How to Host a Clothing Swap Party

How to Host a Swap Party

What if there is a way to obtain new items while still being environmentally friendly? What if I told you that you can now go shopping for free? Welcome to SWAP Parties.

What’s a swap party?

  • Swap parties have been growing in popularity and offer an alternative in the way we acquire items for ourselves and our household.
  • Swaps are meet ups where people can bring in second-hand items that they own and exchange them with other items that other people bring at no cost.
  • Beyond being economical, eco-friendly, and an excuse to clean out your closet, a swap party with friends is far more fun than a yard sale with strangers.
  • By participating in a swap, you are helping to conserve natural resources, reduce the environmental footprint of producing new goods, and building community.

How to start

  • Set a theme – A swap party can be for clothing, toys, housewares, pet supplies, books, DVDs – anything you can think of! Decide on the type items that will be collected and exchanged.
  • Pick a space – Find a location that will give enough space for people to sort through items. Friendly Tip, adding clothing racks and full body mirrors will help you stay organized.
  • Gather friends and their excess stuff – For this sustainable get-together, people need to participate and show up with items that can be exchanged! Encourage guests to bring new friends to ensure there are plenty of quality things to trade.
  • Send out e-invitations! There are plenty of services for electronic invitations that are an upgrade from sending a text. Check out Paperless Post, Green Envelope, and eVite.
  • Host your swap at the end of the season when people are cleaning out their closets and looking for new pieces to freshen up their wardrobes.

Tricks of the Trade

  • Be clear about what’s swap-worthy. Ask friends to bring clean goods in gently used condition. Set standards of what will and will not be accepted. Be clear that items with stains, holes, rips or odors should be avoided.
  • Organize the Set Up of the Swap. To help people find what they want, sort items into areas based on type of items, color, and style.
  • After the party, take the leftover goods to your local donation center. Goodwill, schools, theatre groups, and pet adoption centers would love your excess items. Visit WasteFreeSD.org to find donation drop-off centers near you to take all the leftovers.

The most important part of SWAP Parties is, not only to have fun, but also to give a second round of life to pieces of items that would have otherwise ended in the landfill.

Want to attend a swap? Go to our events page to learn more about our upcoming Swap Parties!

 

 

FIX-IT! Repair & Reuse Workshop | Spring Valley

I Love A Clean San Diego is hosting a two-hour FIX-IT! Repair & Reuse Workshop that will teach you how turn an old t-shirt into a reusable tote-bag!

Do you own a t-shirt that you really love but is now too old to be worn in public? Do you want to learn a new skill to upcycle your clothes and give them a second life? Join this workshop to learn the sustainable and skills of sewing, embroidery, and up-cycling.

This event is happening on June 16, 2022 from 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM and is FREE to all registered attendees.

RSVP is required.

Get ready to get crafty!
We ask all attendees to bring a t-shirt of your choice and a reusable mug to enjoy some tea. All other materials will be provided. See you then!
Thank you to the Mateando Embroidery Club for facilitating this skills sharing portion of this workshop.
Thank you to the County of San Diego for partnering on this event.

World Ocean Day Cleanup at La Jolla Shores

The Shops at La Jolla Village are throwing a party, and you are invited!

To celebrate World Ocean Day, Join I Love A Clean San Diego and The Shops at La Jolla Village for a beach cleanup at La Jolla Shores. We will start with a cleanup at La Jolla Shores to pay tribute to the ocean, and then celebrate at the Shops at La Jolla Village with free samples and activities.

This event requires a signed release-of-liability waiver for all volunteers, and anyone under 18 needs a waiver signed by a guardian.

Learn more and register here!

Commercial Kitchen Food Waste Reduction Webinar

Green Business Solutions: Commercial Kitchen Food Waste Reduction

Food waste is rampant in the U.S., costing us time, money, and resources ($162 billion annually!). It’s time for us all to trim unnecessary waste. As someone who works in a commercial kitchen, you have a big part to play, and we’re here to help guide you.

Join I Love A Clean San Diego and the City of San Diego on Wednesday, May 11th from 3 – 4 p.m. for a free Green Business Solutions webinar focused on Commercial Kitchen Food Waste Reduction. In this informational webinar, we will cover tips and tricks for food waste reduction in commercial kitchens, share case studies from local businesses who have implemented changes successfully, and leave you feeling empowered to begin making incremental shifts in your own practices.

