
Santee	December 26th 2023 – January 9th 2024	Waste Management Recycle Center 925 O’Connor Street, El Cajon, CA 92020Open 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on Saturday.Republic Customers may also take trees to Sycamore Landfill 8514 Mast Blvd. Santee, CA 92071 Monday- Friday 8:00 am- 3:00 pm January 8- 19, 2024Please bring proof of bill (electronic or paper accepted)
Solana Beach	December 26th 2023- January 5, 2024	La Colonia County Park 715 Valley Ave Solana Beach, CA 92075 Solana Beach City Hall 635 S. Highway 101 Solana Beach, CA 92075
Valley Center	December 26 2023 – January 5 2024	Valley Center Elementary School Lower parking lot 28751 Cole Grad Road Valley Center, CA 92082
Vista	December 26, 2023 – January 5, 2024	Public lot on Vale Terrace Drive at Williamston, located across the street from Vista Community 1000 Vale Terrace Drive Vista, CA 92084 Parking lot on the corner of S. Melrose Drive & Shadowridge Drive Vista, CA 92081

CITY OF SAN DIEGO – Drop Off Locations

Community	Dates Available	Drop-off Address
Carmel Valley	Dec 26th 2023 – January 23rd, 2024	Carmel Valley Recreation Center 3777 Townsgate Dr. (lower parking lot)
Encanto	Dec 26 2023 – January 23, 2024	Cielo Drive at Woodman Street
Golden Hill	Dec 26th 2023 – January 23rd, 2024	Golden Hill Recreation Center 2600 Golf Course Dr.
Pacific Beach	Dec 26th 2023 – January 23rd, 2024	Kate Sessions Memorial Park, corner of Mt. Soledad Road and Loring Street
Logan Heights	Dec 26th 2023 – January 23rd, 2024	Memorial Recreation Center 2902 Marcy Ave.
Miramar	Dec 26th 2023 – January 23rd, 2024	The Greenery at the Miramar Landfill 5180 Convoy St. (north of state Route 52)
Mission Bay	Dec 26th 2023 – January 23rd, 2024	Seaworld Drive at Pacific Highway
Mountain View	Dec 26th 2023 – January 23rd, 2024	Ocean View Blvd. @ 40th St. (north side)
Oak Park	Dec 26th 2023 – January 23rd, 2024	Chollas Lake 6350 College Grove Drive (in Gloria’s Mesa parking lot)
Ocean Beach	Dec 26th 2023 – January 23rd, 2024	Robb Field Recreation Center 2525 Bacon St.
Otay Mesa / Nestor	Dec 26th 2023 – January 23rd, 2024	Montgomery Waller Community Park (lower parking lot on the southeast corner of Palm Avenue and Beyer Boulevard)
Rancho Bernando	Dec 26th 2023 – January 23rd, 2024	Rancho Bernardo Recreation Center 18448 W. Bernardo Dr.
Rancho Penasquitos	Dec 26th 2023 – January 23rd, 2024	Canyonside Recreation Center, 12350 Black Mountain Rd.
San Diego State University	Dec 26th 2023 – January 23rd, 2024	Parking Lot 17 off of Alvarado Rd.
Scripps Ranch	Dec 26th 2023 – January 23rd, 2024	Scripps Ranch Recreation Center 11454 Blue Cypress Dr.
Tierrasanta	Dec 26th 2023 – January 23rd, 2024	Tierrasanta Community Park (Pool Parking Lot) 11220 Clairemont Mesa Blvd
University City	Dec 26th 2023 – January 23rd, 2024	Standley Community Park (Parking Lot) 3585 Governor Drive Construction occurring at site, drop off site will remain active during construction hours

Christmas Tree Recycling Guide 2023 – CURBSIDE HAULING

The holiday season is here! Many communities in San Diego County have options for Christmas tree recycling at your curbside collection and is a great way to help divert your Christmas tree from the landfill following the holiday festivities.

Drop-off locations by community can be found here.

Still not sure where to take your Christmas tree for recycling after reviewing this list? Visit WasteFreeSD.org for more options or call I Love a Clean San Diego’s hotline for help from a live attendant Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM.

