Join us for a fun and unique celebration of all things zero waste! I Love A Clean San Diego is hosting the eighth annual Zero Waste Fair on Saturday, June 24th, from 10AM-1PM at the EUSD Farm Lab.
Our Zero Waste Fair is back in-person again this year! Come ready to experience a wide array of zero waste activities, including informative panel speakers, booths from sustainable companies, and hands-on low waste DIYs.
This one-of-a-kind event will highlight tips on low-waste living, composting, recycling, sustainable swaps for everyday products, and more. All are welcome – from sustainable living beginners to zero waste experts. Attendees will also have the opportunity to discover local zero waste businesses, and win eco-conscious prizes!
Visit our Zero Waste Fair Website to learn more about the event. Attendees are encouraged to register for free ahead of time. We can’t wait to see you there this summer!
Interested in volunteering? Visit our Community Hub page to register to volunteer!
The City of San Diego’s new curbside organics waste recycling program is here! Join us on Wednesday, March 15 at 5 p.m. for our free workshop at the Golden Hill Recreation Center to learn about mandatory organics waste recycling for City of San Diego residents and how to do it at home.
The one-hour workshop will include:
How to properly dispose of food waste
What types of waste can go in the organics waste recycling bin
Why it’s so important to divert organic waste from our landfills
Participants will receive FREE compost from the Miramar Greenery and informational resources in a follow up email!
Registration is required. Can’t make it? Keep an eye out for our additional organics waste recycling events in the upcoming months! Thank you to the City of San Diego Environmental Services Department for sponsoring this event.
Did you know that we produce almost 400 million tons of plastic each year across the globe?
Join I Love A Clean San Diego on Wednesday, March 22 at 5 p.m. for our free Say No To Single-Use Plastic webinar on eliminating plastic waste through zero waste swaps!
During the one-hour webinar, you’ll learn:
How to properly recycle or dispose of the plastic waste you do create
What happens to plastic after we use it and throw it away
Zero waste product swaps for single-use items
Why it’s so important for our health and the health of the environment to reduce plastic usage
Registration is required. A recording of the webinar and resources will be shared to all registrants after the event. Thank you to the City of San Diego Environmental Services Department for sponsoring this event!
Join us for a free webinar focused on Organics Recycling for La Mesa Businesses.
During the webinar, we will detail new statewide organics recycling regulations, how to meet those requirements, and best practices for businesses of all sizes and industries in the City of La Mesa.
Gifting a zero-waste gift is easier than you think! We’ve compiled and tested out some great strategies for zero-waste gift-giving to make your spirits bright while incorporating zero-waste habits.
Wrapping
Cute wrapping paper and fancy bows are often all too tempting at the store. However, going more sustainable with your wrapping can help you personalize your gifts and save money. These are just a few alternative materials that you can use during the holidays to replace single-use wrapping:
Fabric Scraps. For smaller gifts, use fabric scraps from an old sewing project like t-shirts, tablecloths, sheets, or curtains, and turn them into something useful. All you need to do is simply cut a square piece, gather it at the top of the box and tie it together.
Newspaper. Newspapers make wonderful wrapping paper. Comic pages are especially fun for kids (and adults)!
Paper bags (for those times you forget your reusable grocery bags). Many people reuse their paper bags as book covers or trash bags but they also make for great gift-wrapping material. You can get creative and draw on them for an added look!
Reusable bags. Utilize a reusable bag to wrap your gift. Many reusable bags are sold at grocery stores or thrift stores. Wrapping only lasts a few days but reusable bags can last a lifetime!
Cloth, scarf, or handkerchief. Wrap your gift in a vintage handkerchief, cloth napkin, or scarf for two gifts in one!
Reused gift bags or gift wrap. Keep all gift bags you receive and reuse them when needed!
Or just skip the wrapping! What matters is on the inside, right? 😉
Be sure to decorate and personalize your gifts once they’re wrapped. Use twine instead of bows and make your own cards or tags out of scratch paper, old tags, scraps, or business cards. You can even add leaves and pine cones that you pick up on your walks! For more zero-waste gift wrap ideas, check out our past blog on Sustainable Gift Wrap Solutions.
Zero Waste Gift Ideas
There are many directions you can go to incorporate zero-waste practices into your gift-giving and bring even more meaning to your gifts. In general, look for gifts with minimal or no packaging and figure out what your family and friends really want and need. Sometimes the best zero-waste gift is the one that the recipient will enjoy for years to come!
