I Love A Clean San Diego is collaborating with the Otay Valley Regional Park Citizens Advisory Committee to coordinate the 8th Annual DiscoverOtay Valley Regional Park Day on Saturday, May 19th from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM at the Saturn Staging area of Otay Valley Regional Park located at 500 Saturn Blvd (Behind Home Depot), San Diego, CA 92154. This event will once again bring neighbors together and raise awareness in the community of the features of this regional park, safe outdoor recreation, and environmentally friendly behaviors to preserve and protect our treasured outdoor spaces. In addition to the educational booth area, we will also have a fun run and exhibitors that showcase Kumeyaay history and culture, as well as recreational activities.
Big news out of San Diego recently hit the recycling world. Zheng Chen, an assistant professor and nano-engineer from UCSD has developed a new method to recycle lithium-ion batteries. More specifically, according to a report by the San Diego Union Tribune, “He has developed a way to recycle used cathodes from spent lithium-ion batteries and restore them to the point that they work as good as new.” Considering those cathodes contain cobalt, a rare earth metal with a finite supply, this type of recycling has a momentous impact on the future of the tech world, most notably electric vehicles.
Electric vehicles use lithium-ion batteries that use rare earth metals like cobalt that have a finite supply.
So what does this mean for you? Well, maybe you saw an article headline and figured you can start tossing your lithium-ion batteries into your blue bin (false!). Or maybe you’re confused because you thought you already recycled all of your batteries. While the energy in the battery itself may not be reusable (at a large scale just yet), the materials themselves are 100% recyclable. With lithium-ion batteries powering many cell phones, laptops, power tools, and other electronics, it is likely we all have a few of these floating around our home. However, according to Chen, less than 3% of lithium-ion batteries around the world are recycled. For that reason, it’s important for us all to have accurate information on the proper way to handle these batteries at the end of their lifespan. We enlisted our friends over at Universal Waste Disposal Company to help us give you the low down on recycling lithium-ion batteries.
Lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable.
Lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable, but even rechargeable batteries have a lifespan. Once a lithium-ion battery is completely spent or degraded, it should be properly stored until it is able to be recycled. While you cannot simply recycle these in your blue bin, according to California Law (AB1125) most retailers that sell rechargeable batteries are required to accept and recycle these consumer batteries. If you prefer a drop off option, you can check with local retailers to find one that accepts lithium-ion batteries. For pick up recycling services, businesses like UWDC specialize in universal waste recycling.
Until you are able to recycle your lithium-ion batteries, it is extremely important to store them properly. You’ve probably heard stories of cell phones exploding or catching fire. This is related to the battery within the phone. When lithium-ion batteries “catch fire” or “explode” they are experiencing thermal runaway. Thermal runaway is essentially a chemical reaction inside the battery producing heat that causes additional chemical reactions that result in increasing heat until there is nothing left to react. So be very cautious if your device begins smoking, sizzling or popping. Stay alert! Lithium-ion battery packs typically contain several cells. If your device does catch fire, even though one cell may be extinguished, the residual heat may cause thermal runaway in the adjacent cells.
The number of lithium-ion batteries that are recycled is very low since they are housed inside of many devices. The batteries commonly remain in our homes when the old device gets tucked away in a drawer or storage space.
Thermal runaway can be the result of design flaws (inadequate venting, poor chemistry, inadequate safety features), user damage (dropping, crushing, puncturing), improper packaging or storage, or improper charging (wrong charger, cheap chargers, overcharging). To prevent thermal runaway, proper care and storage are key. While the battery is still in use, keep them out of the heat and freezing temperatures, use the charger that came with the lithium-ion powered device, keep them dry, and avoid overcharging them. When your batteries are at the end of their life, make sure to store them at room temperature. Tape over the terminals so that they do not make contact with each other.
The future of the environment is our responsibility and in this case, it’s the law.Batteries of all types must be recycled. Please be sure to locate an authorized battery recycler in your area to properly recycle your used batteries.