Incorporated County Residents, please call 1-800-237-BLUE

Unincorporated County Residents, please call 1-877-R-1-EARTH

Curbside Hauling Instructions by City

NORTH COUNTY SAN DIEGO

Community	Collection Days	Instructions	Waste Hauler
Carlsbad	The City of Carlsbad and Republic Services are offering free, curbside pickup for holiday trees Dec. 26, 2023 to Jan. 14, 2024	Remove all decorations, including tinsel, lights, ornaments and tree stands. Trees taller than 6 feet must be cut in half and placed inside of or next to your green waste cart. When possible, residents are asked to cut down the tree so that it fits inside the green waste cart with the lid closed for collection. Flocked and artificial trees cannot be recycled and must be disposed of through regular trash service. These trees must fit into the trash cart with the lid closed for collection.	Republic Services (760) 332-6464
Del Mar	Year-round	Remove all decorations, including tinsel, lights, ornaments and tree stands. Trees taller than 4 feet must be cut in half and placed next to your green waste cart. When possible, residents are asked to cut down the tree so that it fits inside the green waste cart with the lid closed for collection. Flocked and artificial trees cannot be recycled and must be disposed of through regular trash service. These trees must fit into the trash cart with the lid closed for collection.	EDCO Disposal (619) 287-7555
Escondido	Year-round	No tinsel or ornaments No nails No tree stands Cut tree to fit inside green organics cart on your regular trash collection date. Flocked trees are not accepted	Escondido Disposal (760) 745-3203
Encinitas	Year-round	Remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel and the tree stand Cut tree in 4-foot lengths and trim off branches Place trimmed tree inside your green organics cart with the lid closed No flocked trees in green organics cart, flocked and artificial trees should go into landfill bin	EDCO (760) 744-2700
Oceanside	For Oceanside residents, holiday trees are collected curbside for three weeks after Christmas, until January 12 on customer’s scheduled collection day.	All decorations should be removed, including tree stands and lights Trees should be cut in half and placed in the green organics cart with lid closed, or can be set curbside next to the green waste cart. For trees placed curbside, a separate vehicle from the green waste cart collection truck will be picking up the trees on curbside services collection day. Artificial and flocked trees are not recyclable, and must be placed in landfill cart with lid closed or may be collected curbside next to the landfill cart. If artificial trees have lights that are not removable, they must be recycled with E-waste.	Waste Management (760) 439-2824
Solana Beach	Year-round	Cut tree in pieces 4-ft or smaller and put in green organics cart	EDCO (858) 350-8544
Poway	Year-round	Remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel and the tree stand Trees over four feet should be cut in half Place trimmed tree inside your green organics cart with the lid closed No flocked trees are accepted Artificial trees are not recyclable and must be placed in trash	EDCO (760) 201-1578
Ramona	Year-round	Cut tree in 4-foot lengths and trim off branches. Place tree inside green organics cart for collection on your service day. No flocked trees.	Ramona Disposal (760) 789-0516
San Marcos	Year-round	Remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel and the tree stand Cut tree in 4-foot lengths and trim off branches Place trimmed tree inside your green organics cart with the lid closed Artificial and flocked trees are not recyclable and must be placed in trash	EDCO (760) 744-5615
