San Diego Schools Step Up Their Recycling

At I Love A Clean San Diego, we work to lead and inspire our community to actively conserve and enhance the environment so that our children can enjoy this beautiful region for future generations to come. That’s why we believe in engaging with local schools to instill in them environmental values and habits at an early age.

Did you know that the average elementary school student drinks 133 servings of milk or juice per year? For the average elementary school, that means students consume approximately 75,000 carton beverages per year – that means more than 6 billion cartons are consumed in schools every year!

With carton recycling now available in over 60% of the country, including San Diego, we want to spread the word that you can recycle your cartons and help everyone improve their recycling habits.

Congratulations to Teirrasanta and Cherokee Point Elementary schools for leading by example. Take a look at the great work they’ve already done:

Tierrasanta Elementary won the San Diego Unified School District’s Most-Improved Recycling Award for 2016-17 by boosting their recycling diversion from 10% to 25% (by weight) over the course of just one school year. Through increased classroom recycling efforts as well as lunchtime recycling of cartons, lunch trays, and other recyclables, Tierrasanta students were able to reduce trash service, dramatically improve recycling rates, and save the school money.

Tierrasanta students use a helpful recycling station set up to stay mindful of what goes where when lunchtime ends!

Diverting 95% of all lunchtime waste is an extraordinary feat, and that’s exactly what Cherokee Point Elementary of San Diego Unified School District accomplished last school year. Students and staff joined together to ensure liquids, cartons, lunch trays, and food scraps were kept out of the trash and out of our landfills. The school’s Green Team students encouraged other students to properly sort their waste and take on litter pickup to keep campus clean.

Cherokee Point Elementary’s Green Team helped students sort their garbage leading to a 95% diversion of lunchtime waste!

School recycling programs not only encourage children to learn about the importance of recycling, but they also enable communities to recover large quantities of valuable materials, like beverage cartons. To start or enhance carton recycling efforts at your or your child’s school in San Diego, visit cartonopportunities.org. Our partner, Carton Council, has created materials specifically to help parents, teachers, and administrators get started.

Zero Waste Parenting: Back to School

As anyone with kids knows, parenthood isn’t always easy. Add in the decision of leading a zero waste lifestyle and it can seem next to impossible. However, being a zero waste parent is not as far-fetched as it might seem. We’ve tackled a few zero waste parenting ideas in the past. And yes, it can take a bit more effort at first, but the small steps you take now will set your children up for a brighter and cleaner future! With that in mind, let’s get into our next zero waste parenting adventure and head back to school!

Go green with your Back to School routine!

Back to School season instantly conjures up ideas of supply lists and packing school lunches. Those ideas are usually accompanied by images of wasteful wrapping, plastic cutlery and sandwich bags, and a graveyard of old school supplies buried in some closet. With a few quick swaps on your supply list and ditching those single use items, greening up your Back to School routine can be much simpler than you would ever imagine.

Reduce, Reuse, or Repair:

When reviewing your new classroom needs for your kids, our first suggestion when it comes to zero waste habits is to reduce, reuse, or repair first. Is that lunch box from last year still in good condition? Can the scissors from years past be utilized again? If supplies from previous years are still usable, you should definitely reuse them! Make your supplies stand the test of time by opting for more classic designs. If you have simple prints and colors for lunchboxes and backpacks, there is less need to replace them year after year. If you have some broken items previous, try to repair them before you replace!

While you may not be able to utilize last year’s supplies every time, there is still the option to invest in reusable supplies going forward. This is especially important when it comes to school lunches. With a few extra minutes a day, you can make every school lunch much more sustainable. Swapping any single use item is a simple rule of thumb – switch from plastic sandwich bags to beeswax wraps or reusable snack bags, opt for a reusable utensil option over plastic cutlery, and ditch your single use plastic water bottles and grab a refillable alternative!

Invest in reusable lunch time alternatives! Don’t forget your reusable lunch bag!