Part Two of this two-part webinar series will include:

  • The importance of food waste reduction in commercial kitchens
  • The environmental and economic benefits for your business
  • Edible food recovery resources
  • Strategies to implementing lasting, sustainable practices
  • Tips for increasing employee and consumer engagement
  • Q&A session with a City of San Diego Environmental Services representative

Thank you to the City of San Diego for sponsoring this webinar. Register to receive the Zoom link. We’ll see you there!

If you can’t attend the live event, we’ve got you covered! Register and we will send you a recording of the webinar.

To take full advantage of this program, join us on Wednesday, May 4th from 3-4pm for Part One of this webinar series. This second event will detail organic waste recycling programs available in the City of San Diego. Please note you will need to register separately for each event. Register for Part One here.

Commercial Kitchen Food Scraps Recycling Webinar

Green Business Solutions: Commercial Kitchen Food Scraps Recycling

Almost half of what we trash is compostable! To tackle this issue, the City of San Diego has commercial composting options and support available for businesses within the city. To learn more, join I Love A Clean San Diego and the City of San Diego on Wednesday, May 4th from 3 – 4 p.m. for a free Green Business Solutions webinar focused on Commercial Kitchen Food Scraps Recycling.

In this informational webinar, we will detail upcoming organic waste recycling regulations and how to meet requirements. We’ll also share best practices from local businesses who have implemented changes successfully.

Part One of this two-part webinar series will include:

  • The importance of food scrap recycling in commercial kitchens
  • Requirements for businesses to lower their waste production
  • Tools and strategies for successfully implementing a composting program through the City of San Diego’s Food Scraps Recycling Program
  • Q&A session with a City of San Diego Environmental Services representative

Thank you to the City of San Diego for sponsoring this webinar. Register to receive the Zoom link. We’ll see you there!

If you can’t attend the live event, we’ve got you covered! Register and we will send you a recording of the webinar.

To take full advantage of this program, join us on Wednesday, May 11th from 3-4pm for Part Two of this webinar series. This first event will detail how to reduce organic waste in commercial kitchens. Please note you will need to register separately for each event. Register for Part Two here.

Composting 101 | A Beginners Guide

Composting 101: A Beginners Guide to Successful Composting

Why is composting important? Composting allows you to create your own healthy soil for free. More than 40 percent of what is in the landfill could have been composted. You can keep that much waste out of the landfill by simply composting your organic matter or kitchen scraps.

Do’s and Don’ts

DO compost these items:

Fruits, Vegetables, Grains/Bread/Rice, Coffee Grounds/Filters, Tea bags, Nuts/Shells, Egg Shells, Pasta, Newspaper/Cardboard, Paper Bags, Leaves, Yard Trimmings, Dead Plants

DON’T compost these items:

Meat, Seafood, Bones, Dairy, Grease, Oil, Chemicals, Plastic, Wax Coated Paper, Feces, Styrofoam

Extra Tips:

  • Cut up large items so they can compost quicker.
  • Large items like avocado pits, root balls and oyster shells can be composted but may take quite a bit of extra time.

If you’re unsure on whether or not it can be composted, think in color…

GREENS – Materials that are moist or were recently growing are nutrient rich.

  • Fruits, veggies, coffee grounds, egg shells, etc.
  • Items from the garden that are still green such as grass clippings, weeds, plants.

BROWNS – Consists of dry or woody plant material.

  • Dry leaves, wood chips, straw.
  • Newspaper, paper bags, napkins

Compost Collection

Collect your food scraps in a pale, bucket or an enclosed compost collection bin to keep the smell enclosed. Check out the Solana Center Store for great composting items and ideas such as bins and thermometers.
Layer your collected food waste (Greens) in your compost bin with your Browns. You ideally want two parts Browns and one part Greens.
Keep your compost piles moist, with the consistency of a damp sponge and make sure there is some air flow.

Finished Product Tips:

  • Add your finished compost to any soil to enrich it with nutrients.
  • Add some to the top layer of soil in potted plants.
  • Use it as a nutrient enhancer for produce in the garden.
  • Add it to the base of your trees near the roots by digging small holes around the trunks and filling them with fresh composted soil.

Variations in Composting Bins 

Find out what composting bin method is right for you, whether that’s vermicomposting or bokashi!