Open your Instagram account and click on the explore page, it won’t take too long for most of us to find images of vibrant, crunchy, creamy, steamy, buttered, drizzled, crystalized, smoky, aged, boiled, briny, cheesy, absolutely delightful images of what is on their plate! These days, foodie culture dominates social feeds. The farm to table movement is bigger than ever. We have never been so in tune and in love with what we are eating until now.
Documenting meals for online followers is a normal habit for foodies.
So with that, let’s imagine you just spent all afternoon preparing a pie for dinner guests. You’re are so pleased with the steaming, flaky pie that sits on the counter in front of you. It’s so aromatic and intense that you can recognize each type of fruit in the medley that is making your senses come alive! You cut it into 10 slices, making sure each one is piled high with perfectly candied pastry dough. You are almost ready to serve it to your guests, but before you even unveil it at the dinner table, before you even leave the kitchen, you scrape 4 pieces of pie directly into the garbage. It hits the trash can with a miserable thud, the amber colored gelatin is sliding down the plastic bag and the slices look more like your cat’s food than a guest-worthy dessert. While this might seem like an insane thing to do, it is a realistic picture of the amount of food being wasted in our society.
Sorry, what was I talking about? I am only thinking about pie now…
In the United States, 40% of food goes uneaten. The average Californian throws away 24 pounds of food a month.How can it be that in a time when we are so infatuated with our food, that we are wasting so much? Food waste occurs at many levels – at the farm, at the store, in our fridges, and off our plates. Farmers who grow produce that is considered too ugly, too small, too large, too uneven, or a little colorless are pushed out of the marketplace due to the retailer’s demand for consistency. Food is also lost in transportation. Food spoils in the store and in our refrigerators, but it’s not just food we are discarding without a second thought. We are squandering all of the resources that go into the production and distribution of food! Nationally, 80% of our water, 10% of our energy, and 40% of our land is utilized to grow our food. Despite all of the resources we put into the production of food, it is the leading material in our landfills! In the Miramar Landfill, 40% of the total waste is organic material that could have been mulched, composted, fed to animals, or in some cases, fed to people.
Realizing all of your food doesn’t have to be picture perfect is an easy way to prevent food from going to waste.
Our food systems are not perfect, but together each and every one of us can take a stand against food waste. Even small adjustments to our behavior can create impactful change! Here are a few simple suggestions to help you get started or continue your food waste prevention:
Shop Smart
Be prepared: create a shopping list with menus in mind to avoid impulse buys
Set a time frame: this gives you less time to buy things not on your prepared list
Know what you need: keep stock of what you have at home, note items as they run out to help create your shopping list
Be realistic: if you live alone or only need one carrot for a recipe, don’t buy a whole bag
Bulk is better: buying in bulk requires a little forethought and planning but is definitely worth it
Cut your costs: if you crunch the numbers, bulk purchases typically cost less per unit
Sensible Storage to Slow Spoiling
Practice first in, first out habits: move older products to the front of the fridge and stock unopened newer items in the back
Monitor what you throw away: throwing away half a loaf every week? Start freezing it.
Dates, not deadlines: know that expiration, best by, sell by, and use by dates, are not an exact science but merely manufacture suggestions
Leave a little room: don’t overcrowd your fridge, the air needs to circulate
Figure out your fridge’s compartments: your fridge has a crisper for a reason and the fridge door is warmer than the shelves
If you don’t know, ask: utilize the Alexa Save the Food skill to ask where and how you should store your items while unpacking groceries (like storing your asparagus cilantro, celery, carrots in water to make them last longer)
Creative Cooking
Use it up nights: designate one evening a week to focus on using up open items in your fridge
No tops or stems left behind: use every part of the produce you can – broccoli stems, beet tops, carrot tops, leave the skin on cucumbers, blend your smoothie with strawberry leaves on
Wilted doesn’t have to mean wasted: use your food up, wilted veggies can go into a stir-fry or soup, bruised fruit can be added to a smoothie or applesauce, old cheese rinds can make soups, juice pulp can be utilized numerous ways (bread, guacamole, power bites bars)
Serving, Snacking, and Sensing Satiation
Avoid over ordering: if you’re often ordering too much food, try splitting a meal with a friend or ordering smaller portions when out
Know your limit: don’t feel guilty if you don’t clean your plate as long as you save and store whatever is remaining
Leftovers tonight means lunch tomorrow: take your leftovers home or save anything you cooked but couldn’t finish (don’t forget your reusable containers for leftovers)
Smaller plate, smaller portions: we often over serve ourselves because the plate has room – a smaller plate can help you decrease the amount you dish up
Join ILACSD at South County’s largest Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 6, 2019, from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm at Memorial Parklocated at 373 Park Way, Chula Vista, CA 91910. Enjoy fun activities and a showcase of products and services to help you reduce your impact on the environment, save money and live greener and healthier. Celebrate your love for the planet and be inspired and empowered to help its natural resources. Attendees are encouraged to ride your human-powered vehicle (your bike!) to lessen your carbon footprint – we’ll even provide a monitored bike parking corral.
