I Love A Clean (and Beautiful) Chula Vista!

We think all of our cleanups are important and fantastic, but one stands out as a bit unique: Beautify Chula Vista Day, this October 12.  Beautify Chula Vista Day is significant in many respects. It is a chance for the Chula Vista community to actively participate in enhancing the environment in which they live. Urban litter is not only an eye sore, it also contributes to environmental damage. By properly disposing of trash, waste is prevented from polluting waterways which harm plants, animals, and humans. Reporting and removing graffiti gives the urban landscape a fresh, newly painted start free from vandalism.  Volunteers will be removing litter, graffiti, and invasive plants in Rice Canyon at Discovery Park, or can remove litter and graffiti from the surrounding neighborhood at Otay Recreation Center.

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Beautify Chula Vista Day is a dynamic community cleanup event organized by I Love A Clean San Diego and the City of Chula Vista, and made strong by thousands of enthusiastic volunteers.   We are proud to partner with the City of Chula Vista and show the power of joining forces! Now celebrating its 11th year, this event has made an extensive impact on the City of Chula Vista as a whole, having reached 11 areas with plans to continue on its path to make a difference for many years to come. In the last seven years, thousands of dedicated residents have painted out 4,133 square feet of graffiti, planted 117 trees, and removed nearly 19,000 pounds of debris littering neighborhoods in Chula Vista, showing that huge results can come from volunteers that donate just one morning a year toward helping their community.

Removing grafitti goes a long way towards renewing park space
Removing grafitti goes a long way towards renewing park space

Volunteers who take part in this special event lead by example, and can be proud that they have personally contributed to a beautiful and clean Chula Vista. This rewarding experience is designed to instill community pride and environmental stewardship. Last but not least, it is also fun!

 

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An item found at last year’s BCVD. We don’t like to ‘toot our own horn’, but this is a pretty amazing cleanup

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.

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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!

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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!

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

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…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!

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

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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.

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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.

Back to school guide: The sustainable way!

Today’s blog post comes from our super-star environmental educator Monica Rosquillas!  Monica’s parents are hoping she will someday use all those leftover Trapper-Keepers from junior high… monica

Thousands of San Diego students are getting ready to go back to school. Here are a few tips to do it the green way!

Reduce your daily lunchprint by following these tips:

• If you don’t yet own a reusable water bottle, get one, and make sure to use it! You can significantly reduce the amount of disposable water bottles you toss out just by drinking from your reusable water bottle every day. And it saves you money. Do the math! But take care of it, I’ve personally seen too many reusable water bottles in the lost and found; write your name or initials on the bottle to avoid losing it and creating more waste.

Some great alternatives to plastic bottles and bags.
Some great alternatives to plastic bottles and bags.

• Pack a lunch, but think twice before you put your sandwich, cookies, veggies, and other snacks in disposable plastic baggies. Those bags are likely to end up in the trash can, they don’t get recycled. If you throw out 2 bags a school day, that’s 10 bags every week, in a month that’s 40 bags, and in a year that’s a whopping 480 bags, they add up quickly! Save money and avoid making so much trash by switching to REUSABLE sandwich and snack bags. Plus, they are super cool-looking, you’ll impress your friends, and they are widely available.

• Don’t bag your fruit. Fruits come in their own compostable packaging, it’s not necessary to put your banana, orange, or apple in a plastic bag. Sure, it’s more appetizing to eat your already sliced apple out of a bag, but think about all the trash you’re making. If you want to pre-peel or pre-slice your fruit, that’s not a problem, it’s just another opportunity to use your reusable snack bags.

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Fruit comes pre-packaged, naturally! No need for plastic bags.

More green tips!

• Be cool and carpool. Also, if you live close to your school, consider walking, skating, or riding your bike to school.

• Shop smart. I remember getting really excited about the new school year, I always wanted to start the year organized, and with brand new, cool materials, but I ended up buying supplies that I did not need. At my parent’s house there are still drawers full of markers, pens, colored pencils, rulers, notepads etc. that I accumulated throughout my education. So, before going out to buy new school supplies make a list of what you really need, this way you can avoid buying what you don’t. If you have any supplies at home that you won’t use, consider donating them to your school or an after school program. Also: Don’t forget your reusable bags when back-to-school shopping. Already do all the above and want to do more? Here are some tips for the A+ Environmentalists

• Start an organic gardening and composting program at your school.

• How well does your school recycle? If you think more can be done, talk with your teachers and principal about improving recycling at your school.

• Start an environmental club at your school. You can participate in clean-ups and organize recycling events to fundraise for your club or school.

• Help spread the word. Schedule a FREE environmental presentation from ILACSD for your school.

Labor Day Weekend Rounds out Clean Beach Coalition Summer Campaign!

The San Diego Clean Beach Coalition, a project of I Love A Clean San Diego, FreePB.org, and the City of San Diego Parks & Recreation Department has been busy this summer working to keep our most popular beaches free of trash!

Remember when this used to be a common sight on local beaches?
Remember when this used to be a common sight on local beaches?

The Coalition’s efforts have results in the placement of more than 200 temporary trash and recycling bins, which were purchased to handle the influx of trash and recyclables that accompany the large crowds over summer holiday weekends.  This much needed infrastructure prevents litter, overflowing trash cans, and lack of recycling opportunities available at local beaches.