Vista	Year-round	Remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel and the tree stand Trees over four feet should be cut in half Place trimmed tree inside your green organics cart with the lid closed Artificial and flocked trees are not recyclable and must be placed in trash	EDCO (760) 727-1600
Unincorporated San Diego County (including 4S Ranch, Bonsall, Borrego Springs, Fallbrook, Julian, Mount Laguna, Pala, Palomar Mountain, Pauma Valley, Ranchita, Santa Ysabel, Valley Center, and Warner Springs) If you live in an unincorporated unincorporated regions of the county your curbside guidance varies depending on your contracted hauler. Please contact one of the following haulers for additional guidance.	Year-round	Cut tree in 4-foot lengths and trim off branches. Remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel and the tree stand. Place tree inside green organics cart for collection on your service day. No flocked trees.	Ramona Disposal (760) 789-0516
Unincorporated San Diego County (including 4S Ranch, Bonsall, Borrego Springs, Fallbrook, Julian, Mount Laguna, Pala, Palomar Mountain, Pauma Valley, Ranchita, Santa Ysabel, Valley Center, and Warner Springs) If you live in an unincorporated unincorporated regions of the county your curbside guidance varies depending on your contracted hauler. Please contact one of the following haulers for additional guidance.	Year-round	Remove all ornaments, tinsel, garland, and plastic or metal stands. Cut/section the tree in pieces 4ft or shorter. Place inside the correct container (flocked or plastic trees = trash, natural tree = green organics container*). Drivers will not service trees left outside the container. All tree portions must be INSIDE the correct container. If you do not have a green container on-site, please place the natural tree in a separate location near the trash container, following the preparation guidelines mentioned previously.	Republic Services (619) 421-9400.
Unincorporated San Diego County (including 4S Ranch, Bonsall, Borrego Springs, Fallbrook, Julian, Mount Laguna, Pala, Palomar Mountain, Pauma Valley, Ranchita, Santa Ysabel, Valley Center, and Warner Springs) If you live in an unincorporated unincorporated regions of the county your curbside guidance varies depending on your contracted hauler. Please contact one of the following haulers for additional guidance.	Year-round	Remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel and the tree stand Cut tree in 4-foot lengths and trim off branches Place trimmed tree inside your green organics cart with the lid closed Artificial and flocked trees are not recyclable and must be placed in trash	EDCO (760) 744-2700 or Fallbrook Refuse
Unincorporated San Diego County (including 4S Ranch, Bonsall, Borrego Springs, Fallbrook, Julian, Mount Laguna, Pala, Palomar Mountain, Pauma Valley, Ranchita, Santa Ysabel, Valley Center, and Warner Springs) If you live in an unincorporated unincorporated regions of the county your curbside guidance varies depending on your contracted hauler. Please contact one of the following haulers for additional guidance.	If you currently have green waste services, Waste Management will collect and recycle Christmas trees for the first two weeks following Christmas from December 26 to January 9 on your scheduled collection day. If you do not have green waste services, please contact Customer Service at (619) 596-5100 to schedule the pick-up of your Christmas tree for a nominal fee.	Remove all decorations, including tinsel, lights, ornaments and tree stands. Trees taller than 6 feet must be cut in half and placed inside WM organics cart. Flocked trees cannot be recycled, so please cut them to fit into your trash cart and they will be collected by your trash collector.	Waste Management (760) 439-2824

