International Coastal Cleanup Day 2022: San Diego County’s Largest Environmental Cleanup Returns In-Person on September 17

International Coastal Cleanup Day 2022: San Diego County’s Largest Environmental Cleanup Returns In-Person on September 17

Online volunteer registration with cleanup sites across the county opens September 1, 2022 at CleanupDay.org.  

SAN DIEGO COUNTY (September 1, 2022) – International Coastal Cleanup Day returns to San Diego County for its 38th edition on Saturday, September 17, 2022. 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 90 countries across the world. From 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., San Diego County volunteers will join nearly one million volunteers worldwide in the removal of pollution from our connected ecosystems. Volunteers of all ages and across the region are invited to register beginning on September 1. Learn more at the official San Diego Coastal Cleanup Day website CleanupDay.org.

This year’s edition of Coastal Cleanup Day will include close to 70 cleanup sites located throughout the county at both inland and coastal areas. Inland community participation is especially encouraged as nearly 80 percent of all marine debris originates in these areas. Last year, over 2,470 volunteers came together at over 100 sites throughout the region.

“This is easily the biggest coastal cleanup of the year with thousands of San Diego County residents working collaboratively to help preserve and protect the place we all call home,” said Steve Morris, Executive Director at I Love A Clean San Diego. “By proactively removing trash and other debris through major cleanups like this, we can prevent pollution from entering our storm water systems and flowing untreated into local waterways and the ocean.”

Produced by I Love A Clean San Diego for the region, and in cooperation with the California Coastal Commission, Ocean Conservancy, and Think Blue, the event has hosted over 269,000 volunteers countywide who have removed over 5.4 million pounds of litter and debris from local communities since its inception in 1985. 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.

Think Blue San Diego is a longtime partner of I Love A Clean San Diego and presenting sponsor of Coastal Cleanup Day in San Diego. As the public outreach and educational arm of the city of San Diego’s Stormwater Department, Think Blue’s mission is directly aligned with Coastal Cleanup Day to protect the city’s waterways from litter and pollution, and ensure clean water and clean beaches.

“San Diego is defined by the natural beauty of its beaches and coastal waters, and keeping those precious resources clean, safe and healthy is a passion that Think Blue and I Love A Clean San Diego share,” said Bethany Bezak, Interim Director of the City of San Diego’s Stormwater Department. “Collaborative cleanups like this help beautify our region, and they also serve as a reminder that we can all ‘Think Blue’ by taking simple actions every day – from picking up pet waste to not overwatering lawns – that will improve the quality of life for everyone around us.”

To help expand the countywide experience, volunteers are encouraged to contribute to the cleanup’s impact through Facebook and Instagram by sharing images and videos showing themselves in action as they beautify their community. #ILoveACleanSD @ILoveACleanSD #CCD2022

Top 10 Items Collected Around the World on Coastal Cleanup Day 2021

  1. Cigarette Butts 964,521
  2. Plastic Beverage Bottles 627,014
  3. Food Wrappers (candy, chips, etc.) 573,534
  4. Clean Swell (clothing, metal pieces, etc.) 519,438
  5. Plastic Bottle Caps 409,855
  6. Plastic Grocery Bags 272,399
  7. Straws, Stirrers 224,170
  8. Plastic Take Out/Away Containers 222,289
  9. Beverage Cans 162,750
  10. Glass Beverage Bottles 146,255

Source: OceanConservancy.org

Supporting partners of Coastal Cleanup Day
Think Blue, County of San Diego and its Watershed Protection Program, San Diego Gas & Electric, Bank of America, Cox Communications, Northrop Grumman, The Bumble Bee Seafood Company, 22nd District Agricultural Association, Illumina, Project Clean Water, Sempra, Wells Fargo, Wheelhouse Credit Union,  CBS News 8, City of La Mesa, City of Imperial Beach, San Diego Regional Airport Authority, Sycuan, California Coastal Commission, and Ocean Conservancy.

About Coastal Cleanup Day
I Love A Clean San Diego has been the official organizer of Coastal Cleanup Day in San Diego County since it was founded in 1985. The event is a major part of International Coastal Cleanup Day and includes many U.S. states and territories, and over 90 countries. Each year the event attracts nearly one million volunteers globally and about 6,000 throughout San Diego County who prevent ocean pollution from our connected ecosystems. International Coastal Cleanup was founded by the Ocean Conservancy and is coordinated in California by the California Coastal Commission.