Eco-friendly items. Help friends and family be more sustainable with gifts like reusable cups, stainless steel straws, or travel utensil sets.
Shop local. Buy locally roasted coffee, find unique gifts at farmers’ markets and support local boutiques. Often, local companies are more sustainable with packaging and materials.
Purchase repurposed items such as glass cups made from beer bottles.
Shop at thrift or second-hand stores. Games, books, and kitchen items are great categories to find secondhand to prevent consumer waste and save some money.
Support a nonprofit. Give a gift to an organization making a difference in your community on behalf of a friend or family member.
Invest in an experience. Purchase a cooking lesson, schedule a tour pass to discover a new part of San Diego, or book tickets for a theater show. Giving the gift of an experience can also be a great way to share time together!
Share your Favorite Food. Share your latest baking creation! Make cake pops, truffles, or gummy bears. Be sure to think of zero-waste-friendly packaging options such as cloth napkins, beeswax saran wrap, Mason jars, or reusable tins.
Buy a membership. Art lover? Give them a museum membership. Surfer? Purchase a membership for an organization like Surfrider Foundation. Foodie? Get a membership that supports an organization AND gives discounts to local restaurants like Slow Food Urban San Diego.
The best gifts are always the ones well thought out. Although the holidays are challenging to be zero waste, it gives an extra push to get creative and find environmentally friendly items that will truly be used by the person receiving the gift. We hope you consider these zero-waste practices when finding gifts for your special ones this holiday.
Thanksgiving is a time for family, being grateful, and… lots of food! If you are starting to plan your Thanksgiving meals for the holiday, consider these zero-waste tips to keep our landfills from getting stuffed!
Buy Local
Visit your local farmer’s market or grocery store instead of big chain supermarkets to buy the produce and poultry you need for your Thanksgiving meal. This not only reduces your carbon footprint but supports local farmers and agriculture. The money you spend will be put back into the local economy and used to invest in better farming equipment and practices, resulting in better yield and fresher foods.
Buy in Bulk
Consider bulk buying some of your products to reduce plastic packaging and save some money! Bulk buying doesn’t mean you need to buy family-sized bags of produce, you can just bring your own containers to designated stores and fill them based on your needs. For Thanksgiving, items to bulk buy include rice, potatoes, pasta, honey, spices, herbs, and vegetables. Check out this resource on How to Bulk Buy for more tips or type in “refill stores” on wastefreesd.org to find a bulk store near you!
Dinnerware
Avoid using single-use plastic. Instead, use plates, bowls, and cutlery already at home. If you don’t have enough, ask a friend or family member to bring their own. For larger parties, consider purchasing compostable dinnerware made from natural plant-based materials, which are biodegradable and a more sustainable option.
Make Turkey Broth
Did you know that turkey broth is beneficial for the bones and digestive system, and contains nutrients in the form of vitamins and minerals essential to the body? Instead of throwing out the carcass and innards as you would normally, add them all into a large pot along with some onions, carrots, and celery, then cover everything with water and let it simmer for 4-6 hours. You can also find other recipes and ideas here on how to use the entire turkey and not waste a single part.
Leftovers
No matter how carefully you plan, you’re bound to have some leftovers. Make sure you make space in the fridge beforehand and use a vacuum sealer so the food stays fresher for longer periods of time. You can also use leftovers to make new recipes such as Thanksgiving leftover casserole using mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and stuffing. Discover more delicious recipes here.
We hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and are able to put into practice at least some of our Zero Waste Thanksgiving tips! For tips and tricks on sustainability visit our blog at WasteFreeSD
Whether you’re just starting out on your zero waste journey or you’re looking to level up your sustainable lifestyle, join I Love A Clean San Diego on Thursday, March 9 at 5pm for our free Step Up Your Sustainability webinar! You’ll leave with the knowledge you need to know how to create sustainable habits in your current routines, how to repurpose old items with new uses, and how to properly dispose of the waste you do produce! During the one-hour webinar, you will learn:
Eco-friendly product swaps
DIY recipes
How to compost without an outdoor space
Low waste habits for pets, hobbies, and your home
Please register to receive the Zoom link. A recording of the webinar and resources will be shared to all registrants after the event, so we encourage you to register even if the event timing doesn’t work for your schedule. We can’t wait to see you virtually on March 9! Thank you to the City of Encinitas for sponsoring this event.
