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!
The County of San Diego Department of Environmental Health is holding a FREE household hazardous waste collection event at Bonsall Community Center located at 31505 Old River Road, Bonsall, CA 92003 on Saturday, January 6, 2018, from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm. 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 the 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.
The County of San Diego Department of Environmental Health is holding a FREE household hazardous waste collection event at Ingold Sports Park located at 2551 Olive Hill Road, Fallbrook, CA 92028 on Sunday, January 21, 2018, from 9:00 am – 2:30 pm. 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 the 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.
Join us for an informational and interactive session focusing on zero waste business practices. On Wednesday, February 21, 2018, I Love A Clean San Diego will be partnering with the City of Chula Vista to host a Green Business Solutions Workshop at the Chula Vista Chamber of Commerce. We will identify the importance of a zero waste lifestyle, how to implement these practices in your business, and the environmental and economic benefits of going green. Whether you work in an office, a restaurant, or in retail, we will have valuable information for all business models. This will be a great opportunity for you to network and share ideas for creating a more eco-conscious workspace.
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 a common household item… aerosol cans!
Open one of the cabinets in your kitchen, bathroom, or garage and chances are you’ll find an aerosol can. Though hairspray might be the first thing to pop into your head when you think of aerosols (I can’t be the only one picturing big 80s hair and an Aqua Net can?), the list of products that come in aerosol form is quite extensive. Here are just a few examples of products that are contained within the cylinder walls of an aerosol can:
Kitchen
Bathroom
Garage
Cooking Oil
Shaving Cream
Gardening Chemicals
Whipped Cream
Hair Spray
Spray Paint
Cleaning Products
Dry Shampoo
Auto Maintenance Products
Air Freshener
Sunscreen
Insect Repellants
Deodorant
Shower/Toilet Cleaners
Aerosol containers are composed of steel and aluminum. Steel is very similar to aluminum when it comes to its sustainable recycling capabilities according to our friends at Ball Corporation. You can check out our post on can growlers where we reviewed the benefits of materials like steel and aluminum for packaging. Because of its composition, aerosol cans are begging to be recycled. So how do you recycle them?
Well, when recycling an aerosol can, you first need to answer the question: “Is it completely empty?”
If you answered yes:
Awesome! Way to be aware of your needs, use up your products completely, and create less waste. Still, it is important that ensure that aerosol cans are completely empty. A quick way to be certain that the can is empty is to listen closely. Give the can a shake or spray (listen for any remaining fluid inside and verify that the product is no longer coming out of the nozzle). Once you know the can is empty, you can toss it in your blue bin for curbside recycling! No other steps are necessary. Make sure you never puncture aerosol can as it can be dangerous. There is no need to remove the nozzle before placing it in your recycling bin.
If you answered no:
Aerosol cans that still contain fluids are considered hazardous waste. You can still recycle these cans though! First, try offering the remaining contents to a friend or neighbor who might want it. Put the item on your local “Buy Nothing” page or see if it is able to be donated (unused spray paint can be donated Habitat for Humanity if it is in good enough condition). If you cannot donate or give the remaining product, you’ll want to treat it like any other household hazardous waste. Use the search bar on WasteFreeSD.org to find the closest location for recycling your hazardous waste.
So that’s it! Empty aerosol cans go directly in your blue bin to be recycled. Be sure to only buy as much of a product as you need and use it until it is depleted. Not only will that help you waste less, but it will make your recycling as easy as can be!
Join ILACSD as we team up with the City of Chula Vista to bring you another Zero Waste Workshop! On Saturday, February 24, 2018, we will be hosting a Zero Waste 101 Workshop from 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM at the Living Coast Discovery Center located at 1000 Gunpowder Point Drive, Chula Vista, CA 91910. The event is completely FREE, family-friendly, and open to the public.
Get ready to learn how to set up your house for zero waste success! This workshop will cover topics such as zero waste kitchen and bathroom tips, DIY cleaning, and on-the-go reusable options. Visit the educational booths or participate in one of the hands-on activities that will be available for all ages, including a kids craft and a make-and-take project! 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, February 3, 2018, we will be hosting the Zero Waste 101: Home 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 first of a three-part series on transitioning your home into a zero waste space!
Come by and learn how to set up your house for zero waste success! Visit educational booths addressing topics such as zero waste bathroom tips, sustainable laundry methods, zero waste common areas, and DIY cleaning! Participate in one of the hands-on activities that will be available for all ages, including a kids craft and a make-and-take project! 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!
Today is the 10th annual America Recycles Day a nationally recognized day and an initiative by Keep America Beautiful that promotes ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle in our everyday lives. America Recycles Day is dedicated to the individual actions that people can take that create a collective difference for our environment! Having normal “blue bin” style recycling in the office is an awesome start, but let’s take a look at some other ways to boost your recycling program (if you don’t have a recycling program in place, check out our previous blog post that can help you get one started). Here are three easy ways you can enhance your workplace recycling in celebration of America Recycles Day.