Don’t forget to stop by the ILACSD booth where we will be teaming up with the City of Chula Vista to bring you informative, mini-versions of our Zero Waste Workshops throughout the day! These 30-minute long workshops will highlight different zero waste practices you can implement in your everyday life. The mini-workshops will have hands-on activities to participate in, but supplies are limited. Make sure to get to the booth on time as supplies will be handed out on a first come, first serve basis (limit one per household).
The event is completely FREE, family-friendly, and open to the public. We hope to see you there!
Zero Waste 101 Mini-Workshop Schedule:
11:15 – 11:45 am
Zero Waste 101
What is zero waste? Can I recycle this? Discover how simple it is to be sustainable and lower your impact on the environment by shifting small, daily habits. To help you begin your journey to reusing and repurposing, we will help you transform t-shirts into tote bags!
12:15 – 12:45 pm
Eco-friendly Bathroom
Much of our overlooked waste begins in the bathroom! Come learn green beauty and hygiene tips that you can implement into your daily routines. We will even teach you how to make your own toothpaste in a reusable container!
2:15 – 2:45 pm
Save Your Scraps
Did you know 40% of our food goes to waste in the US? Learn how to keep organics out of the landfill through smart shopping, storing food properly, and composting your scraps. You can also sample a yummy, package-free snack!
3:15 – 3:45 pm
Green Routines
Come learn how to set up your home for zero waste success! We will discuss topics such as pollution-free laundry and DIY cleaning. Leave with a sample of soap berries- a natural, biodegradable alternative to laundry detergent!
Volunteer at South Bay Earth Day:
WE NEED YOU! We are looking for volunteers to be Zero Waste Heroes that help guests “walk the talk” of sustainability at South Bay Earth Day. Our Zero Waste Heroes will oversee 8 trash and recycling stations across the festival and advise guests into which bin they should put their waste.
We are looking for a committed, outgoing, and exciting team to help us divert waste from the landfill and recycle as much as possible! This is an amazing opportunity to educate guests about new recycling updates and ways they can reduce waste in their everyday lives.
We will provide all the training you need, but would love to work with folks that have some interest in recycling and sustainability. We provide community service hours and freeT-shirts for everyone that joins us!
There will be 2 shifts available for the event:
11:00 am – 1:00 pm (Please arrive by 10:15 am for a brief training and to receive your T-shirt)
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm (Please arrive by 12:15 pm for a brief training and to receive your T-shirt)
If you want to make a difference with us at South Bay Earth Day, please complete and submit the registration form. Each volunteer must submit a registration form. Our team will reach out to you soon to discuss the upcoming event details, training sessions, and answer any questions you may have.
Join ILACSD as we team up with Sullivan Solar Power to bring you a workshop focused on energy efficiency and the climate! On Saturday, March 10th, we will be hosting the Exploring Energy Efficiency: Household Climate Solutions workshop from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM at Thurgood Marshall Middle School in the Multipurpose Room (MPR) located at 9700 Avenue of Nations, San Diego, CA 92131. The event is completely free, family-friendly, and open to the public.
Come energize your commitment to the environment with lessons about how our daily actions affect our world, including a look at ocean acidification. We will give you the tools to implement green practices in your home, including tips to reduce energy waste and how to capitalize on solar power. We’ll also have interactive stations, a kids’ craft station, and more! Registration is free. Light lunch will be provided.