Zero Waste Pets

Zero Waste Pets

Zero Waste Pets

Working on being sustainable with a furry friend at home? Maintaining a low waste lifestyle with a pet can be a challenge, but I Love A Clean San Diego has some tips, tricks, and resources for you! It’s fun to spoil our pets when we can, but a zero waste mindset allows us to think about what our pets truly need. There are ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle, even when taking care of a dog, cat, or other pet at home.

Pet Food

A great area to work on reducing waste is your pet’s food. There are so many options to cutting down on packaging. Try your best to buy in bulk. Most pet stores have a treat bar, so bring your own reusable bags and fill them up with treats for your pet! If you have a reptile, bring your own container next time you pick up crickets or other insects. You can also buy food in large quantities, especially if your pet requires something specific in their diet. This way, you are only tossing one piece of trash when you finish the container, rather than multiple small bags.

There are many resources online for making your own pet food! You can find recipes that do not need many ingredients, or that require ingredients you can pick up in minimal packaging.

You can also always look for pet food that comes in recyclable packaging. Remember, metal, paper and cardboard, glass, and plastic containers can all be recycled. Keep an eye out for food in stainless steel cans, or treats in hard plastic containers! This packaging can go into the recycling bin once you’re finished with it.

There are many pet supply brands out there with sustainability efforts. Check out the Pet Sustainability Coalition for more information!

Pet Toys

We all know that our pets can go through their favorite toys rather quickly. Do your best to choose good quality toys with minimal packaging to avoid purchasing more toys and sending cheap material from broken toys to landfill. If you know your pet will destroy any stuffed animal, choose those made of sustainable products or compostable fabric, like hemp.

Many of our household materials can be repurposed into DIY toys for pets as well.

  • Braid strips of old fabric from t-shirts or blankets to make a pull toy or a feather toy
  • Stuff socks with catnip for your cat to play with
  • Use scrap wood and carpet to create a scratching post
  • Wrap a water bottle in a t-shirt for a fun crinkle toy

Check out this resource for even more DIY ideas!

Donating Used Pet Supplies

Once we’ve cut down on how much waste we’re bringing home, we can think about how to properly dispose of the things that our pets don’t use anymore, or what can be donated. There are a lot of great local animal organizations that accept in-kind donations, or have wish lists of items they need. Check their websites – many of these facilities also accept items that we wouldn’t normally associate strictly with animals, like towels and sheets! If you’re cleaning out your linen closet and wondering what to do with those textiles, these can be great places to donate gently used items

Use WasteFreeSD to find more near you!

Pet Waste

Pet waste itself is somewhat challenging to dispose of in an eco-friendly way. It is crucial that we pick up after our pets because of bacteria that exists in their waste. We don’t want that washing into our storm drains and out to our waterways. What works for some in terms of picking up after their pet may not work for others. Try using a reusable scoop, scrap paper, grocery bags, or pick up after your pet using eco-friendly bags. Bags made from cornstarch claim to biodegrade – there are many brands out there, but you can read reviews to compare on things like price and effectiveness.

If you are interested in composting your pet waste, it needs to be completely separate from your food composting system. You should not use pet waste compost on anything you are growing to eat. You should not compost pet waste from animals that are sick or taking medication. For dog waste, you can develop a system that involves burying your composting bin or can in the ground, and layering waste and sawdust. Cat litter is a little more challenging. You will need to find a litter that is compostable, made from pine or paper. Remember, cat litter should not be flushed down the toilet, even if the brand says it can be flushed. Cat waste can contain a parasite called toxoplasma gondii, and many treatment plants are not designed to remove this from wastewater.

Water from a fish tank can often be used on your plants. Aquarium water contains potassium, nitrogen, and other nutrients that are in many chemical fertilizers, so it’s okay to use on house plants. If you use other chemicals in your tanks to treat algae or pH, or if you have a saltwater tank, we don’t recommend using this on plants.

As always, do your research! Make sure it’s safe to compost with your pet’s current diet. Always investigate what kind of plants it’s safe to use that compost on.

Small Changes Make a Big Difference

We know it can be challenging to reduce waste with a pet. Take it one step at a time! Start small and see how it goes – the best part is you might inspire friends and family to think differently about their waste habits as well! Let us know how you take care of your pet in a low waste way by tagging us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter @ILoveACleanSD!

Pick up more zero waste tips and knowledge by attending our Celebrate Sustainably: Summer Fun webinar on July 28th! Register here. For more information on how to adopt a waste-free lifestyle visit WasteFreeSD.org. For more information about our educational programs, contact education@cleansd.org.

