ABOUT US

Our Mission

Solana Center for Environmental Innovation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit mobilizing the San Diego community through innovative outreach and consulting services for businesses and jurisdictions in order to address the region's most pressing environmental issues and enact impactful change.

Our Vision

We envision a region where all cities collaborate to preserve resources through a closed-loop system that keeps materials out of our landfills and waterways, returns nutrients to our soils, and helps create systemic change at all levels that addresses the climate crisis.

Our History

Founded as Solana Recyclers in 1983, we are proud to have pioneered the first comprehensive curbside recycling program in San Diego - and one of the first such programs in the State of California. Together with our partners, we work creatively to promote the sustainable management of our natural resources and connect the community to real solutions. The San Diego region is constantly changing, and we change with it.

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1983

Founded as Solana Recyclers by a group of local residents committed to educating the community about the importance of recycling in order to reduce waste and conserve natural resources.

1989

Solana Recyclers named "Best Curbside Recycling Program in California" by the California Resource Recovery Association (CRRA) at that time serving 22,000+ households.

1991

Solana Recyclers' household recycling program was acquired by local waste hauler company resulting in a shift to direct community education prioritizing soil, water, and waste diversion. 

1994

First Master Composter Course held at San Marcos landfill.

2003

Organization's name shifts from Solana Recyclers to Solana Center for Environmental Innovation to reflect the focus on education and action within public and private partnerships required to address the environmental challenges in our region.

2016

Awarded the Governor's Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA) California's highest environmental honor for demonstrating closed-loop community compost system between local restaurant and farm.

2016

Solana Center begins Food Cycle to demonstrate a closed loop community system for handling waste.

2019

Solana Center begins working on a pilot program to connect grocery store food waste to farmers to create a local closed loop food system. 

2022

SB 1383 goes into effect, with Solana Center providing San Diego's jurisdictions and businesses expert assistance in legislative compliance. 

Present

Curious what we've been up to recently? Check out our media and awards page.

The Impact

With the help of our dedicated community, Solana Center has:

Scroll through our latest report above, click the bottom right corner to expand, or click for a downloadable PDF.
Viewing on mobile? We suggest viewing it in PDF.

Staff & Board

Are you interested in joining the Solana Center team? Check out our job openings.

Leadership Team

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Jessica Toth

Executive Director

jessica@solanacenter.org
(760) 436-7986 ex. 713

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Mallika Sen

Director of Environmental Solutions

mallika@solanacenter.org
(760) 436-7986 ex. 724

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Jessica Bombar

Director of Marketing & Education

jessica.bombar@solanacenter.org
(760) 436-7986 ex. 705

Education & Outreach

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Jennifer Galey

Senior Environmental Educator & Food Cycle Lead

jennifer@solanacenter.org
(760) 436-7986 ex. 702

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Nam-Huy Leduc

Environmental Educator

nam@solanacenter.org
(760) 436-7986 ex. 709

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Erin Stone

Environmental Educator

erin@solanacenter.org
(760) 436-7986 ex. 711

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Salina Brice

Environmental Educator

salina@solanacenter.org
(760) 436-7986 ex. 723

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Deanna Milton

Environmental Educator

deanna.milton@solanacenter.org

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Jessi Goralski

Community Liaison & Volunteer Coordinator

jessi.goralski@solanacenter.org
(760) 436-7986 ex. 707

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Kate Kesner

Outreach & Communications Coordinator

kate.kesner@solanacenter.org
(760) 436-7986 ext. 719

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Kayla Tai

Marketing & Communications Intern

intern@solanacenter.org

Environmental Solutions

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Jackie Bookstein

Environmental Solutions Specialist & Rain Barrel Lead

jackie@solanacenter.org
(760) 436-7986 ex. 706

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Leia Berube

Environmental Solutions Lead

leia.berube@solanacenter.org
(760) 436-7986 ex. 720

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Laura D. Torres

Environmental Solutions Lead

laura.torres@solanacenter.org
(760) 436-7986 ex. 712

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Liz Murphy

Environmental Solutions Lead

liz.murphy@solanacenter.org (760) 436-7986 ex. 714

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Larissa Amaral

Environmental Solutions
Specialist

larissa.amaral@solanacenter.org
(760) 436-7986 ex. 718

Operations Management

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Sue Ruiz

Accounting

Sue@solanacenter.org
(760) 436-7986 ex. 703

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Wendy Flynn

Contracts Manager

wendy.flynn@solanacenter.org
(760) 436-7986 ex. 716

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Emma Palmer

Internal Operations Support

emma.palmer@solanacenter.org
(760) 436.7986 ex. 726

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Nicolle Selby-Thomas

Partnerships & Strategic Support

nicolle@solanacenter.org
(760) 436.7986 ex. 722

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Michael Murphy

Facility Manager

mike@solanacenter.org
(760) 436-7986 ex. 708

Board of Directors

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Russell Levan

Board President

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David Levy

Board Member

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Kristin Larson

Board Vice President

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Jeff Bishop

Board Member

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Natalie Knopp

Board Secretary

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Caroline Hobbs

Board Member

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Mary Ann Stone

Board Treasurer

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Connie Adams

Board Member

Interested in joining our Board?

Contact director@solanacenter.org with details on your background, relevant community involvement and how you see yourself fitting within our organization!