Lunch isn’t the only time you can find sustainable alternatives! Check out the Everlast Rocket Book, a smart notebook that allows you to catalog your notes online. Once you use the notebook, you’re able to upload your notes, effortlessly clean off the book, and reuse the same notebook over and over!

Repurpose, Donate, or Recycle:

When you’ve exhausted your ability to reduce your single use items, repair broken supplies, and reuse anything you can, our next zero waste step on the list is to repurpose, donate, or recycle. Thrift stores are always a great option for Back to School shopping. There is also ample opportunity to donate and recycle your kids’ old supplies. One of the best parts of going zero waste is finding all of the organizations that are trying to make it as easy as possible. Crayola runs a Colorcycle program collecting and recycling old Crayola markers. Old binders of any brand can be donated to Office Depot for a recycling program they’re running in partnership with TerraCycle. You can also save $2 on a new binder when you donate an old one!

Follow these 4 steps from Crayola’s website to be an Eco-Cool School!

There are plenty of ways to go green even during the Back to School madness. With a little extra time, this whole zero parenting thing isn’t really all that difficult…well, no more difficult than parenting in general.

Warner Springs Collection Event: Household Hazardous Waste & Electronic Waste

The County of San Diego Department of Environmental Health is holding a FREE household hazardous waste collection event at Warner Springs Community Center located at 30950 Highway 79, Warner Springs, CA 92086 on Saturday, October 14, 2017. This event is open to all residents living in unincorporated parts of the county.

Transportation Requirements: 

Leave products in the existing container, if possible. Make sure lids are on tight so containers will not leak. Transport containers in the trunk or in the back of the vehicle away from passengers and pets. Do not transport over 15 gallons or 125 pounds at one time. Containers used for transport must be no larger than a 5-gallon bucket.

Home generated “sharps” including syringes and lancets will be collected during this event. Please transport in closed rigid containers.

 

HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE INCLUDES:

  • AEROSOLS
  • ALL PURPOSE CLEANERS
  • ANTIFREEZE
  • AUTO BATTERIES
  • AUTO FLUIDS
  • DISINFECTANTS
  • GASOLINE (w/container)
  • LIGHTER FLUID
  • USED OIL/OIL FILTERS
  • LATEX / OIL-BASED PAINT
  • PESTICIDES
  • POOL CHEMICALS
  • SOLVENTS
EMPTY CONTAINERS: Empty containers can go into the trash or be recycled.

ELECTRONIC WASTE INCLUDES:

  • COMPUTER/T.V. MONITORS
  • CELLULAR & CORDLESS PHONES
  • CENTRAL PROCESSING UNITS (CPUs)
  • PRINTERS AND SCANNERS
  • STEREO EQUIPMENT
  • VCRs AND DVD PLAYERS
  • FAX MACHINES
  • MISC. COMPUTER COMPONENTS
  • FLUORESCENT LIGHT BULBS
  • COMMON BATTERIES (AA, AAA, C, D, AND BUTTON)

Not Accepted:

Business waste, tires, ammunition, explosive and radioactive material, medications, air conditioners, or large appliances.

Note: This is NOT a volunteer opportunity. 

Oil Filter Exchange Event

The County of San Diego in collaboration with O’Reilly Auto Parts will be holding a free Oil Filter Exchange Event on Saturday, October 14, 2017, from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM at participating O’Reilly Auto Parts located in Unincorporated San Diego County.

Bring in a used oil filter and receive a new one free of charge! Free offer valid only during the event date and time at the following locations.

Locations:

O’Reilly Auto Parts | 1935 Main Street (Highway 67) Ramona, CA 92065 | (760) 789-7109
O’Reilly Auto Parts | 8375 Paradise Valley Road Spring Valley, CA 91977 | (619) 479-0198
O’Reilly Auto Parts | 10050 Campo Road Spring Valley, CA 91977 | (619) 670-5888
O’Reilly Auto Parts | 9732 Winter Gardens Boulevard, Lakeside, CA 92040 | (619) 561-3966
O’Reilly Auto Parts | 812 South Main Street, Fallbrook, CA 92028 | (760) 723-1109

LIMIT 1 FREE FILTER PER PERSON.
LIMIT 5 GALLONS USED OIL PER DAY, PER PERSON.