About I Love A Clean San Diego County
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

Properly Recycle, Dispose or Donate Bulky Items

Have you ever had a stained couch that you wanted to get rid of? Or a worn-down dishwasher that doesn’t seem to work properly? 

Bulky items are large household appliances, furniture, mattresses such as, fridges and ovens that are large in size and heavy of weight. Depending on the quality and nature of the product, bulky items generally last years! However, over time, it is common for them to begin to malfunction.

In this article we’ll share the proper way to manage, recycle, or dispose of your bulky items in a way that is sustainable for the environment and convenient for your time!

Are you thinking of replacing a bulky item? Consider repairing first! A couch has some stains? It could be a fun project to upholster the cushions and spice up your living room with a new textile color! Dishwasher not working properly? Might be time to call a technician for a checkup! Landfills are beginning to overfill with items that could have lived a longer life. Consider repairing as an initial option.

If you are looking to donate, recycle, or dispose of a bulky item at home, fear no more. I Love A Clean San Diego runs the WasteFreeSD database and hotline that can help you find pick-up and drop off centers around the county of San Diego that accept a variety of bulky items and other objects.

All you have to do is:

  1. Visit www.wastefreesd.org
  2. Search the item, zip code, community and need you are inquiring about.
  3. Find the best drop-off or pick-up location that best fit your needs
  4. Call the center to verify information – appointments may be required by some centers and some fees may apply

 

WasteFreeSD will give you options to recycle, repair or donate an item. We encourage all web users to first look at the repair options, then the recycle, and finally the donation or disposal options (such as a local thrift shop). We are trying to avoid unnecessary waste from entering the landfills. If you can not fix-it, give an appliance a second home. Thanks for reading and we hope our website is of help!

Zero Waste Kitchen

Did you know that organic waste accounts for about 40% of the content in our landfills? When organic waste, like food, sits in our landfills, it produces methane, a greenhouse gas 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide. 

Food packaging is also responsible for a large amount of the material in our waste stream. In total, packaging accounts for a combined 28% of the waste within our landfill (EPA, 2018), and a huge portion of that is food packaging. Food packaging is particularly problematic because of the sheer amount of material and its short lifespan in use. The packaging that food comes in is typically thrown out as soon as the food item is used. 

We can combat these issues together when we take actions to reduce the waste that we produce in our own homes. Read on to find out more about how to create a zero waste kitchen.

8 Quick Tips for Starting a Zero Waste Kitchen:

  1. Check what you have before shopping for food. 

Take an inventory of what you’ve already got before going to the store. This will ensure that you are using any items that may be closer to spoiling. Keeping your fridge and pantry organized will help gain a better understanding of which items you have and what items you need to buy. Keeping a running shopping list is another great practice. When you run out of an item, add it to your shopping list, and shop with your list to avoid over-purchasing.  

  1. Plan your meals in advance and use similar ingredients throughout the week. 

Think about how you can use the same ingredients in different ways throughout the week. For example, cilantro can be used for taco night, spring rolls, and in a salad dressing. Use this meal planning tool to help plan meals. You can even customize it for dietary restrictions and preferences, number of people in the household, and how often you shop. 

  1. Store your fruits and veggies correctly. 

Fruits and veggies often spoil in our fridge before we get a chance to eat them. But did you know that we can extend the life of our produce by more than 10x when we store them correctly? Use this food storage guide for detailed info on how to store your fresh produce, protein, and pantry items.

  1. Purchase foods from your local farmers market.

Buying local can greatly reduce our carbon footprint. Shipping food from around the world produces a lot of emissions that lead to climate change. Supporting small, local farms like those at farmers markets also promotes ethical farming practices – you often get to speak with the growers themselves! 

  1. Buy staple foods in bulk with a reusable container. 

Many grocery stores have bulk bins with dry goods like nuts, seeds, flour, cereal, snacks, and candy. Instead of purchasing food plus packaging, these bulk bins allow you to purchase just the food. You can also buy unpackaged food at the deli counter. Bring in a clean jar, tupperware, or container of choice and fill up. To avoid being charged for the weight of your container, take note of the “tare weight”. You can ask the cashier for this as soon as you enter the store, before you’ve filled up. Then, fill up your containers. When you get to the checkout station, tell the cashier the tare weight, and they will subtract it from the total weight so that you are only charged for the food. 

