Posts Tagged ‘recycling’
Recyclable Materials Breakdown
Many of us have run into confusion around recycling, not sure what is recyclable and what isn’t. Well, it’s not just you, recycling is complicated. This is mostly because the term recyclable is pretty complicated. While anything can technically be used as a material for something else, whether something is recyclable is different from something actually getting recycled. Recyclable…
Read MoreReuse to Reduce Waste
Reusing items slows the process of take and dispose. Reusing is our main tool to reduce, since the more we reuse what is already there, the less we need. We can reuse materials that were meant to be disposed of, giving them a second life, or we can choose materials that were meant to be…
Read MoreGet Started for Plastic Free July!
Plastic Free July is here! Choosing to refuse and prevent plastic use in everyday living all year round is a great intention. We’re sharing some inspiration all month long to help you get started. Getting started: Start out small with a product audit. Take a look at what you’re buying and trashing and the materials…
Read MoreDon’t Waste Summer’s Bounty!
Summer is officially here! Have you attended your local farmer’s market to check out the seasonal bounty yet? Visiting your local farmer’s market can be a wonderful experience where you get to explore beautiful produce, flowers, and herbs and meet the farmers who are growing them. Purchasing local, seasonal produce also helps your food last longer, supports your community, and is a…
Read MoreCommunity Series: Waste Not With Upcycling
One person’s trash has the potential to be another person’s treasure thanks to the powerful process of upcycling! Upcycling is a conventional process in which by-products and other used materials are transformed into something of higher quality or value than the original. This creative reuse process reduces the overall waste footprint, by keeping materials from…
Read MoreSan Diego County wastes 500,000 tons of food each year. Here’s a better solution.
Originally published in San Diego Union-Tribune February 17th. Written by Jessica S. Toth, Solana Center Executive Director. Government and economics are coming into alignment on the need to address climate change. In the past few weeks, climate change mitigation was hot. The San Diego County Board of Supervisors identified activation around climate policy as a key platform tenet,…
Read MoreInterview with Sarah Owens | Food Cycle Feature
We connected with Encinitas-local cookbook author of Sourdough, Toast and Jam and Heirloom: Time Honored Techniques, Nourishing Traditions, and Modern Recipes. Sarah is a naturally-leavened baker, professional horticulturist, and culinary instructor who believes strongly in the power of baking to foster community and social change. She is an advocate of regenerative agricultural practices to rebuild…
Read MoreBiochar: A Valuable Composting Ingredient
Article written by Master Composter volunteer, Melody Plan. What is biochar? Before the bins, compost thermometers, and subsidized compost vouchers, our ancestors buried char: wood, manure, or leaves cooked at a relatively low temperature in a low-oxygen environment over a long period of time, directly into the ground to fertilize the soil. You may say “That sounds…
Read More5 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…
Read MoreQuick 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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