Composting Key to Regenerative Agriculture

There’s a lot of buzz about regenerative agriculture, particularly its ability to capture carbon in soil and in aboveground biomass, as well as its many benefits for farmers, consumers, and local environments. According to regenerative agriculture, the answer lies beneath our feet.  Soil loss is a global problem and growing worse around the world, at…

Read More

Climate Solutions: Can I convert a garbage can into a compost bin?

Yes, it is a great solution when a compost pile is just not feasible because of small yards or sensitive neighbors.  Here’s a cheap and easy way to convert one of your garbage cans into a compost bin. Materials: – 30+ gallon plastic garbage can, with locking lid (optional: bungee cords to hold the lid…

Read More

Taking on Textile Waste 2024

The Taking on Textiles event was held on March 23, 2024 at Solana Center for Environmental Innovation in Encinitas, CA. It was open to the public. We were grateful for recognition from California Assemblymember Tasha Boerner’s office. District Director Janet Chin spoke to the importance of the event as an early beacon to the increasing…

Read More

Plastic Recycling Program – Thanks to Plastic Beach!

Tell a friend; we’ve got a plastic bag and wrap recycling program at Solana Center! Thanks to our partner Plastic Beach for making recycling easier for plastic materials that can’t go in the standard blue bin. They work to ensure all of the plastic bags and film are staying in the U.S. and being recycled nearby,…

Read More

Waste Reduction

Waste reduction is the practice of making less, consuming less, and inevitably disposing of less. Reduction is the ultimate goal, not only because it protects our environment from waste, but because it prevents the destructive processes of extraction and manufacturing that happen upstream of our materials. The world’s population is growing, economies are growing, and…

Read More

How to Prevent Microfiber Pollution in Your Household

Have you heard of the term ‘microfibers’? These are tiny synthetic pieces of plastic yarn often shed by our clothing when in the washing machine. While they sound small, these microfibers have a big impact on our water ways and oceans, unfotunately often making their way to be ingested by marine life. Near the North Pacific Gyre of the…

Read More

It’s Time to Install Your Rain Barrel

Did you know that rainwater is the best water for plants? Though San Diego’s average rainfall is less than 12 inches a year, a rain barrel configured to receive water from your home’s downspouts can help you store up to 50 gallons of free, untreated water on your property. Think about misty mornings too. Water…

Read More

Case Study: Food Cycle Community Compost Program

At the end of 2023, Solana Center made the difficult decision to end the Food Cycle Community Compost program. With the rollout of curbside green recycling bins, we had seen a steady participation decline, and continuing the program was no longer sustainable for our organization. We are so grateful for all of the residents and…

Read More

Back to School: How Can My Child’s Lunch Be Made Low or Zero Waste?

Yes, it absolutely can! By making school lunches more eco-friendly, and by encouraging your kid to recycle and compost, you can significantly reduce your household’s waste. Some helpful guidelines are… An added bonus of paying attention to these guidelines is that you can determine what materials your child’s lunch containers are made of. For example,…

Read More

The Benefits of Diverting Organic Waste from Landfills

Written by volunteer: Kate Sheppard Diverting waste from landfill can sometimes feel like a chore, but the benefits far outweigh the temporary annoyance of getting your hands dirty. This is especially true of organic waste. Yes, it may occasionally be sticky or smelly, but it’s not hard to properly sort and divert these compostable materials…

Read More