Green Eco Services

Solar Trash Cans Debut in Long Beach, California

Written by Cathy on July 18, 2010 – 8:07 pm -

Welcome back!

One of my favorite cities in California is Long Beach, home of the Queen Mary. As a travelling sales rep and Long Beach was a part of my territory, I have watched it evolve from a pretty scary place to a hip and trendy downtown,  beautiful beaches and an active community. Long Beach has evolved into a pretty eco friendly community as well.

Longs Beach’s first solar trash cans have hit the city as part of a pilot program which will hopefully save our cash strapped communities money and encourage people to recycle more.

According to Everything Long Beach the solar powered trash bins  will save money:

Both a trash compactor and collection unit which squeezes refuse to just 20 percent of its normal volume. The containers, which have the same blueprint as regular trash cans but can compact about 150 gallons of trash into a 32-gallon bin, are expected to reduce costs by requiring fewer trash collections and maintenance.

In addition to reducing waste and greenhouse gases, the solar trash bins will increase recycling rates and boost conservation efforts throughout Long Beach. The bins come side-by-side with recycling units to collect bottle, can and paper for recycling.

“We believe these solar trash cans are successful tools to harness the power of the sun and look at collecting trash and recycling in a whole new light,” said Keith Schneringer, Marketing Manager of WAXIE Sanitary Supply, the company that installed the solar trash cans and will maintain them during the pilot project.

I hope it works and we can get these in San Diego, especially on our beaches, whose trash cans are overflowing and the overflow get washed into the ocean and storm drains.

Tags: CA, Recycle
Posted in California | 2 Comments »

California Bans Plastic Bags- Not Really But Getting There

Written by Cathy on June 3, 2010 – 2:28 pm -

The state of California has taken the first step towards banning free single-use grocery bags.

The state Assembly narrowly approved Assembly Bill 1998 that would make California the first state in the nation to ban single-use plastic and paper bags from being handed out at grocery stores, reports The San Francisco Chronicle. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.

The legislation will create a statewide standard for supermarkets, chain pharmacies and other large grocery retailers beginning Jan. 1, 2012, and at convenience stores, neighborhood markets and liquor stores beginning July 1, 2013, reports the California Grocers Association, which backs the bill.

Under the new legislation, stores will have to provide reusable bags for sale or free distribution and would pre-empt local ordinances that regulate bags at those retailers, according to Waste & Recycling News.

As an example, the city of San Francisco already has banned plastic bags altogether in favor of paper bags or reusable bags, reports American Recycler.

However, according to the article, a paper bag delivers a hidden tax because it costs five times more than its plastic counterpart, which is typically paid for by the consumer, and making paper bags produces about twice the greenhouse gas emissions as plastic

Read the full story at Environmental Leader

Tags: Pollution, Recycle, Reuse
Posted in California | 1 Comment »

San Diego Company With Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Building Materials

Written by Cathy on March 28, 2010 – 7:15 pm -

Submitted by guest blogger Nicole

A San Diego company is providing building materials from products that meet the standards for building green. Olive Branch Green Building Supply is a Green Building Council member, making its products for homes to be more energy efficient and eco-friendly. LEED buildings have energy saving of 25%-30%. Each product made has one or more of the following traits: made from recycled material, sustainable, healthy, and/or saves energy. From the roof to the walls to the flooring, Olive Green Branch Building Supply has the supplies to make it all sustainable.

Some Products They Carry:

• Cotton Insulation: Made from recycled materials and a zero-waste product.
• Flooring- Several different types of flooring. For example: Marmoleum, which is a hypo-allergenic and a natural raw material, and EcoTimber made from different types of woods.
• LED Lighting- Last longer than regular light bulbs. Save anywhere from 50% to 85% on energy!
• Icestone-Made from 75% recycled glass and perfect for kitchen or bathroom counter tops. Creates a unique look for your kitchen while preventing glass from filling your local landfill.

Olive Branch Green Building Supply is a resource for those looking to re-model or build a home. It is a one stop shop for all building materials such as flooring, insulation, roofing, and more. For more products check them out at www.olivebranchgbs.com

Tags: Building, CA
Posted in California | No Comments »

2010 Native Plant Garden Tours In California

Written by Cathy on March 23, 2010 – 6:58 pm -

In California we have had rain, but our drought is not over. As we get into Spring planting and you are looking for native and drought tolerant plants, consider taking some of these Native Plant Garden tours in Northern and Southern California.