Funded by a grant from the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle).

Note: This is not a volunteer opportunity. 

My First (And Certainly Not Last) Clothing Swap Party

When I first heard the idea of a “clothing swap,” I was at San Diego Leaders 2020’s Bites & Bigwigs luncheon with I Love A Clean San Diego’s (ILACSD) former Executive Director, Pauline Martinson. Over lunch, she discussed her career, ILACSD’s mission, and ways in which San Diego could reduce its waste. When she mentioned swapping clothes with a group of friends as a way to reduce waste and save money, I was instantly hooked. I had a growing pile of clothes I outgrew mentally and/or physically, and I knew my five best friends from college would give each piece a second life. Right after the lunch was over, I sent a group text to my friends and we planned a clothing swap party for our reunion in the mountains.

The concept of a clothing swap was not entirely new to me. I had rifled through my best friends’ clothing donation piles before they were taken to a charity, and my friends were welcome to any clothes I didn’t wear anymore. But I had never thought about doing one with the entire group as a way to help the environment. It made complete sense. One Green Planet summed up clothing swaps perfectly by saying, “Every piece of new clothing (if not made sustainably) can be the product of countless chemicals, dyes, and the like, all of which can be harmful to the earth, air, groundwater – as well as the people making the clothing and even the people who try it on and then wear it.” This doesn’t even include the significant amount of clothing that winds up in a landfill.

The day of the swap, each of us grabbed our overflowing bags of clothes and sat in a circle. I looked around me and thought about what each girl would bring to the pile. I could count on my friend Ollie for soft basics in neutral colors. Mary works at Nike headquarters so I knew I could get some cute workout clothes if I was quick enough to beat out the other girls. Marissa could be counted upon to provide trendy work clothes. And last but not least, Tristan could provide me with colorful dresses and tanks. We seized each other up and poured out the contents of our bags into the middle of the circle.

From the moment the last article of clothing hit the ground, the girls and I jumped into action. Mary picked up Tristan’s puffy vest, excited to wear it during Portland’s winter. Ollie went straight to my old ripped shorts since her pair recently broke. Tristan quickly grabbed Mary’s Nike running clothes to wear for her half-marathon training. Marissa grabbed a long skirt that was suitable for work. I quickly sifted through the pile and threw anything of interest behind me. I ended up with two workout tanks, one black-and-white striped shirt, one off-the-shoulder white blouse, and a soft pink ombre shirt. I was already planning on purchasing a few of these items, but now I had them for free!

When the mayhem subsided, I looked around the circle and saw how happy everyone seemed. Everyone got several great new pieces of clothing without much bloodshed and our old clothing found a second life with very happy new owners. We went around the room and excitedly shared what each of us picked up.

After we finished our oohing and aahing at the new clothing each of us got, I turned my attention to the leftover pile in the middle. To make sure everyone had seen everything, I held up each abandoned piece before putting in a charity donation pile. These clothes weren’t picked up for various reasons but weren’t loved any less. There was a dress we thought was too short for us tall people, a pair of jeans that didn’t fit any of us anymore, and random items that we already had in our closets. We donated this pile to charity for others to enjoy.

Here were my key takeaways…

  1. The clothing swap was a lot of fun for everyone.
  2. I love clothes.
  3. I love the word “free.”
  4. It warmed my heart to see perfectly good clothing go to someone new.
  5. My bank account is sure happy about this.
  6. The environment is sure happy about this.

Have the girls and I already planned another one of these for our winter reunion? Yes, we have!

This post was authored by guest contributor, Lia Bruce. Lia is a San Diego native and formerly the Communications Coordinator for Climate Education Partners, housed at the University of San Diego. She enjoys painting, hiking, singing in a community choir, traveling, and searching for the best burger.