  1. Invest in reusable produce bags. 

Over the years, there has been a lot of focus on bringing your own grocery bags to the store. Grocery stores encourage it by offering a credit for bags you bring in, or they disincentivize by charging a fee for bags at the checkout stand. But not much focus is put on produce bags- those thin plastic bags that you find in the produce section. These are extremely wasteful. Rethink if the item you’re buying really needs a bag. You can avoid using a bag for most things by giving produce a rinse before consuming. For items that you prefer to bag, use a reusable produce bag. These bags are specifically made for produce as they are made of a thin material and are washable. Extra points if you repurpose an old T-shirt!

  1. Donate extra food.

WasteFreeSD lists locations near you where you can donate perishable and non-perishable foods. Just type “food” into the search bar, populate your zip code, and select “donate” from the drop down menu. You can also give extra food to animals – just make sure it’s safe for your pets.

  1. Compost! 

Composting is a great way to keep inedible or expired food out of the landfill. Food scraps like fruit and veggie peels should be composted, not landfilled. Many residents already have an organics bin, provided by their waste hauler. Check with your hauler to see if you are able to place food scraps in your organics bin. You can also compost at home, even if you have a small space! Many cities have compost bin rebate programs.

Looking for a farmers market, bulk store, food donation center, or compost bin rebate program near you? Visit WasteFreeSD.org for more info.

Eliminating Food Waste | Eliminado el Desperdicio de Comida

40% OF FOOD IN THE USA IS WASTED

JOIN YOUR COMMUNITY IN NOT THROWING OUT THIS VALUABLE RESOURCE!

  1. SHOP SMART

Plan out your meals beforehand. Be sure to check the fridge to see what needs to be used up before buying more!

  1. LEARN THE LINGO

“Best By”/ “Use By” dates refer to food quality, not safety. Foods past these dates are often fine to eat. Trust your instincts!

  1. STORE FOOD PROPERLY

Find out what goes where! Even fruit like apples, oranges, and pears have different proper storing techniques.

  1. USE FOOD ENTIRELY

There’s plenty of ways to cook with food scraps or food past its prime. For example, old bananas make amazing banana bread!

  1. SAVE YOUR LEFTOVERS

Keep leftovers in the front of the fridge where they won’t be forgotten. Or use the freezer to press “pause” on your food!

  1. DONATE EXTRA FOOD

Got more than you need? Ask your neighbors if they’d like some leftovers or donate non-perishables to a local charity!

  1. COMPOST FOOD SCRAPS – JOIN YOUR COMMUNITY IN NOT THROWING OUT THIS VALUABLE RESOURCE!

With what’s left after you’ve done all else, compost your scraps to create “black gold” for your yard!

KEEP SAN DIEGO BEAUTIFUL!

 

40% DE LA COMIDA EN LOS E.U. ES DESPERDICIADA

¡INFÓRMATE SOBRE COMO LIMITAR EL DESPERDICIO DE COMIDA!

  1. COMPRAS MAS INTELIGENTE

Planea tu comida de antemano. ¡Asegúrate de revisar el refrigerador para ver qué se debe usar antes de comprar más!

  1. APRENDE EL LINGO

Las fechas “Best By” / “Use By” se refieren a la calidad de la comida, no a la seguridad. La comida después de estas fechas está bien para comer. ¡Confía en tus instinctos!

  1. CONSERVA LA COMIDA POR MAS TIEMPO

Frutas como manzanas, naranjas y peras pueden ser conservadas por más tiempo antes de comer. Infórmate sobre la técnica adecuada para guardar tu comida.

  1. USE COMIDA ENTERAMENTE

Hay muchas maneras de cocinar con restos de comida o comida vencida. Por ejemplo, los plátanos viejos hacen un increíble pan de plátano!

  1. GUARDA LAS SOBRAS

Guarda las sobras en la parte del refrigerador donde no serán olvidadas o usa el congelador para preservar la comida.

  1. DONACION DE COMIDA EXTRA

¿Tienes más comida de la que necesitas? Ofrece tus sobras de comida a tus vecinos o dona tus sobras a una organización local.

  1. COMPOSTAJE HECHO DE COMIDA

Puedes usar lo que queda de comida como abono para tu compostaje y crear “oro negro” para tu jardín.