CENTRAL SAN DIEGO

Community	Collection Dates	Instructions	Waste Hauler
Coronado	Year-round	Remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel and the tree stand Cut tree in 4-foot lengths and trim off branches Place trimmed tree inside your green organics cart with the lid closed	EDCO (760) 744-5615
City of San Diego	Residents can use their City-provided curbside green bin to recycle their Christmas trees. Trees should be cut to fit into their green bin for pickup on collection day.	Both green and flocked trees (fake snow) are accepted. Trees over 4-ft in length should be cut in half. For Greenery, curbside, and drop-off sites, all tree stands, bags, netting, lights, ornaments, tinsel, and other tree decorations must be removed. No artificial trees. Please do not illegally dump any other items at the drop-off locations.	Environmental Service Department (858) 694-7000

EAST COUNTY SAN DIEGO

Community	Collection Days	Instructions	Waste Hauler
El Cajon	Year-round	Remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel, and the tree stand. Cut tree in 4-foot lengths and trim off branches, then place in green organics cart with the lid closed. No flocked trees	EDCO (760) 744-5615
La Mesa	Year-round	Remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel and the tree stand Cut tree in 4-foot lengths and trim off branches Place trimmed tree inside your green waste cart with the lid closed No flocked trees in green organics cart	EDCO (760) 744-5615
Lemon Grove	Year-round	Remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel and the tree stand Cut tree in 4-foot lengths and trim off branches Place trimmed tree inside your green organics cart with the lid closed	EDCO (760) 744-5615
Santee	December 26th, 2023 – January 9th, 2024 during regularly scheduled collection day	Residents can recycle their Christmas trees by placing the trees in their yard waste bins on their regular pick-up day. Trees must be cut into maximum 4-ft sections and must fit into the green yard waste container. Ornaments, tinsel and tree stands must be removed before being recycled. Flocked trees cannot be recycled, but will be collected if cut into 4-ft sections and placed into the regular trash bin.	Waste Management (760) 439-2824
Unincorporated San Diego County (including Alpine, Boulevard, Campo, Crest, Dehesa, Descanso, Dulzura, Guatay, Jacumba, Jamul, Lakeside, Pine Valley, Potrero, Rancho San Diego, Spring Valley) If you live in an unincorporated unincorporated regions of the county your curbside guidance varies depending on your contracted hauler. Please contact one of the following haulers for additional guidance.	If you currently have green waste services, Waste Management will collect and recycle Christmas trees for the first two weeks following Christmas from December 26 to January 9 on your scheduled collection day. If you do not have green waste services, please contact Customer Service at (619) 596-5100 to schedule the pick-up of your Christmas tree for a nominal fee.	Trees taller than six feet must be cut in half. Please remove all decoration including tinsel, lights, ornaments and tree stands and place in WM Organics cart. Flocked trees cannot be recycled, so please cut them to fit into your trash cart and they will be collected by your trash collector.	Waste Management (760) 439-2824
Unincorporated San Diego County (including Alpine, Boulevard, Campo, Crest, Dehesa, Descanso, Dulzura, Guatay, Jacumba, Jamul, Lakeside, Pine Valley, Potrero, Rancho San Diego, Spring Valley) If you live in an unincorporated unincorporated regions of the county your curbside guidance varies depending on your contracted hauler. Please contact one of the following haulers for additional guidance.	Year-round	Remove all ornaments, tinsel, garland, and plastic or metal stands. Cut/section the tree in pieces 4ft or shorter. Place inside the correct container (flocked or plastic trees = trash, natural tree = green organics container). Drivers will not service trees left outside the container. All tree portions must be INSIDE the correct container. If you do not have a green container on-site, please place the natural tree in a separate location near the trash container, following the preparation guidelines mentioned previously.	Republic Services (619) 421-9400
Unincorporated San Diego County (including Alpine, Boulevard, Campo, Crest, Dehesa, Descanso, Dulzura, Guatay, Jacumba, Jamul, Lakeside, Pine Valley, Potrero, Rancho San Diego, Spring Valley) If you live in an unincorporated unincorporated regions of the county your curbside guidance varies depending on your contracted hauler. Please contact one of the following haulers for additional guidance.	Year-round	Remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel and the tree stand Cut tree in 4-foot lengths and trim off branches Place trimmed tree inside your green organics cart with the lid closed	EDCO (760) 744-5615

SOUTH BAY SAN DIEGO

Community

Collection Days

Instructions

Waste Hauler

Chula Vista

Year-round

Place tree at the curb on your regular collection day. Remove all ornaments, tinsel, garland and plastic or metal stands.
When possible, cut tree into four-foot sections. Plastic trees are NOT recyclable and must be disposed of as trash!
Apartment and condominium residents please contact your manager or HOA.
Residents of single-family homes, please place tree at the curb on your regular collection day. Remove all ornaments, tinsel, garland and plastic or metal stands.
When possible, cut tree into four-foot sections.
Flocked and plastic trees are NOT recyclable and must be disposed of as trash!
Residents with any questions can call 619-691-5122 or email EnvironmentalServices@chulavistaca.gov

Republic Services
(800) 421-9401

Imperial Beach

Year-round

Remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel and the tree stand
Cut tree in 4-foot lengths and trim off branches
Place trimmed tree inside your green organics cart with the lid closed

EDCO
(760) 744-5615

National City

Year-round

Remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel and the tree stand
Cut tree in 4-foot lengths and trim off branches
Place trimmed tree inside your green organics cart with the lid closed

EDCO
(760) 744-5615

Unincorporated San Diego County

(including Bonita)

If you currently have green waste services, Waste Management will collect and recycle Christmas trees for the first two weeks following Christmas from December 26 to January 9 on your scheduled collection day.

If you do not have green waste services, please contact Customer Service at (619) 596-5100 to schedule the pick-up of your Christmas tree for a nominal fee.