Makeup Recycling

Makeup Recycling

How to Recycle Makeup / Cómo Reciclar Maquillaje

Don’t know what to do with your half-empty lipstick containers or your clumpy, expired mascara tubes? Look no further!

Rinse It Out

Dirty containers lower the value of recycled products so remember to rinse out the residue and take off the labels before recycling! Mascaras can be tricky but you can pour warm water and makeup remover into the tube, let it sit 10 minutes, then shake! This should get rid of most of the residue.

Non Recyclables

Unfortunately, not all makeup is recyclable. Makeup brushes and products with a pump or a mirror are not recyclable (alternative solutions below). But you don’t have to throw away the makeup brushes just yet – you can reuse them in arts and crafts, or use them for dusting small furniture or plants!

Reuse Products

With a little bit of DIY, old makeup can be turned into new products. Expired or leftover eye shadow can be crushed into fine powder and added into clear nail polish to create your own perfect, custom color. This is a fun and creative way to be more sustainable!

Call Local Recycling Center

If your container cannot be reused, you should always call your local recycling center first to make sure your product will be accepted before putting it in the recycling bin.

Drop Off Program

Nordstrom, together with global recycling leader Terracycle, have created BEAUTYCYCLE, a national program to accept beauty product packaging for recycling at Nordstrom stores.  All brands of beauty product and skincare packaging are accepted. Click here to find more information.

Mail In Program

Terracycle has operations in over 20 countries and has specifically partnered with Garnier in the US to collect most skincare and cosmetic packaging. The process is extremely simple: all you need to do is print out a label and ship them your products! Click here to find out more!

Alternative Recycling Programs

FREEBIES! By contributing to these makeup brands’ takeback program, you can get new free makeup. It’s a win-win situation!

MAC Cosmetics

MAC offers a Back to MAC program where people can get a free lipstick if they bring in 6 old MAC containers! Click here to find out more!

LUSH

You can return five clean black pots to any Lush store in exchange for a free fresh face mask! They chip them down and remold them into new black pots in a closed recycling loop. Click here to find out more!

Kiehl’s

For each empty, full-size container (Kiehl’s brand) you bring in for recycling to a Kiehl’s store, you’ll receive one stamp. Once you’ve collected 10 stamps, you’ll receive a free travel-size Kiehl’s product! Each customer can redeem one reward per month (one reward = ten empty full-sized containers) for a 2.5oz travel-size product worth up to $11 in value. Click here to find out more!

L’OCCITANE

Bring your used beauty and skin care products and packaging to one of their participating boutiques to be recycled, and you can get 10% off a new item. They accept beauty products such as lip balm tubes, pumps, deodorant sticks, fragrances bottles and pumps; skincare products like dispensers and tubes for soaps and lotions, facemask packaging; hair packaging products like pumps and caps from shampoo bottles and trigger heads. Click here to find out more!

Origins

The Return to Origins was the first recycling program for cosmetic packaging within the beauty industry. They don’t discriminate and accept a wide range of packaging from any brand, including any glass or plastic jars, bottles, tubes, lipstick covers and caps. Just drop off your empty cosmetic packaging to any of the company’s retail or department store counters. Click here to find out more!

Reciclaje de maquillaje

¿No sabe qué hacer con sus envases de lápiz labial medio vacíos o sus grumos y tubos de rímel caducados? ¡No busque más!

Enjuague

Los contenedores sucios reducen el valor de los productos reciclados, así que recuerde enjuagar los residuos y quitar las etiquetas antes de reciclar. Las mascaras pueden ser complicadas, pero puede verter agua tibia y desmaquillante en el tubo, dejar reposar 10 minutos y luego agitar. Esto debería eliminar la mayoría de los residuos.

No Reciclable

Desafortunadamente, no todo el maquillaje es reciclable. Los pinceles de maquillaje y los productos con bomba o espejo no son reciclables. Pero todavía no tiene que tirar los pinceles de maquillaje: ¡puede reutilizarlos en artes y manualidades, o usarlos para desempolvar pequeños muebles o plantas!

Reutilizar Productos

Con un poco de bricolaje, el maquillaje antiguo se puede convertir en nuevos productos. La sombra de ojos vencida o sobrante se puede triturar en polvo fino y agregarse en esmalte de uñas transparente para crear su propio color perfecto y personalizado. ¡Esta es una forma divertida y creativa de ser más sostenible!