¡MANTEN SAN DIEGO LIMPIO!

Food Waste Facts Sourced from United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

How to Host a Clothing Swap Party

How to Host a Swap Party

What if there is a way to obtain new items while still being environmentally friendly? What if I told you that you can now go shopping for free? Welcome to SWAP Parties.

What’s a swap party?

  • Swap parties have been growing in popularity and offer an alternative in the way we acquire items for ourselves and our household.
  • Swaps are meet ups where people can bring in second-hand items that they own and exchange them with other items that other people bring at no cost.
  • Beyond being economical, eco-friendly, and an excuse to clean out your closet, a swap party with friends is far more fun than a yard sale with strangers.
  • By participating in a swap, you are helping to conserve natural resources, reduce the environmental footprint of producing new goods, and building community.

How to start

  • Set a theme – A swap party can be for clothing, toys, housewares, pet supplies, books, DVDs – anything you can think of! Decide on the type items that will be collected and exchanged.
  • Pick a space – Find a location that will give enough space for people to sort through items. Friendly Tip, adding clothing racks and full body mirrors will help you stay organized.
  • Gather friends and their excess stuff – For this sustainable get-together, people need to participate and show up with items that can be exchanged! Encourage guests to bring new friends to ensure there are plenty of quality things to trade.
  • Send out e-invitations! There are plenty of services for electronic invitations that are an upgrade from sending a text. Check out Paperless Post, Green Envelope, and eVite.
  • Host your swap at the end of the season when people are cleaning out their closets and looking for new pieces to freshen up their wardrobes.

Tricks of the Trade

  • Be clear about what’s swap-worthy. Ask friends to bring clean goods in gently used condition. Set standards of what will and will not be accepted. Be clear that items with stains, holes, rips or odors should be avoided.
  • Organize the Set Up of the Swap. To help people find what they want, sort items into areas based on type of items, color, and style.
  • After the party, take the leftover goods to your local donation center. Goodwill, schools, theatre groups, and pet adoption centers would love your excess items. Visit WasteFreeSD.org to find donation drop-off centers near you to take all the leftovers.

The most important part of SWAP Parties is, not only to have fun, but also to give a second round of life to pieces of items that would have otherwise ended in the landfill.

Want to attend a swap? Go to our events page to learn more about our upcoming Swap Parties!

 

 

Joy in Nature at the Annual Kids’ Ocean Day

Joy in Nature at the Annual Kids’ Ocean Day
Over 150 students, mentors, volunteers and staff took to Mission Beach to celebrate the 27th Annual Kids’ Ocean Day.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY (May 27, 2022) – On May 26, I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD) engaged more than 150 students, mentors, volunteers and staff to discover joy in nature while protecting what they love at Mission Beach for the 27th Annual Kids’ Ocean Day. This is the first year back to an in-person event since 2019 and everyone felt energized while connecting with each other and nature. With a litter cleanup along Mission Beach, students and volunteers significantly improved the health and beauty of San Diego’s natural environment, preventing debris from entering the ocean, where it can be mistaken for food and ingested by marine wildlife. After the cleanup, the group formed an aerial art image of the word “JOY” with the ILACSD heart logo in lieu of the “O” to connect with this year’s theme of “Discover Joy in Nature”.

In an attempt to empower over 800 youth while accommodating safety restrictions, ILACSD hosted separate environmental education presentations and school campus cleanups in the weeks leading up to Kids’ Ocean Day. These programs for individual schools sparked student engagement and their understanding of the impact their actions have on the environment. The students who participated in the school presentations and campus cleanups attend Title 1 schools throughout San Diego County – Chula Vista Learning Community Charter School, Clay Elementary, Ericson Elementary, La Mirada Academy, Los Peñasquitos Elementary, and Mission Elementary. Through additional outreach and partnerships with other youth organizations, ILACSD staff presented to youth from the Barrio Logan College Institute and Pro Kids – First Tee. Both programs mentor youth from a young age to develop the necessary skills, learning habits, goals, and practical knowledge in their schooling, future professions, and overall lives.