Deal with the Graveyard of Dead Electronics: Recycle Electronics
Electronics are all around us, especially in a workplace. So what happens to all of those electronics when they kick the bucket? Electronic waste, also known as e-waste, should be properly recycled with a certified e-waste recycling company. Printers, computers, laptops, fax machines, phones (yes, most offices have landlines) can all be taken to a recycling location or a temporary collection event. Some businesses even offer to pick these items up from your workplace. Start by designating a spot in your workplace to collect electronics that are no longer working and can no longer be repaired (you can search for repair options on WasteFreeSD.org ). When you want to recycle the collected e-waste, simply use the search bar on WasteFreeSD.org by typing in a specific item, “E-waste Collection Event”, or “Electronic Waste Pick-up”.
Make sure everyone in the office knows where to drop off any electronic waste to be recycled.
Donate Before Ditching: Give Unwanted Office Supplies and Furniture to a Thrift Store
Does your workplace have way too many paper trays or stockpiles of old binders? Did your office go through a remodel and now has a bunch of outdated office decor? Don’t toss these items! Give your supplies and furniture a shot at finding a new home by donating them to a thrift store. Start by letting your colleagues know about the collection of unwanted office supplies, where they should drop off their unwanted supplies, and give them the opportunity to grab something they might need from the collection before it’s donated. Head over to WasteFreeSD.org to search “Thrift Stores” if you don’t know your nearest one. You can even find a local thrift store or organization that specializes in just second-hand furniture if you recently upgraded your office furniture.
Recent workplace renovations? Donate your unwanted office furniture or supplies to a nearby thrift store!
Stop Wasting Half the Paper Supply: Print Double-sided
A staple in almost any office is a large industrial printer. And chances are your office goes through a ton of paper. Remember to recycle that paper first off! Ensure that each cubicle, office, and room has a recycling bin and clear signage indicating the types of items that should be placed in it. But there is also another option to cut down on wasted paper: printing double-sided.Change your printer’s default setting to printing on both sides to reduce the amount of paper used. Another option is to have a pile of “previously printed on paper” that has an unused side. Utilize paper from this pile to manually feed into your printer for one-sided print jobs or for scratch paper!
Set those printer default settings to print on both sides of the paper!
Keep Up the Recycling Momentum
Don’t let your recycling efforts fade after America Recycles Day ends. Keep the conversation going! Each workplace should have a designated recycling champion…that can be you! Kindly remind your co-workers about recycling guidelines, reward anyone you catch “green-handed” (recycling correctly or contributing to the donation pile), and celebrate your workplace achievements with all of the staff. Don’t wait until the next America Recycles Day to implement a new practice and remember to provide your team with resources that make recycling crystal clear.
Take advantage of cooler temperatures and join ILACSD at our “Spring into Action” Spring Valley Community Cleanup on Saturday, December 2nd from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM at the Spring Valley County Park – 8735 Jamacha Blvd, Spring Valley, CA 91977.
We encourage volunteers to bring their own reusable items such as –water bottles, work gloves, and buckets to promote zero waste practices and help us in our mission to have a zero waste, litter free and environmentally engaged San Diego region!
All volunteers are required to fill out a waiver form to participate and anyone under the age of 18 needs a parent or guardian signature.
Volunteers power all of our cleanups, like our two annual countywide cleanups, Creek to Bay and Coastal Cleanup Day.
As the days cool down, the chill in the air hints at the year coming to a close soon. At ILACSD, we are taking this time to reflect on yet another successful year working to keep our community clean and safe for everyone alongside a dedicated, committed team of volunteers, sponsors, and donors. Thanks to your generous support in the form of time, energy, and financial gifts, together we have accomplished some incredible things this past year.
In 2017, YOU came together with I Love A Clean San Diego to accomplish incredible feats. Together in 2017 we:
Removed 400,000 lbs of litter | Mobilized 32,000 volunteers | Educated 28,000 students
These are just a few of the tremendous outcomes we have carried out together, but that’s not all! As a direct result of your support in 2017, we conducted 265 countywide cleanup events and delivered 650 educational presentations on the importance of caring for the environment (we even managed to have a little fun while we were at it too!). Our efforts will have a lasting impact on future generations. We feel honored to be working alongside you to make our San Diego a place where everyone has the opportunity to revel in our countless majestic outdoor spaces.
Students at our Annual Kids’ Ocean Day love to enjoy the beach while they clean it up!
As we prepare for another year, we ask – will you help us do even more in 2018? Financial gifts to ILACSD ensure that our education, recycling, and community cleanup programs teams are able to reach all parts of San Diego County and provide this important work.
Every donation helps so much!
$50 can equip 25 volunteers at our cleanups with reusable work gloves.
$100 can supply the equipment to clean and beautify one community park.
$250 can provide 50 underserved youth with the transportation needed to participate in Kids’ Ocean Day.
We hope you will help us do even more for the community we all love in 2018! Visit CleanSD.org to make your tax-deductible gift today.
Oh, and don’t forget #GivingTuesday is coming up on Tuesday, November 28, 2017! Be sure to follow ILACSD on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Share you support on social media with an “UN-selfie” and use the hashtags #GivingTuesday and #ILACSD.