Llame a Reciclaje Local

Si su contenedor no se puede reutilizar, siempre debe llamar primero a su centro de reciclaje local para asegurarse de que su producto sea aceptado antes de colocarlo en la papelera de reciclaje.

Programa de Entrega

Nordstrom, junto con Terracycle, el líder global de reciclaje, han creado BEAUTYCYCLE, un programa nacional para aceptar envases de los productos de belleza para reciclar en las tiendas Nordstrom.  Todas las marcas de productos de belleza y el cuidado de la piel están aceptadas. Haga clic aquí para obtener más información.

Programa de Correo

Terracycle tiene operaciones en más de 20 países y se ha asociado específicamente con Garnier en los EE. UU. Para recolectar la mayoría de los envases cosméticos y para el cuidado de la piel. El proceso es extremadamente simple: ¡todo lo que necesita hacer es imprimir una etiqueta y enviarles sus productos! Haga clic aquí para obtener más información!

Programas Alternativos de Reciclaje

¡REGALOS! Al contribuir al programa de devolución de estas marcas de maquillaje, puede obtener nuevo maquillaje gratis. ¡Es una situación de ganar-ganar!

Cosmeticos MAC

¡MAC ofrece un programa Back to MAC donde las personas pueden obtener un lápiz labial gratis si traen 6 contenedores MAC viejos! Haga clic aquí para obtener más información!

LUSH

¡Puedes devolver cinco macetas negras limpias a cualquier tienda Lush a cambio de una mascarilla fresca gratis! Los trituran y los vuelven a moldear en nuevas macetas negras en un circuito cerrado de reciclaje. Haga clic aquí para obtener más información!

Kiehl’s

Por cada contenedor vacío de tamaño completo (marca Kiehl’s) que traiga para reciclar a una tienda Kiehl’s, recibirá un sello. Una vez que haya recogido 10 sellos, ¡recibirá un producto Kiehl’s de tamaño de viaje gratis! Cada cliente puede canjear una recompensa por mes (una recompensa = diez contenedores vacíos de tamaño completo) por un producto de 2.5 oz de viaje con un valor de hasta $ 11. Haga clic aquí para obtener más información!

L’OCCITANE

Lleve sus productos y embalajes usados ​​de belleza y cuidado de la piel a una de sus boutiques participantes para que sean reciclados, y puede obtener un 10% de descuento en un artículo nuevo. Aceptan productos de belleza como tubos de bálsamo labial, bombas, barras de desodorante, botellas y bombas de fragancias; productos para el cuidado de la piel, como dispensadores y tubos para jabones y lociones, envases para mascarillas; productos para el cabello como bombas y tapas de botellas de champú y cabezales de gatillo. Haga clic aquí para obtener más información!

Origins

The Return to Origins fue el primer programa de reciclaje para envases cosméticos dentro de la industria de la belleza. No discriminan y aceptan una amplia gama de envases de cualquier marca, incluidos frascos de vidrio o plástico, botellas, tubos, tapas y tapas de lápiz labial. Simplemente deje su envase cosmético vacío en cualquiera de los mostradores minoristas o de grandes almacenes de la compañía. Haga clic aquí para obtener más información!

Conscious Closets Webinar

Did you know the average American throws away 82 pounds of textile waste every year?

Join I Love A Clean San Diego from 10 – 11 AM on Saturday, May 21, for our free Conscious Closets webinar in partnership with the City of San Diego Environmental Services Department. Come learn about textile recycling, the environmental impacts of fast fashion, and how to mindfully clean out your closet. We’ll also share tips on shopping secondhand, repairing clothing items, and creating a low waste laundry routine. Please register to receive the Zoom link.

Thank you to the City of San Diego for sponsoring this event!

7th Annual Zero Waste Fair

Save the date for a fun and unique celebration of all things zero waste this summer! I Love A Clean San Diego, in partnership with the City of Encinitas, will be hosting the seventh annual Zero Waste Fair on Saturday, June 25th, from 10AM-1PM.

Our Zero Waste Fair is back in-person this year at the EUSD Farm Lab in Encinitas! Come ready to experience a wide array of zero waste activities, including informative presentations, 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. Attendees will also have the opportunity to discover local zero waste businesses, and win eco-conscious prizes!

Register here and be sure to keep a look out for more event details in the coming months. Can’t wait to see you there this summer!