Free Tire Recycling Day

People living in Ramona and the surrounding areas can drop off their old tires, for free on Saturday, June 10th from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Waste tires stored outside can collect water and become mosquito breeding grounds.  People will be able to recycle up to nine tires per vehicle at the event, which will run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Ramona High School, located at 1401 Hanson Lane, in Ramona.

Tires must be relatively clean and be from passenger vehicles.  Large truck tires and tires from businesses or commercial sources will not be accepted. A limited number of tires with rims will be accepted, please call to request pre-approval for tires with rims and for loads of more than 9 tires.

The event is made possible by County of San Diego Department of Public Works, CalRecycle and the Ramona Unified School District.

For more information about the event or to learn how to recycle or properly dispose just about anything, residents can call the County’s Recycling and Household Hazardous Waste Program at 1-877-R-1-EARTH

(1-877-713-2784) or visit www.WasteFreeSD.org

Note: This is NOT a volunteer opportunity. 

Free Paper Shredding Event

SDCCU is once again hosting the SDCCU Super Shred Event! Last year, they set new world record for the most paper collected in a single location within a 24-hour period. Now it’s time to do it again, so bring all your old personal documents down to Qualcomm®Stadium for shredding and recycling. There’s no limit to how much you can bring and everyone is invited!

The first 1,000 guests who take advantage of SDCCU’s shredding services on June 24 will receive a free gift. SDCCU hopes you’ll join for this event to protect the environment and your identity.

Shred-it®, the world’s leading document destruction and recycling company, will be onsite to shred documents on the spot at no charge. Paper documents should be removed from binders prior to shredding; however, staples and paperclips are okay to be shredded.

Call (877) 732-2848 for more information.

Note: This is NOT a volunteer opportunity. 

Free Tire & Appliance Recycling Event

bring in waste tires and appliances for FREE.

The event will be held at Fallbrook Recycling & Transfer from 8 AM – 1 PM on April 10, 2017.

Tire Recycling Requirements:

  • Tires must be relatively clean and be from passenger vehicles.
  • Commercial vehicle tires will NOT be accepted (semi and tractor).
  • A limited number of tires with rims will be accepted.
  • Residents with more than 9 tires may request a waiver when they make an appointment.
Residents in the unincorporated areas of North County can make an appointment by calling 1-877-R-1-EARTH (1-877-713-2784).
Funded by a grant from the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) with support from the County of San Diego and EDCO.
Note: This is NOT a volunteer opportunity.

Free Tire & Appliance Recycling Event

San Diego County is funding an event for residents in the unincorporated pockets in North County to bring in waste tires and appliances for FREE.

The event will be held at Fallbrook Recycling & Transfer from 8 AM – 2 PM on April 8, 2017.

Tire Recycling Requirements:

  • Tires must be relatively clean and be from passenger vehicles.
  • Commercial vehicle tires will NOT be accepted (semi and tractor).
  • A limited number of tires with rims will be accepted.
  • Residents with more than 9 tires may request a waiver when they make an appointment.
Residents in the unincorporated areas of North County can make an appointment by calling 1-877-R-1-EARTH (1-877-713-2784).
Funded by a grant from the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) with support from the County of San Diego and EDCO.
Note: This is NOT a volunteer opportunity.

Free Tire & Appliance Recycling Event

San Diego County is funding an event for residents in the unincorporated pockets in North County to bring in waste tires and appliances for FREE.

The event will be held at Fallbrook Recycling & Transfer from 8 AM – 2 PM on April 1, 2017.

Tire Recycling Requirements:

  • Tires must be relatively clean and be from passenger vehicles.
  • Commercial vehicle tires will NOT be accepted (semi and tractor).
  • A limited number of tires with rims will be accepted.
  • Residents with more than 9 tires may request a waiver when they make an appointment.
Residents in the unincorporated areas of North County can make an appointment by calling 1-877-R-1-EARTH (1-877-713-2784).
Funded by a grant from the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) with support from the County of San Diego and EDCO.
Note: This is NOT a volunteer opportunity.