Southern California

Theodore Payne Native Plant Garden Tour

Saturday & Sunday, April 10 & 11, 10am to 4pm

Location: Los Angeles area

Organizer: Theodore Payne Foundation for Wild Flowers and Native Plants

Cost: $20 per person

Website: www.theodorepayne.org/Tour

Spring Garden Tour

Saturday, April 18, 2009, 9am or 1pm

Location:  South Bay/Palos Verdes Peninsula

Organizer: California Native Plant Society, South Coast Chapter

Cost: $20 members, $25 non-members

Website: www.sccnps.org/calendar

2010 Garden Tour

Saturday, May 8, 2010, time unk

Location: Orange County

Organizer: California Native Plant Society, Orange County Chapter

Cost: Free

Website: www.occnps.org

Northern California

Yerba Buena Native Plant Garden Tour

Date: April 25, 20101

Location: San Francisco

Cost: Free

Organizer: California Native Plant Society, Yerba Buena Chapter

Website: http://www.cnps-yerbabuena.org/gardens/annual_garden_tour.html

Going Native Garden Tour

Sunday, April 18, 2010, 10am to 4pm

Location: Santa Clara Valley & Peninsula, San Francisco Bay Area

Cost: Free with registration

Organizer: California Native Plant Society, Santa Clara Valley

Info: info@goingnativegardentour.org

Website: www.goingnativegardentour.org

Bringing Back the Natives Garden Tour

Sunday, May 2, 2010, 10am to 5pm

Location:  East Bay

Cost: Free with registration

Organizer: Kathy Kramer Consulting

Website: www.bringingbackthenatives.net

Redding Garden Tour

Saturday, May 15, 10am to 4pm

Location: Redding

Organizer: California Native Plant Society, Shasta Chapter

Cost: $6

Website: www.shastacnps.org

Conservation Landscape Tour

August 16, 2010, 1pm to 5pm

Location: Lake Tahoe

Organizer: South Tahoe Public Utility District and Tahoe Resource Conservation District

Cost: Free

Website: www.tahoercd.org

El Dorado Going Native Garden Tour

Date: Saturday, April 17th, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Location: Western and central El Dorado County, from El Dorado Hills to Pollock Pines

Cost: Free

Organizer: Sierra Nevada Yard and Garden Program on Native Plant and Water-wise Gardening, El Dorado Chapter of CNPS

Website: www.eldoradocnps.org

Tags: CA, Garden
Posted in California | No Comments »

Babies by the Sea Opens in San Diego to Provide Mothers with Eco-friendly Products

Written by Cathy on March 8, 2010 – 7:49 pm -

Submitted by guest blogger Nicole,

Last week, I did a post on MomKidsBiz.com, which is company that makes baby clothes out of bamboo. Here is another resource for mothers looking for environmentally friendly products.

In September, a new eco friendly boutique called Babies by the Sea was opened in Cardiff, CA by a soon-to-be mother, Laura Fairchild, and a physician, Dr.Robert Biter. This duo team is providing products that a mother would need from the pregnancy stages to the toddler years. A physician and a mother make a pretty good team if you ask me because you know that all the products they are selling will be doctor approved and items that a mother actually uses in her own home. They want to help guide new mothers by offering a place they can find natural, healthy products, classes for during and after birth, and people that can relate.

Some products:

• Biodegradable diapers- about 2% of the total garbage is composed of diapers.

• All-natural supplements

• Use vegetable-based dyes for painted wooden toys- Safer for your children!

• Organic clothes- no pesticides added and feels just like regular cotton!

Source: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2009/nov/29/physician-patient-team-baby-boutique/

Tags: CA, Home
Posted in California | No Comments »

San Diego’s Coastal Lagoons-Fragile Habitat For Humans And Wildlife

Written by Cathy on February 19, 2010 – 1:17 pm -

• 

  San Diego Lagoons

  Submitted by guest blogger Nicole

  Up and  down the North County Coast in San Diego is a stretch of lagoons that have become home to numerous creatures and wildlife. Storm tides from the ocean help form these six lagoons, where a lot of birds migrate during the winter, helping to create a fragile Eco-system.