The event on May 26 brought out youth and adults from Barrio Logan College Institute, and culminated with the creation of a piece of living art – an aerial art image that spelled out “JOY” along South Mission Beach. This powerful image is a call for San Diegans to take action on behalf of our oceans and the sensitive wildlife that call it home. There are already more than 5 trillion pieces of plastic are floating in our oceans, and it’s estimated by 2050, virtually every seabird species on the planet will be eating plastic. The “Discover Joy in Nature” message serves as a reminder to us all that when we come together, there is so much joy to experience in the outdoors, we can build stronger relationships with each other, and our collective impact can make a difference. This event also acted as a reminder that our homes do not end at our doorstep – our homes include the natural environment – and embodies ILACSD’s motto of “passion in action” to care for our larger home – Earth.

Kids’ Ocean Day was made possible through the generous support of many partners, including California’s Coastal Commission’s Whale Tail grant program and the Protect Our Coast and Oceans Fund, County of San Diego District Attorney Community Grant Program, Kiwanis Club, TEGNA Foundation, Kaiser Foundation, Wells Fargo, Sony Electronics, and CBS News 8.

Kids’ Ocean Day is one of hundreds of cleanups hosted by ILACSD annually. In 2021, ILACSD mobilized nearly 8,400 volunteers who removed over 61,000 pounds of debris from San Diego County. Join ILACSD for their next cleanup is Saturday, June 4 at Escondido Creek in Harmony Grove. For more information about how to get involved, visit CleanSD.org.

About I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD)

As San Diego’s most influential advocate for sustainability, I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD) is an environmental catalyst, awakening passion and inspiring action, empowering everyone to improve the health and beauty of our local environment. For 65 years, we have brought the best in all of us together for a lasting, positive impact on our region. We are passion in action. For more information, to volunteer or donate, visit CleanSD.org, WasteFreeSD.org or call (619) 291-0103. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Results Begin to Come in for 20th Anniversary Creek to Bay Cleanup

Results Begin to Come in for 20th Anniversary Creek to Bay Cleanup

Over 5,500 registered volunteers of all ages took part in region’s largest environmental cleanup honoring Earth Day.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY (April 23, 2022) –  As of 3 p.m. today, I Love A Clean San Diego reports more than 5,500 registered volunteers have removed over 74,000 pounds of litter and debris from streets, canyons, parks and the coastline in communities across San Diego County for the 20th anniversary Creek to Bay Cleanup. Results are still coming in from the 75 sites and the many self-led cleanups around San Diego County.

“While we will not have final numbers until early next week, we can safely say volunteers will have helped us meet our goal of 100,000 pounds of litter collected today,” said Ann Marie Sack community programs manager with I Love A Clean San Diego.

Plastic in all its forms remains the chief pollutant found at the annual Earth Week event. More than 60 percent of all the litter removed was a form of plastic. Single-use food wrappers, beverage containers and utensils represented some of the most common forms of plastic litter.

Cigarette butts remain the most littered individual item. This year, over 52,600 have been reported in cleanup totals so far. Many cigarette butts were discovered in gutters where the toxic items flow into San Diego Bay and the ocean. Cigarette butt filters are made of plastic and are full of harmful toxins that pollute the environment when left behind.

Some of the most notable items collected were discarded tires, a keyboard, car batteries, a baby stroller, an Easter bunny suit, and a portable ashtray with the message “do not litter,” printed on the item.

Volunteers included residents, corporate groups, community groups and other regional environmental organizations.

The Creek to Bay Cleanup is one of two annual countywide cleanups produced by I Love A Clean San Diego. The next major cleanup event is International Coastal Cleanup Day on September 17, 2022.

About I Love A Clean San Diego County

Founded in 1954, I Love A Clean San Diego County (ILACSD) is an environmental nonprofit on a mission to foster zero waste lifestyles and beautify communities throughout region. ILACSD serves about 90,000 students, adults and businesses every year through environmental education, volunteer cleanup and beautification programs, and recycling and zero waste resources for the public. Annually, the organization hosts approximately 900 workshops and produces 600 community cleanups. Community cleanups are responsible for clearing nearly half a million pounds of pollution from the region annually. ILACSD is dedicated to empowering every person to be leaders in conservation and waste-free living to protect and improve the health of the home we love. Connect with us at CleanSD.org, WasteFreeSD.org,  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, or call 619.291.0103.