At I Love A Clean San Diego, we’ve been lucky to work with multitudes of dedicated and inspiring young volunteers. From our high school-aged Site Captains for our countywide cleanups to the members of Think Blue Brigade, making an impact on San Diego’s youth has always been a vitally important aspect of the work we do. We’ve seen what a difference these passionate young leaders can make by not only learning from us, but by bringing their own unique perspectives and innovative ideas to the table.
Past TBB members exploring their local watershed.
As a result, I Love A Clean San Diego is pleased to unveil a new and exciting part of our organization called the Student Impact Committee (SIC). This committee is designed to bridge the connection between youth and professionals in the environmental sector through shared guidance. SIC members will lend their voice to shaping the future of ILACSD and give us their opinions, suggestions, and innovations on how we can best serve the county. In return, members will receive mentorship, career exploration, real world experience with a progressive organization, future support, leadership skills, and much more from ILCASD and our staff.
High school students of any age are welcome to apply for ILACSD’s Student Impact Committee.
Any high school student in San Diego County is welcome to apply for the Student Impact Committee. Ideal candidates would have an interest in the environment and a desire to become more civically engaged. SIC offers a unique opportunity for eco-conscious students across the county to connect, support, and learn from one another through quarterly meetings. These students will also be able to create real change in their communities while developing skills that will benefit them in their academic and professional life.
SIC can help members create meaningful connections with like-minded peers!
High school students from all across the San Diego County can apply to serve on the Student Impact Committee to advise ILACSD on the perspectives of the rising generation. We have created meaningful, quality, and engaging projects for the students to grow their involvement, skills, and eco-friendliness. We are currently accepting applications through Monday, January 29th, for our pilot SIC that runs this spring (February – June). ILACSD plans to expand to a full committee of 10 students in the fall of this year. If you, or someone you know, would be interested in applying for the Student Impact Committee, please email Katie Shea at kshea@cleansd.org.
I Love A Clean San Diego is partnering with SDG&E to host Healthy Communities for a Healthy Planet Workshop on Saturday, May 12, 2018, from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM at The Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation located at 404 Euclid Ave, San Diego, CA 92114. Appetizers made from rescued food will be provided by Kitchens for Good!
Learn how making small, sustainable adjustments to your daily habits can improve not only the health of your family, but the health of our planet as well! Join ILACSD and SDG&E for this fun and informative event focusing on climate science. The workshop will feature presentations covering various topics including ocean acidification, green transportation, and energy efficiency. Attendees will also have the opportunity to interact and engage with fun activities and informational booths featuring community partners! During the workshop, attendees will gain information on the importance of a sustainable lifestyle and gain the tools needed to start implementing green practices at home. This is the perfect opportunity to learn more about how and why you should be eco-conscious consumers and local environmental stewards!
Join ILACSD as we team up with the City of Encinitas to bring you another Zero Waste Workshop! On Saturday, May 5, 2018, we will be hosting the Zero Waste 101: On the Go Workshop from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM at the EUSD Farm Lab located at 441 Quail Gardens Road, Encinitas, CA 92024. The event is completely FREE and open to the public. This is the final installment of a three-part series on sustainable living!
Come by and learn how to set yourself up for zero waste success while on the go! Visit educational booths, participate in one of the hands-on activities, and bring in gently used items you were planning to donate and participate in the Swap ‘n’ Shop! Swap ‘n’ Shop participants can exchange or donate those items giving them a second life and keeping them out of the landfill. Make sure to stick around for our raffle where you have the opportunity to win sustainable prizes that will help with your zero waste journey!
Get registered today to reserve your spot! We hope to see you there!
Join ILACSD as we team up with the City of Encinitas to bring you another Zero Waste Workshop! On Saturday, March 3, 2018, we will be hosting the Zero Waste 101: Organics Workshop from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM at the EUSD Farm Lab located at 441 Quail Gardens Road, Encinitas, CA 92024. The event is completely FREE and open to the public. This is the second installment of a three-part zero waste series.