Did you know that humans produce almost 400 million tons of plastic each year, across the globe?
Join our free Say No To Single-Use Plastic webinar on Thursday, February 16th from 5 – 6 p.m. to learn how to eliminate single-use plastic waste through zero waste swaps!
During the webinar, we’ll cover:
Zero waste product swaps for single-use items
How to properly recycle or dispose of the plastic waste you do create
What happens to plastic after we use it and throw it in the trash
Why it’s so important for our health and the health of the environment to reduce plastic usage
Register to receive a link to the live webinar. Participants that cannot attend are encouraged to register to receive a recording of the webinar and additional resources. Thank you to the County of San Diego for sponsoring this event!
4 Steps to a Zero Waste Pumpkin Carving For Halloween
Carving pumpkins for Halloween? With all of the goodness that usually gets tossed into the trash during this holiday activity, learn how to make this tradition more sustainable. Check out these 4 steps to make your carving completely zero waste this year!
But First! Cut Your Pumpkin
Start with a sharp knife, metal spoon, and two bowls – one for flesh and one for seeds. Cut open the pumpkin by carving a circle into the top (or bottom) of the pumpkin.
Scoop out seeds & strings (aka “guts”) into one bowl, and then for the other bowl use a strong spoon to scrape the walls for the “flesh” that can be used to make pie!
Then, carve your design as desired!
1. Roast the Pumpkin Seeds for a Tasty Snack
Ingredients: Raw Seeds, Water, Olive Oil or Butter, Salt
Rinse seeds & separate guts
Preheat oven to 400°F
Coat bottom of baking pan with olive oil or butter
Spread seeds on a pan and in a single layer – toss them to coat with the oil & add salt (can also add chili flakes or other seasoning!)
Bake on the top rack until seeds begin to brown, ~ 20 minutes. When lightly browned, remove & let cool.
Store in a jar and use as a snack or an addition to soups, salads, granola bars, oatmeal bowls and more!
2. Make Some Purée!
Bring water to boil in bottom of steamer or in a pan
Remove skin from pumpkin meat & slice into similarly sized chunks
Place chunks in a steamer (or metal colander in pan with lid on) for approx. 50 minutes or until soft & mushy
Squash with fork or potato masher to make purée, or use a blender
Leavetocoolanduseitforotherrecipes–likepie,facemasks,orsoup! Freeze leftovers for later use.
3. Revitalize your skin with a DIY pumpkin face mask.
Nourish your skin and use the extra remains of pumpkin puree to make a face mask at home! For an exfoliating facial scrub mix ½ cup of pumpkin purée with 1 tbsp of organic honey and ½ of finely ground oatmeal. For a quick and vitamin-C filled face mask, mix 1 tbsp.of pumpkin puree and 1 tsp. of plain yogurt. For more inspiration, try one of the face mask recipes from Hello Glow.
4. Repurpose carved pumpkins and turn theminto bird feeders!
Cut your carved pumpkins in half and fill the bottom with bird seed. Then, watch as feathered friends flock to your yard! Afterwards, be sure to compost the remainder. Just don’t forget to scrape off any wax from the pumpkin so it doesn’t get eaten!
After you’ve used up all the pumpkin that you can, take a moment to be proud of yourself and appreciate your ability to use up every part of the pumpkin! Be sure to share your knowledge with your friends, family, and neighbors! Happy Halloween!
Want to find the nearest location where you can compost your pumpkins and any other organic food waste? Visit our website www.wastefreesd.org and find the closest recycling, repair, donation or disposal centers near you!
Whether you’re just starting out on your zero waste journey or you’re looking to level up your sustainable lifestyle, join I Love A Clean San Diego on Wednesday, January 25th from 5pm-6pm for our free Step Up Your Sustainability webinar! You’ll leave with the knowledge you need to know how to create sustainable habits in your current routines, how to repurpose old items with new uses, and how to properly dispose of the waste you do produce! More specifically:
Eco-friendly product swaps
DIY recipes
How to compost without an outdoor space
Low waste habits for pets, hobbies, and your home
Please register to receive the Zoom link. A recording of the webinar and resources will be shared to all registrants after the event, so we encourage you to register even if the event timing doesn’t work for your schedule. We can’t wait to see you virtually on January 25th! Thank you to the County of San Diego for sponsoring this event.