20th Anniversary Creek to Bay Cleanup to Celebrate Earth Week in San Diego County

The 20th Anniversary Creek to Bay Cleanup to Celebrate Earth Week

throughout San Diego County with Thousands of Environmental Volunteers

San Diego County’s largest cleanup effort honoring Earth Day is back to in-person, group volunteering. All ages welcome in communities across the region. Free online registration opens April 1 at CreektoBay.org for the April 23 event.

I Love A Clean San Diego County (ILACSD) is set to host the 20th anniversary Creek to Bay Cleanup on Saturday, April 23 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. – the day after Earth Day. The event that has become the region’s largest one-day environmental volunteer effort honoring Earth Day. This year, Creek to Bay returns to in-person, group volunteering at nearly 75 sites around the county.

Organizers expect over 5,000 volunteers of all ages to participate. Free online registration opens on April 1 at CreektoBay.org.

“Bringing people together as environmental volunteers is core to what we do at I Love A Clean San Diego and creates the greatest impact at the Creek to Bay Cleanup,” said Lauren Short, the event’s Director of Community Engagement. “We will have designated sites with site captains for people who want the group experience and will provide the close-to-home option for those who wish to volunteer that way.”

In 2021, volunteers reported removing nearly 30,000 pounds of litter from streets, parks, canyons and beaches. This year, ILACSD hopes to see that number jump closer to pre-pandemic levels of 100,000 pounds.

“This is why volunteer registration and data reporting is so important,” said Short. “We report our totals to local, regional, state and national agencies and we want every effort to be counted. We urge all volunteers to register – it counts.”

On event day, all volunteers will see cleanup totals displayed, in live time, on the Volunteer Impact Map at CreektoBay.org.

Where Does Marine Litter Come From?

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 the most dangerous products, which break down into micro-plastics and can be ingested by animals and humans.

Since its inception, Creek to Bay Cleanup volunteers have helped clear over 2.7 million pounds of pollution from communities across the county to protect the region’s natural environment, waterways and the ocean.

ILACSD encourages all volunteers to practice zero-waste habits at Creek to Bay by swapping single-use plastic items for sustainable alternatives.

North County Bucket Drive

People can donate to ILACSD and receive a reusable bucket and new litter grabber at the North County Bucket Drive on Saturday, April 9 from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Carlsbad Community Church, 3175 Harding St, Carlsbad, CA 92008. An online donation of $30 before April 9 will generate a receipt for donors to drive thru and pickup their cleanup kit.

Creek to Bay Goes International

The event has gone national and international due to its virtual volunteer option. Volunteers around the country, Canada, Mexico and Europe will contribute to cleanup efforts in their own corner of the world thanks to support from corporate teams.

Supporting partners of the Creek to Bay Cleanup

Think Blue San Diego, County of San Diego, County of San Diego Watershed Protection Program, Project Clean Water, The Coca-Cola Foundation, CBS News 8, Bank of America, Sempra Infrastructure, Sony, COX, Kirei USA, Wells Fargo, San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, Illumina, Orbital Project Management, City of San Marcos, City of San Marcos, GEICO Philanthropic Foundation, City of Poway, City of La Mesa, City of Imperial Beach, Port of San Diego, City of Escondido, City of El Cajon.

About I Love A Clean San Diego County 

Founded in 1954, I Love A Clean San Diego County (ILACSD) is an environmental nonprofit on a mission to foster zero waste lifestyles and beautify communities throughout the region. ILACSD serves about 90,000 students, adults and businesses every year through environmental education, volunteer cleanup and beautification programs, and recycling and zero waste resources for the public. Annually, the organization hosts approximately 900 workshops and produces 600 community cleanups. Community cleanups are responsible for clearing nearly half a million pounds of pollution from the region annually. ILACSD is dedicated to empowering every person to be leaders in conservation and waste-free living to protect and improve the health of the home we love. Connect with us at CleanSD.org, WasteFreeSD.org,  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn, or call 619.291.0103.

Composting 101 | A Beginners Guide

Composting 101: A Beginners Guide to Successful Composting

Why is composting important? Composting allows you to create your own healthy soil for free. More than 40 percent of what is in the landfill could have been composted. You can keep that much waste out of the landfill by simply composting your organic matter or kitchen scraps.

