The County of San Diego is holding a free household hazardous waste collection event at Steele Canyon High School. The event will take place in the parking lot at 12440 Campo Road, Spring Valley, CA 91978. 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.
Unwanted medication will also be collected in partnership with the County Sheriff’s Department and DEA.
Not Accepted:
Business waste, ammunition, explosives, or radioactive materials.
Free Oil Filter Exchange Event Saturday, May 13th from 10 AM – 2 PM at the O’Reilly Auto Parts located at 1250 S. Santa Fe Avenue. Bring a used oil filter and receive a new one free!
Free offer valid only during event date, time and location specified.
Residents with waste tires and appliances should call to make an appointment at 1-877-R-1-EARTH (1-877-713-2784). Appointments will be accepted for the following dates:
Friday, March 3rd, between 8 A.M.-2 P.M.
Saturday, March 4th, between 8 A.M.-2 P.M.
Saturday, March 11th, between 8 A.M.-2 P.M.
Monday, March 13th, between 8 A.M.-1 P.M.
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. Residents who want to transport loads of more than 9 tires may request a waiver when they make an appointment.
EDCO Station accepts free recycling drop off, year-round, for these additional items: used motor oil, electronic waste, fats, oil and grease, and CRV glass, cans, and plastic. Find out more here.
The event is made possible by County of San Diego Department of Public Works, CalRecycle and EDCO.
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
Residents from unincorporated communities in the East County can drop off old tires, appliances and scrap metal for FREE at EDCO Station in La Mesa on several days in March.
Residents with waste tires and appliances should call to make an appointment at 1-877-R-1-EARTH (1-877-713-2784). Appointments will be accepted for the following dates:
Friday, March 3rd, between 8 A.M.-2 P.M.
Saturday, March 4th, between 8 A.M.-2 P.M.
Saturday, March 11th, between 8 A.M.-2 P.M.
Monday, March 13th, between 8 A.M.-1 P.M.
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. Residents who want to transport loads of more than 9 tires may request a waiver when they make an appointment.
EDCO Station accepts free recycling drop off, year-round, for these additional items: used motor oil, electronic waste, fats, oil and grease, and CRV glass, cans, and plastic. Find out more here.
The event is made possible by County of San Diego Department of Public Works, CalRecycle and EDCO.
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
Residents from unincorporated communities in the East County can drop off old tires, appliances and scrap metal for FREE at EDCO Station in La Mesa on several days in March.
Residents with waste tires and appliances should call to make an appointment at 1-877-R-1-EARTH (1-877-713-2784). Appointments will be accepted for the following dates:
Friday, March 3rd, between 8 A.M.-2 P.M.
Saturday, March 4th, between 8 A.M.-2 P.M.
Saturday, March 11th, between 8 A.M.-2 P.M.
Monday, March 13th, between 8 A.M.-1 P.M.
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. Residents who want to transport loads of more than 9 tires may request a waiver when they make an appointment.
EDCO Station accepts free recycling drop off, year-round, for these additional items: used motor oil, electronic waste, fats, oil and grease, and CRV glass, cans, and plastic. Find out more here.
The event is made possible by County of San Diego Department of Public Works, CalRecycle and EDCO.
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
Residents from unincorporated communities in the East County can drop off old tires, appliances and scrap metal for FREE at EDCO Station in La Mesa on several days in March.
Residents with waste tires and appliances should call to make an appointment at 1-877-R-1-EARTH (1-877-713-2784). Appointments will be accepted for the following dates:
Friday, March 3rd, between 8 A.M.-2 P.M.
Saturday, March 4th, between 8 A.M.-2 P.M.
Saturday, March 11th, between 8 A.M.-2 P.M.
Monday, March 13th, between 8 A.M.-1 P.M.
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. Residents who want to transport loads of more than 9 tires may request a waiver when they make an appointment.
EDCO Station accepts free recycling drop off, year-round, for these additional items: used motor oil, electronic waste, fats, oil and grease, and CRV glass, cans, and plastic. Find out more here.
The event is made possible by County of San Diego Department of Public Works, CalRecycle and EDCO.
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
The majority of our day is spent at work. Every day you’re bound to deal with some amount of paper, especially if you work in an office. Implementing a recycling program in your office will require dedication, encouragement and education; luckily we have some tips on how to smoothly transition to a greener office.
First, find out what your waste hauler accepts and doesn’t accept, because each waste hauler is slightly different. You can find this information from a building manager or an administrative assistant.
Start by catching everyone up to speed on what is recyclable and what isn’t.
Next, inventory your trash and recycling bin – how well is your office recycling already? Where can the recycling efforts improve? Can you increase paper recycling, beverage container recycling, and food packaging recycling? Assess the items that are used most and which items are placed in the wrong bin. The goal is to divert those items from the trash can and into the recycling bin. From there you can set goals that are obtainable for your office.
Start small. Set a goal for the office that requires an educational component. Remind everyone that this is a team effort and involve everyone in the goal setting process. Appoint an overseer(we suggest you call them a “Sustainability Champion”) and as an incentive, reward others when you see them recycling properly.
In our shared kitchen area, we’ve labeled both of the trash & recycling bins along with a graphic that illustrates what items go in each bin.
Periodically, squeeze in a friendly reminder about the recycling goal at the bottom of an email or at the end of a staff meeting. Remember to avoid demanding phrases or shaming. Instead, highlight the achievement of individuals or the entire office. If you need a boost of eco-positivity, check out this blog from our Education Manager, Emily.
