7 Techniques to Shop Smart and Generate Less Waste in your Kitchen

In the United States, food waste is estimated at between 30-40 percent of the food supply which equals approximately 133 billion pounds and $161 billion worth of food Food is the largest single source of waste in the U.S. More food ends up in landfills than plastic or paper. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection…

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Sustainable Food Storage Options

Have you ever gone shopping for fresh fruits and veggies to find you’re surprised by how much plastic packaging you see around them? It is not uncommon to see fruits sold in plastic clamshell containers or plastic bags offered to bag loose vegetables at most grocery stores. Depending on what you’re looking to buy sometimes packaging is unavoidable. But we’ve gathered a few…

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5 Smart Alternatives to Paper Towels

If you’re lucky enough to actually find paper towels at the grocery store right now, you’re probably blowing through them with all of the sanitizing going on at home. The bad news is that even one roll of paper towels can take its toll on the planet. The good news is that there are some hassle-free and…

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Quick and Easy Ways to Stop Junk Mail!

Reducing waste is easiest when we’re cutting back on stuff we’ve already all decided we don’t want. One good example is Junk Mail. More than 100 billion pieces of junk mail are delivered in the United States each year, which comes out to 848 pieces per household. The production, distribution, and disposal of all that…

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Why Disposable Hot Cups Have Got To Go

It’s time to blow off the lid on paper coffee cups. We hopefully all know plastic water bottles are a bad option by now, but paper coffee cups are their equally common, slightly less harmful sisters. While many of us may at first think that these disposable hot cups are better since they are made…

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Zero Waste Tip: Reuse Instead of Buying Plastic Bags

Environmentalists have celebrated the passing of plastic bag bans all over the country, but still, we are not even close to being free of these products. Even the most dedicated Zero Waster finds themselves in possession of the occasional plastic bag. While we work to eliminate them totally, these are great items to reuse! Reusing…

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5 Tips to Set Up Your Home for Recycling Success

Looking to improve your family’s recycling habits? We’ve found that the key to recycling as much as possible is to make your setup at home efficient. Here are a few of our favorite tips to help improve your recycling game.  Have your trash can and recycle bin right next to each other. Having a designated spot…

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Is it Compostable? A Reference List of Compostable Items Often Asked About

Question: What items can I safely put in my compost bin? Answer: This is a list of items that the average backyard composter can feel comfortable adding to their compost bin. We will address materials for the adventurous or more experienced composter in a future blog post. COMPOST THESE: Raw vegetable and fruit waste* Cooked…

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Are Compost and Soil the Same Thing?

Have you ever found yourself wondering if compost and soil are the same thing?While they are both beneficial, they are not quite the same. We’ll tell you why!  Compost is a small but important part of soil. Compost is made from your decomposed kitchen and yard waste and becomes the living part of soil. Soil is…

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Supporting the Community with a Pivot to Online Learning

In this unprecedented time, it has been inspiring to see our community come together. From shifts in supply chains to get food to those in need while preventing waste to new socially-distant shopping directly from local farms, artisans, and small businesses – San Diego has shone resilient. Solana Center is proud to continue to provide environmental…

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