Do’s and Don’ts

DO compost these items:

Fruits, Vegetables, Grains/Bread/Rice, Coffee Grounds/Filters, Tea bags, Nuts/Shells, Egg Shells, Pasta, Newspaper/Cardboard, Paper Bags, Leaves, Yard Trimmings, Dead Plants

DON’T compost these items:

Meat, Seafood, Bones, Dairy, Grease, Oil, Chemicals, Plastic, Wax Coated Paper, Feces, Styrofoam

Extra Tips:

  • Cut up large items so they can compost quicker.
  • Large items like avocado pits, root balls and oyster shells can be composted but may take quite a bit of extra time.

If you’re unsure on whether or not it can be composted, think in color…

GREENS – Materials that are moist or were recently growing are nutrient rich.

  • Fruits, veggies, coffee grounds, egg shells, etc.
  • Items from the garden that are still green such as grass clippings, weeds, plants.

BROWNS – Consists of dry or woody plant material.

  • Dry leaves, wood chips, straw.
  • Newspaper, paper bags, napkins

Compost Collection

Collect your food scraps in a pale, bucket or an enclosed compost collection bin to keep the smell enclosed. Check out the Solana Center Store for great composting items and ideas such as bins and thermometers.
Layer your collected food waste (Greens) in your compost bin with your Browns. You ideally want two parts Browns and one part Greens.
Keep your compost piles moist, with the consistency of a damp sponge and make sure there is some air flow.

Finished Product Tips:

  • Add your finished compost to any soil to enrich it with nutrients.
  • Add some to the top layer of soil in potted plants.
  • Use it as a nutrient enhancer for produce in the garden.
  • Add it to the base of your trees near the roots by digging small holes around the trunks and filling them with fresh composted soil.

Variations in Composting Bins 

Find out what composting bin method is right for you, whether that’s vermicomposting or bokashi!

Household Water Savings Guide

Household Water Savings Guide

In the San Diego region, water conservation has great benefits all year long. Drought or no drought, the entire region is an arid environment, which needs water from a variety expensive sources to sustain our quality of life. When practiced year-round, water conservation reduces pollution in our oceans, saves our most precious natural resource and helps you save money all year long. Here are some tips to help save water and a link for water saving rebates available for residents in the city of San Diego.

In the House

  • Turn off the bathroom sink while shaving or brushing your teeth. Some bathroom faucets can use up to two gallons of water per minute. Install an aerator to help restrict water flow to the faucet, this can decrease usage and use as little as .5 gallons of water per minute.
  • Scrape dirty dishes instead of rinsing before placing them in the dishwasher. Some dishwashers don’t require any pre-rinsing, check your user’s manual to find out.
  • Run the dishwasher on full loads of dishes only. Inefficient dishwashers can use up to 15 gallons per load, make sure the dishwasher is used only when fully loaded with dishes and invest in an efficient model that can save money, energy and water.
  • Run full loads of laundry. Even if your washing machine has an adjustable load setting, the washing machine will be the most efficient when run on a full load.
  • Place a bucket in the shower to capture the water that is run while warming under shower. Tub faucets can use a minimum of four gallons of water per minute. That clean water running down the drain can be useful! Try using collected water to water your garden and trees.
    • Also, learn how to take a Navy Shower and reduce water use by 90 percent!

In the Yard

  • Turn off irrigation systems before rainstorms. When significant rainfall occurs, make sure you don’t run your sprinklers. Some irrigation systems even allow you to set seasonal irrigation programs.
  • Install a pool cover to reduce evaporation. Evaporation causes pools to lose over hundreds of gallons a year. Simply by covering a pool can cut evaporation by 95 percent lowering the demand to refill the pool more often.
  • Wash your car with a bucket and sponge instead of a hose. Washing your car with an open hose can use up to 100 gallons per wash. Choose to go to a car wash center that recycles the water.
  • Install rain gutters and rain barrels to capture water from your roof. By installing a rain barrel for your home, you reduce the demand on the potable water system to irrigate your garden. Plus, unchlorinated rain water is better for plant health.  

Learn More

  • Attend Water Conservation Workshops. Attend a workshop like an I Love a Clean San Diego workshop to learn more about local programs that can help you save money and learn more tips and tricks! 
  • Utilize Local Water Savings Rebates. There are many local rebate programs that can help you save money when purchasing and installing rain gutters, rain barrels, or downspout redirects.

Check out Think Blue San Diego for more tips and information about water conservation rebates and visit WasteFreeSD.org for more local resources.