If you are looking to further expand your recycling program, appoint someone to collect any non-working electronics to recycle at a collection facility, not your office recycling bin. Common office items that can be collected for recycling include batteries, toner and inkjet cartridges, computer components, and fluorescent light bulbs.
Batteries are recyclable at household hazardous waste collection facilities.
In addition to an electronic waste pile, take your recycling efforts to the next level and add a donation pile in a cubicle or in the storage room. There are great organizations around San Diego that will accept office items in good condition. To find a local organization visit WasteFreeSD.org
Remember to provide several rewards and words of encouragement. Set recycling goals that are achievable and go from there. Your office will continue to make improvements that will lead to the ultimate goal of zero waste!
This blog has been sponsored by California Bank & Trust.
What is zero waste? First, let’s define what zero waste is to better understand how it affects you and what it means for our communities.
Zero waste is the process of eliminating reusable or repairable materials from ending up in the landfill. Zero waste encourages manufacturers, municipalities, and consumers to evaluate current consumption patterns and minimize single-use items. In order to divert materials from the landfill we must share the responsibility of producing and consuming sustainable products while limiting our use of disposable items.
Now that we know what zero waste means, let’s explore why this practice impacts San Diegans. Currently, the Miramar Landfill is composed of reusable substances; yes that is right REUSABLE substances. The top 3 reusable substances in our landfill are:
Organics (food scraps, yard waste) 39%
Construction and Demolition (building materials) 25%
Paper 17%
When we choose to send these items to the landfill, large amounts of methane gas are released which pose serious public and environmental health concerns. On the positive side, all of this can either be recycled, reused or composted, which means, we can do something about it!
In response to the amount of reusable materials in the landfill (or should we say landFULL) the City of San Diego adopted a zero waste plan to focus on reusing rather than disposing items. Currently, the City of San Diego diversion rate has been consistent around 67%. Here is an outline of upcoming benchmarks for the city’s waste diversion plan:
75% by 2020
90% 2035
100% diversion rate by 2040.
The plan’s primary focus is on organics diversion. There are several resources available to help you reduce food waste through planning and composting. Learn more at by reading about some of our past food waste blogs and WasteFreeSD.org!
Even I Love A Clean San Diego’s Recycling and Household Hazardous Waste database is getting a zero waste makeover! Stay tuned for the redesign release of WasteFreeSD.org this summer! The new database will include a easy to use search bar that will help you find convenient ways to divert waste from the landfill!
Today’s blog comes from our Community Program Coordinator, Moriah as she shares her love for San Diego craft beer and our environment!
I am known as the resident beer nerd at I Love a Clean San Diego. After working at a local brewery for about a year and brewing at home, it’s safe to say I know a thing or two about beer.One thing I didn’t know, however, was how connected my love of beer was to my love for the environment. In a city like San Diego, it’s not surprising that our local breweries value our environment as much as they value their craft.
Ways SD breweries minimize waste
Water conservation is a big issue for everyone in California, and that includes craft breweries. The industry average in California ranges from 3.5 to 6 gallons of water for every gallon of beer produced. Breweries in San Diego are leading the way in reducing the amount of water needed for their production. Local breweries are becoming increasingly water-wise. According to the California Craft Brewers Association, Ballast Point has reduced its water use by more than 24 percent, and Stone Brewing Company recycles more than 62 percent of its water daily.
One of the biggest ways that local breweries reduce waste is by using their spent grain in creative ways. Spent grain is the grain left over after the brewing process. Instead of throwing this used grain in the landfill, most of San Diego’s breweries donate it to local farms, where it can be used as livestock feed.Stone Brewing Company even uses it as a mulching tool in their garden. Some of their spent grain goes towards locally made soaps and dog treats as well!
Hop farm picture is Jordan Brownwood tending hops at Nopalito Farm & Hopyard. Photo credit: slowfoodurbansandiego.org
San Diego is known for its hop-heavy beers, but did you know that farms right here in San Diego County grow one of beer’s most important ingredients? Nopalito Farms is a local, family-run organic hopyard and orchard in North County San Diego. Since water conservation is always an issue in Southern California, Nopalito Farms has adopted sustainable farming practices like drip irrigation and mulching, and they work to maximize the rain that they get in Valley Center.
Imbibe with the earth in mind!
Bring a growler with you next time you pick up beer. Instead of cans or glass bottles that will end up in your blue bin, get a reusable growler and take it to the closest brewery. Get fresh, draft beer straight from the source! Be sure to check with the brewery first to see if they have any specific growler policies.
Reuse old beer or wine bottles to make decorations for your house. At our recent Sustainable Living Workshop that focuses on a zero waste home, our educators taught attendees how to reuse their old bottles and turn them into fashionable home decorations.
One example of a repurposed wine bottle from our Zero Waste Home Workshop.
Use reusable pint glasses instead of disposable cups. Even if you are at a beach or camping, you don’t need to resort to disposable cups, you can use a metal pint glass like ours.
Volunteer at Cupid’s Cleanup!
If all of this beer talk has you thirsty, you can join us and Benchmark Brewing Company on Saturday, February 13th from 10am-12pm for a cleanup of the San Diego River! Why not switch up the typical dinner and a movie Valentine’s Day date and help us clean up the San Diego River instead. Then, if this blog has inspired you to try some local San Diego suds, you can join us afterward for a Valentine’s Day-themed mixer hosted by Benchmark Brewing Company! Families, sweethearts, kids, and singles are all welcome.
Register here! Help us spread the word by joining the Facebook event and sharing the cleanup with your friends and family.
Today’s blog comes from our Community Program Coordinator, Moriah as she shares her love for San Diego craft beer and our environment!