Trees taller than six feet must be cut in half.
Please remove all decoration including tinsel, lights, ornaments and tree stands and place in WM organics carts.
Flocked trees cannot be recycled, so please cut them to fit into your trash cart and they will be collected by your trash collector.

Waste Management

Unincorporated San Diego County

(including Bonita)

Year-round

Remove all ornaments, tinsel, garland, and plastic or metal stands. Cut/section the tree in pieces 4ft or shorter. Place inside the correct container (flocked or plastic trees = trash, natural tree = green organics container*).
Drivers will not service trees left outside the container. All tree portions must be INSIDE the correct container. *If you do not have a green container on-site, please place the natural tree in a separate location near the trash container, following the preparation guidelines mentioned previously.
For more information, all customers can contact Republic Services Customer Service at 619-421-9400.

Republic Services

Unincorporated San Diego County

(including Bonita)

Year-round

Remove all lights, ornaments, tinsel and
the tree stand
Cut tree in 4-foot lengths and trim off branches
Place trimmed tree inside your green organics cart with the lid closed

EDCO

Contact your waste hauler to confirm collection dates and instructions.

8 Tips for a Zero Waste Holiday Feast

Food is the highlight of many of our holiday traditions and memories. We can all think of a holiday dish that makes us smile and our mouths water instantly. Yet, San Diegans dispose of 500,000 tons of food each year. During the holidays, millions of pounds of uneaten turkey, gravy, green beans, mashed potatoes, and other seasonal trimmings unfortunately end up in the landfill. This accounts for ⅓ of all food that is wasted each year.

According to a recent study, food waste amounts to the cost of approximately $1,500 per year, per family. Wasted food also wastes money, time, labor, transportation, water, and land used in food production. Aside from this waste, food decomposes anaerobically (without oxygen) in landfills releasing methane gas, a driver of global climate change that is up to 86 times more potent in trapping heat than carbon dioxide. San Diego County residents have the power to change this during the holiday season, and the study suggests that the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday is the perfect place to start!

Implementing some simple changes can reduce your food waste and support a healthy environment. Here are some simple tips to save money and help the environment while enjoying delicious holiday meals.

Cook and serve with a plan

The easiest way to reduce food waste during the holidays is to buy and prepare the right amount of food. Save the Food, a campaign of the Ad Council in collaboration with the Natural Resources Defense Council, created a tool to help save money and time while reducing food waste. Their Guest-imator helps create a menu based on how many people are attending the holiday feast.

Once the home chef knows roughly how much food is needed, create a detailed shopping list and stick to it. This will prevent getting sucked in by holiday displays appealing sales throughout the store, sometimes causing excessive purchases that may not be needed and may not actually be eaten.

When shopping for ingredients, opt for unpackaged items or bring your own cloth bags to minimize unnecessary waste further. In case there isn’t a package-less option for your groceries, learn how to Recycle Right on this county website.

Shop at local farmers’ markets

Nothing better than a festive farmer’s market! Visit one of the 36 certified farmers’ markets in San Diego County and buy local, unpackaged produce directly from regional farmers. View this resource from the county for a list of regional certified farmers’ markets.

Embrace all foods

When shopping, most people select the best-looking produce, meaning the “ugly” fruits and vegetables are often left on the shelves. If these items are not sold in time, they may be destined for the landfill. This wasted produce has the same vitamins and nutrients as their “prettier” counterparts but is not chosen simply because of looks. Give all produce a chance at the grocery store or farmers’ markets, especially if the chosen produce is part of a larger dish.

Go for plant-based meals

Did you know it takes 1,800 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef? Incorporating more plant-based foods into holiday celebrations, such as green bean casserole, lentil shepherd’s pie, and stuffed peppers, can cut the environmental cost of meals significantly. Find more plant-based holiday recipes here.

Shrink serving sizes

During the meal, reduce portion waste by using smaller dishes and smaller serving spoons – seriously, it works! People can always come back for seconds.

Anticipate yummy leftovers

Having a plan for leftovers is another way to ensure that the food prepared is eaten. After all, half the goodness of holiday food is in the delicious leftovers the next day. Provide containers for guests to take remaining food home, freeze leftovers for a later date, or use those leftovers in creative ways. Some recipe ideas can be found here.