This year, thanks to our generous sponsors, we were able to expand the program into a third holiday weekend, and placed the bins at Ocean Beach, Mission Beach, Mission Bay, and Pacific Beach over Memorial Day weekend.  These bins were placed conveniently on the sand, giving thousands of beachgoers the opportunity to make the responsible choice when disposing of trash at the beach.  A total of more than 23,000 pounds of trash and 2,000 pounds of recycling were properly disposed of in these bins over Memorial Day weekend, as well as an additional 250,920 pounds over Fourth of July weekend.

Look for these bins on local beaches over Labor Day weekend!

The last hurrah of the 2013 summer season is Labor Day weekend, and the Clean Beach Coalition is poised to finish the summer on a high note. I Love A Clean San Diego, FreePB.org and the City of San Diego Parks & Recreation Department will again disseminate more than 50 trash and recycle bins along the beach. Large pollution prevention banners will also be placed at main lifeguard stations as well as sponsoring restaurants & bars in Pacific Beach.

In addition to infrastructure, the Clean Beach Coalition aimed to prevent litter by creating and disseminating educational messaging reminding San Diegans about litter prevention techniques to incorporate into their weekend and their daily lives. These efforts prevented tons of trash from polluting our beaches and threatening ocean health, but also helped to educate thousands of beachgoers!

The Clean Beach Coalition reminds you to enjoy the scene, but keep it clean. Dispose of all trash and recycling in the temporary receptacles on the sand!

These signs will provide a helpful reminder to beachgoers this Labor Day weekend!
These signs will provide a helpful reminder to beachgoers this Labor Day weekend!

We Talk Trash- Sign Your School Up for an ILACSD Education Presentation!

Today’s blog post comes from our Education Coordinator, Erika Bjorkquist.  Erika, whose pencils have been sharpened for weeks, is super excited for school to start and to begin education presentations for a new batch of kids!Erika-team

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Sharpen your pencils, gather your books, it’s back to school time! This year, as you prepare your lessons, consider incorporating a presentation from I Love A Clean San Diego. Our local, environmental nonprofit has been around for almost 60 years! With that kind of history, we have vast knowledge of San Diego and its local environment, so we know the issues important to the community.

San Diego is known for beautiful weather and breathtaking beaches. Unfortunately, along with sea shells and sand crabs, litter is ‘litter’ally harming our environment. Trash makes its way through rivers, creeks, storm drains, to beaches and ultimately, to the ocean. Once in the ocean, little can be done to reverse the detrimental effects of trash. But…there is something you can do! ILACSD is up for the task to help our beaches and water ways through our education programs and cleanups.  In our presentations, we talk trash, introducing students to the harms of pollution in the environment, and then we provide easy, everyday actions students can take to combat pollution in our watershed and provide dates in which students can get involved.

Letter from a student at Dingeman Elementary
Letter from a student at Dingeman Elementary

What is great about our education programs is that:

  1. We deliver programs county wide. Whether your school is in San Diego, Jacumba, Fallbrook, Oceanside, or Julian, we have a presentation for you!
  2. Every presentation is standards-based and interactive.
  3. We incorporate visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning in classroom presentations.
  4. We emphasize community service as a way to help make a difference and provide dates and locations where students can receive community service hours.
  5. Best of all, these programs are fun and engaging!

Our presentations cater to the grade level of the audience, and best of all, the majority of our presentations are FREE! Certain restrictions apply, so please call for details. For more information, please contact the education department at 619-291-0103 or education@cleansd.org. You can also learn more on our education website.

Know what would make this student happy? A fun education presentation from ILACSD!
Know what would make this student happy? A fun education presentation from ILACSD!

Meet Coastal Cleanup Day Site Captain, Johnathon Stone!

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Johnathon captain’n the registration table

Today we introduce Johnathon Stone, one of our awesome site captains for ILACSD’s September 21st Coastal Cleanup Day. Read on to learn more about why Johnathon thinks CCD is such a great event, and why he thinks you should join!

This year, as he has years in the past, Navy service member Johnathon Stone will lead as a CCD site captain.  Stone notes that ILACSD helps San Diegans enjoy a clean environment, and Coastal Cleanup Day is a huge part of this.  It is important to ensure our communities, canyons and beaches are clean and safe for kids and those who use them, he says.  Deciding to be a CCD site captain was an easy decision- Johnathon enjoys recruiting people to volunteer, get outside, and make the environment a better place. For Johnathon and thousands of other volunteers, CCD is a great opportunity to get out and about and help our communities!

Johnathon with his crew at a cleanup
Johnathon with his crew at a cleanup

 

This year, Johnathon’s cleanup site is Fiesta Island. It is centrally located and accessible to volunteers from all around San Diego County. Fiesta Island is a beautiful place and kid friendly; you can get kids to help and bring your dog! This year, Johnathon looks forward to seeing everyone out and about and having a good time while making San Diego County a cleaner, better place.

Join Johnathon at Fiesta Island or any of our other 90+ cleanup sites county-wide. Sign up today; we’ll see ya on September 21st!