Learn how to keep organics out of the landfill by shopping smart, storing food properly, and composting your food scraps. This workshop will also cover water conservation tools, such as ocean-friendly gardens and laundry-to-landscape systems. Participate in one of the hands-on activities that will be available for all ages, including a kids craft and a make-and-take vermicomposting bin! Bring in gently used items you were planning to donate and participate in the Swap ‘n’ Shop! Swap ‘n’ Shop participants can exchange or donate those items giving them a second life and keeping them out of the landfill. Make sure to stick around for our raffle where you have the opportunity to win sustainable prizes that will help with your zero waste journey!
At the end of the workshop, 25 participants will have the opportunity to create and take home a fully-functioning vermicomposting bin (composting with worms). Please indicate your interest on the registration form. Participants will be added on a first come, first serve basis. Due to supply restrictions, we are limited to 25 participants. Please limit one per household.
Get registered today to reserve your spot! We hope to see you there!
As many of us at ILACSD know, one of the biggest barriers to getting folks to recycle is a lack of education on what is recyclable and how easy it can be! What might seem like constant changes to the items that can or cannot go into a blue bin often leave residents feeling a little confused. So today, let’s take a moment to talk about the right way to recycle an item that has had a few recent changes to it around the county…Polystyrene foam.
First off, what is polystyrene foam? Polystyrene foam materials are often (mistakenly) referred to as Styrofoam. Examples of foam include foam cups, food containers, egg or meat trays, as well as large molded blocks used to package electronics, such as TVs and computers. These foam materials are not only recyclable, but once they are properly processed, the material can be turned into other products such as decorative baseboards, picture frames, and pencils.
Foam Recycling by Territory:
City of San Diego: Many communities throughout the region have been able to place some polystyrene material (block packaging) in recycling bins. As of July 1, 2017, Mayor Kevin Faulconer and the entire City Council voted to expand foam recycling capabilities to include all foam food and drink containers to be recycled in residential curbside recycling bins as well. This means that citizens in the City of San Diego that have residential curbside recycling can recycle – with ease and convenience – even more materials.
City of SD residents can recycle food service foam containers in their curbside blue bin.
County of San Diego – Unincorporated Areas: As of now, San Diego residents living in unincorporated areas can easily recycle the block foam from product packaging in their curbside recycling. Recycling foam food containers, cups, trays, etc. for unincorporated residents can vary depending on the waste hauler. Residents who are unsure can contact their specific hauler to confirm if they accept these items.
Solana Beach and Encinitas: A few cities around the region have increased regulations for Polystyrene foam, but what does that mean for recycling? In Solana Beach and Encinitas, you won’t find Polystyrene foam to-go containers or cups around shops and restaurants, and waste haulers in these areas do not accept foam food service containers in curbside recycling. However, foam packaging blocks are still accepted in your blue bin in these cities.
Foam Recycling by Type:
Foam Cups and Food Service Containers: Once you’ve confirmed that foam cup and food service containers are accepted in curbside blue bins where you live, recycling them is a breeze. Just like other recyclable food packaging, foam food containers just need to be wiped of food residue and can be placed on your curbside receptacle.
Foam packaging blocks are accepted in curbside recycling bins throughout all of San Diego County.
Foam Packaging Blocks: Foam packaging blocks might be the easiest polystyrene product to recycle across the board. These foam blocks are accepted in curbside recycling bins throughout all of San Diego County!
Foam Packing Peanuts: Packing peanuts can be made from a variety of materials and contaminate the recycled Polystyrene foam. Due to this fact, packing peanuts are not recyclable. The best way to divert foam packing peanuts from the landfill is to reuse them or donate them for reuse. Many local pack and ship stores gladly accept foam packing peanuts free of charge. Use the WasteFreeSD.org search bar to find a nearby shipping store to donate unwanted packing supplies.
Packing Peanuts are not recyclable. Reuse or donate your packing peanuts to a local shipping store.
Traditionally, there were just a few items that could be recycled curbside such as newspapers, aluminum cans, and some bottles. However, as a result of millions of dollars in R&D from manufacturers and innovative problem-solvers, today we are able to recycle more types of material than ever before. This is exciting as recycling is allowing us to reduce waste in our landfills that will benefit our children and future generations as we work to maintain our beautiful community.