Donate unused items – WasteFreeSD.org

Visit WasteFreeSD.org for more tips, including how to keep fruits and vegetables fresh longer, and for donation locations for regional food pantries. Currently, about 1 in 4 people in San Diego County are nutritionally insecure.

Spare your drains

Prevent the “fatberg.” Another important way to protect our environment (and your plumbing) this holiday season and year-round is to properly manage used cooking oil. Deep-fried turkeys have become an increasingly popular holiday tradition, but can use up to three gallons of cooking oil. When discarded down drains, oils, fats, and greases can block pipes and damage plumbing systems. Contrary to popular belief, mixing oil with soap or pouring hot water down the drain afterward are ineffective methods for preventing “fatbergs” that cause sewage backups.

Fortunately, there are free drop-off locations for used cooking oil. Collect cooled cooking oils in a secure lidded container labeled “used cooking oil.” Do not mix chemicals or other liquids with the cooking oil. To find the closest drop-off location, visit the Recycling and Household Hazardous Waste database, WasteFreeSD.org, or call 1-877-R-1-EARTH (1-877-713-2784).

Residents interested in learning more about food waste reduction can visit the County of San Diego’s Recycling website. To learn more about composting resources and options, please visit WasteFreeSD.org and click on Resources.

Celebrate environmentalism across the region at I Love A Clean San Diego’s 2023 Fall Social

San Diego, CA – October 5, 2023 – I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD) is thrilled to invite the San Diego community to the Fall Social, taking place on Thursday, October 12, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa, for an evening celebrating environmentalism across the region.

Guests will connect with environmental leaders, volunteers, educators, and ILACSD staff. The evening will include live music by Surf’s Up – The Beach Boys Tribute Band, delectable food and drinks, a silent auction, and much more, all set against the backdrop of a stunning San Diego sunset.

“I Love A Clean San Diego is excited to honor the dedication and innovation of volunteers, businesses, and community partners who have played an integral role in safeguarding and enhancing our local environment,” said Edwin Mendoza, Director of Marketing & Communications for I Love A Clean San Diego.

The esteemed award categories and awardees include Nancy Janssen, Volunteer of the Year Award; Kim Klinko, Leading Tomorrow Award; San Diego Brewcycling Collaborative, Zero Waste Innovator Award; City of La Mesa, Community Collaboration Award; and this year’s Corporate Employee Engagement Award will be presented to Wells Fargo.

“Working with I Love A Clean San Diego on sustainability initiatives and conservation clean-up efforts gives our Wells Fargo volunteers an opportunity to improve the community in which we live and work. Sustainability is one of Wells Fargo’s focal pillars, which is why we are proud to support I Love A Clean San Diego and our community as we transition towards a more sustainable future,” said Laura MacKinnon Chapman, Philanthropy and Community Impact Specialist with Wells Fargo.

Proceeds from the event will directly support ILACSD’s vital environmental programs, benefiting the entire San Diego County.

Thank you to our 2023 Fall Social Ocean Sponsor, Sycuan, and the Catamaran Resort Hotel and Spa!

Tickets to the event can be purchased at cleansd.org/fallsocial.

About I Love A Clean San Diego
Founded in 1954, I Love A Clean San Diego is an environmental nonprofit supporting residents and businesses of San Diego County through youth and adult education, and local action through impactful volunteer events and workshops. As San Diego’s most influential advocate for sustainability, I Love A Clean San Diego’s programs are an environmental catalyst, awakening passion and inspiring action to empower everyone to be leaders in conservation and waste-free living. Our community is passion in action to maintain and improve the health of the home we love. For more information, to volunteer or donate, visit CleanSD.org or call (619) 291-0103. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram , and LinkedIn.

Preliminary Results for I Love A Clean San Diego’s 39th Annual International Coastal Cleanup Day

Preliminary Results for I Love A Clean San Diego’s 39th Annual International Coastal Cleanup Day

SAN DIEGO COUNTY (Sept. 23, 2023) – This morning, more than 5,000 San Diegans joined I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD) for the 39th annual Coastal Cleanup Day. Volunteers across the region restored, beautified, and preserved the health of over 100 local parks, canyons, creeks, and beaches and joined volunteers in 150 countries across the globe. As of 2:30 p.m. and with 85% of sites reporting totals, over 76,800 pounds of litter and debris was diverted from San Diego communities. Final cleanup totals to come in the following days.

“We are incredibly proud of the San Diego community today,” said the event’s director Ann Marie Sack. “With the addition of today’s preliminary results, over 277,000 San Diegans have been part of Coastal Cleanup Day.”

Residents across the county have removed over 5.4 million pounds of litter and debris from local communities since Coastal Cleanup Day’s inception in 1985.

Councilmember Joe LaCava presented ILACSD with a San Diego City Council Proclamation at Torrey Pines State Beach in La Jolla, celebrating 39 years of Coastal Cleanup Day. “I Love A Clean San Diego diverts millions of pounds of litter from our ocean and beaches,” said Councilmember Joe LaCava, Chair of the City of San Diego Environment Committee. “Participating in Coastal Cleanup Day and other ILACSD events is an easy way to help protect our precious ecosystems and a visual reminder of the impacts of plastic pollution.” Many elected officials helped kick off Coastal Cleanup Day at a site within their district, including Assemblymember Brian Maienschein, Assemblymember Chris Ward, and Councilmember Jennifer Campbell.

Hundreds of residents volunteered at the Coastal Cleanup Day kickoff site at YMCA Camp Surf in Imperial Beach. The site in Imperial Beach was selected to bring awareness and aid in cross-border ocean pollution. “I am so grateful for the positive impact that I Love A Clean San Diego and residents made today in Imperial Beach,” said City of Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre. “Volunteers removed litter and microplastics from our beaches, protecting our ocean from further pollution.”

In addition to removing litter, volunteers will compile litter totals from their cleanup site to capture the impact in San Diego County and contribute to this year’s worldwide total.

I Love A Clean San Diego invites residents to the Fall Social, the organization’s largest celebration of environmentalism in our community, on Thursday, October 12, at the Catamaran Resort Hotel & Spa. Early bird tickets are available for purchase until September 30. Proceeds from the event support ILACSD’s environmental education, community, and recycling programs that benefit all of San Diego County.

Thank you to our Presenting, Gold, Silver, and Bronze 2023 Coastal Cleanup Day Partners

Think Blue San Diego, Northrop Grumman, Bank of America, County of San Diego, Cox Communications, Grifols, Project Clean Water, PNC Bank, SDG&E, Wells Fargo, Watkins Wellness, The Bumble Bee Seafood Company, 22nd District Agricultural Association, PlayStation, Wheelhouse Credit Union, Elevation Church, Illumina, Sempra Infrastructure, Sony Electronics, City of Chula Vista, CFI Commercial Facilities Incorporated, ecoATM, City of Imperial Beach, Mitch’s Seafood, and exclusive radio partner, Audacy.

I Love A Clean San Diego will host the 39th annual Coastal Cleanup Day

I Love A Clean San Diego will host the 39th annual Coastal Cleanup Day, bringing together thousands of volunteers at 100 cleanup sites throughout the region
Volunteers can take part in a global cleanup initiative in San Diego on Saturday, September 23. Registration is now open at cleanupday.org

San Diego County (September 1, 2023) International Coastal Cleanup Day returns to San Diego County for its 39th edition on Saturday, September 23, 2023, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD) is the San Diego host for the international coastal cleanup and will be joining many U.S. states, territories, and more than 150 countries across the world. The annual event brings together thousands of San Diegans to preserve the health of over 100 local parks, beaches, creeks, and oceans. Individuals, friends and family, and corporate teams are encouraged to volunteer. Registrations for Coastal Cleanup Day are open at cleanupday.org.

“Witnessing thousands of San Diegans work together on a single day is truly heartening,” said Kristin Banks, Regional Programs Manager at I Love A Clean San Diego. “Last year, we were joined by more than 4,000 residents, and we expect more San Diegans to participate this year!”

I Love A Clean San Diego has served as the official organizer of Coastal Cleanup Day in San Diego County since its founding in 1985. The event has hosted over 272,000 volunteers countywide who have removed over 5.4 million pounds of litter and debris from local communities since its inception. In addition to removing litter, volunteers will compile litter totals from their site to capture the impact in San Diego and contribute to the worldwide total. International Coastal Cleanup is facilitated by The Ocean Conservancy and organized statewide by the California Coastal Commission.

Each year, I Love A Clean San Diego selects an official kickoff site for Coastal Cleanup Day. In an effort to bring awareness and aid in the cross-border ocean pollution, this year’s Coastal Cleanup Day kickoff site will be hosted at YMCA Camp Surf in Imperial Beach. Volunteers at the kickoff site hear from elected officials and can engage with booths from partners like Coastal Cleanup Day Presenting Partner Think Blue San Diego. Think Blue – the City of San Diego’s Stormwater Department – implements innovative, proactive steps to stop pollution before it goes untreated into our storm drain system and has been a long-time supporter of ILACSD’s community cleanups and youth educational programs. Think Blue’s mission is to build and maintain effective stormwater infrastructure to improve local water quality, prevent pollution and create flood-safe communities.

“San Diego is defined by the natural beauty of its beaches and coastal waters, and as pollution continues to threaten San Diego’s quality of life, we must work together to preserve and protect those natural resources for future generations,” said Think Blue Program Manager Craig Gustafson of the City of San Diego’s Stormwater Department. “Collaborative cleanups like this help stop ocean pollution before it starts and show the power of individual and collective action. We can all ‘Think Blue’ by taking simple everyday steps – from properly disposing of trash and pet waste to not overwatering lawns – that help ensure clean water and clean beaches for all.”

Thank you to our Presenting, Gold, Silver, and Bronze 2023 Coastal Cleanup Day Partners

Reduce Your Waste This Halloween: DIY Tips and Tricks

For both young and old, Halloween means dressing up as a cute critter, vicious vampire, or wicked witch. It’s a time to host parties, carve pumpkins, decorate haunted houses, and escape into a supernatural world for one night. Halloween is a fun tradition, but it is also one of the least environmentally friendly holidays. Considering the candy wrappers, decorations, and costumes made out of non-biodegradable materials, there are plenty of ways to reduce your impact this Halloween. Here are some eco-friendly tips to make your Halloween and earth-friendly.

Costume

There are a few ways you can reduce the environmental impact of Halloween costumes: Bring out your inner creativity by designing your own costume using unwanted items or old clothing. Click here for ideas. Replace face masks with these natural face paints with reusable containers, and create fake blood using corn syrup and food coloring. You can also make a trip to your local thrift store to find materials that you might need and maybe even find the costume that you’ve been looking for!

Trick-Or-Treat

Instead of buying another plastic pumpkin to hold all the tasty treats, try replacing it with a reusable shopping bag, pillow case, or basket this year!

Decorations

Halloween decorations are arguably the most wasteful part of Halloween, as they tend to contain excessive amounts of plastic. Try making your own! You’ll not only save money but the environment as well! Pinterest always has a wealth of great DIY ideas to get you started.

Examples of DIY decorations include making bats out of egg cartons or floating ghosts using unwanted white linen sheets. You can also create light-up tin cans/lanterns by poking holes in a soup can to create an image, then placing tea lights inside to make it glow.

To Give or Not to Give (Candy)

If your house gets a lot of trick-or-treaters every year, consider buying organic and non-GMO candy such as YumEarth. This is healthier than the conventional store-bought candy and better for the environment because it doesn’t contain pesticides or chemicals.

Alternatively, you can also try giving out other types of treats, such as bracelets made out of recycled flip-flops or compostable pencils, which will grow into herbs or flowers when you plant them. These treats are more eco-friendly and might even help children learn a thing or two about sustainability!

Pumpkin Disposal

If you are an EDCO customer, you can also put your pumpkins in the green bin if they are clean and unpainted. For the City of San Diego residents, they can be placed inside the organic waste recycling green bins. For additional information, please visit the WasteFreeSD.org search tool and use the keyword “pumpkins” to find a disposal location in your area.

eco-friendly eco-friendly halloween Halloween recycling reuse

Author: ilacsd

The holiday season is here! Dropping off your Christmas tree at a collection site is a great way to help divert your Christmas tree from the landfill following the holiday festivities.

Drop Off Locations by City