• This place holds both wildlife (home to over a 100 species of birds) and the people who come to enjoy it. It is filled with bird watchers, walking paths, and ecological reserves.
• As a San Diego resident, I have the privilege to drive by these six lagoons on a regular basis. The beauty of this nature that surrounds us is amazing. Next time you are driving down the 5-freeway in San Diego, stop and check it out. It is a great place to visit and get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Nature centers have been built at each waterway. These are fragile habitats and many acts in North County have been passed to continue preserving it including the Endangered Species Act. Each lagoon has something to offer from classes to ecological reserves to mile long trails.
• For all of you who commute on the 5-freeway in San Diego, you know what I am talking about.
• Source: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2009/dec/20/lagoons-replenish-natures-splendor/

Tags: CA, Eco Tourism
Posted in California | 1 Comment »

California Takes Back Recycling Funds

Written by Cathy on January 14, 2010 – 2:39 pm -

Have you ever thought about where the money comes from when you go to a recycling center to get cash for your cans and bottles?

When debt is built up, the money to compensate for that has to be found somewhere. Well the state of California has found where to do such thing. The state is taking back the $480 million it gave to the Beverage Container Recycling fund to covers its bills. Or they call it a “loan”. This is not the first time this has happened. Since 2003, more than $560 million has been transferred from the recycling fund into the general fund. All as “loans” that are supposed to be paid back.

The money that has been taken from the recycling funds goes towards paying people who return empty bottles and covers the costs of collecting and sorting containers. The money give back to people at recycling centers differs from place to place but it is based on cents per pound. Without these funds, the processing fees for beverage manufactures increases.

Article submitted by Nicole.

Tags: CA, Recycle
Posted in California | 3 Comments »

Cost of Illegal Dumping in Imperial Valley- $7.5 Million

Written by Cathy on November 25, 2009 – 10:22 am -

For many of my readers, I have done so many posts on litter and illegal dumping.  Not only is it unsightly and toxic, it cost you the taxpayer money. Who else is going to clean it up.

The Imperial Irrigation District, about 1,000 acres has identified 15 illegal dump sites around the Alamo and New Rivers- that means that toxic waste is seeping into our groundwater. Estimated cost $7.5 million.

Read the full article here: IV press online

Tags: CA, Pollution
Posted in California | 1 Comment »

Buy Local- Encinitas, California

Written by Cathy on November 5, 2009 – 2:51 pm -

I am a big believer in supporting your local economy and buying from the small guys. I started this many years ago, when I was selling jewelry and other gift items and my customer base was eroding due to many factors, cost of doing business, more competition from ‘major stores’ and the increase of shopping centers.

Today, with many cities and states (particularly San Diego) in the throes of economic woes, the price of gas and of course lowering our carbon footprint, it makes sense (cents) to shop local. Shopping local is more that saving money, by supporting local business, you are recycling your dollars, recreating jobs, promoting healthy competition, developing product diversity and helping the environment.

Businesses who do more business pay higher taxes (less taxes for us to pay) and those taxes pay for park and recreation services, lifequards, traffic, public works, libraries, police, fire departments to name a few.

Buy Locale (www.buylocale.org) in Encinitas is an organization devoted to promoting residents to buy in Encintas (old and new), Cardiff, Leucadia, Olivenhein. There is even discount offers from merchants on the site. Clothes, Optical, Dentists, gifts, hair salons, coffee houses to name a few.

Tags: CA
Posted in California | 1 Comment »

Rob Machado- A Green Surfer Who Gives Back

Written by Cathy on November 2, 2009 – 7:47 am -

I think it’s fantastic that top ranked celebrities do more than just show up at events and flash a smile and model their clothes.   Rob Machado a top ranked surfing icon for more than 10 years and inducted into the Surfers Hall of Fame (2000, 2006) is a man who puts his beliefs, money and time into preserving the environment.

The Rob Machado Foundation, is involved in several undertakings:

• Annual Golf Tournament, held in Solana Beach that supports environmental Charities
• Cardiff Education Foundation efforts to green the local school district. Starting at Cardiff Elementary School, they have helped revamp the school lunch program to ‘Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’. First reduction of waste, eliminating straws, reusable bottles were made available, encouraging parents to use less in packing lunches replacing non biodegradable items with biodegradable items. and instituting a recycling program. And the school now has organic gardens.
• Cardiff Green Expo- of which I attended! It was a blast and very nice to meet all the local ‘green suppliers in San Diego. Rob Machado is active in making surfing more eco-friendly, from surf wax to surf blanks and even sunscreen- the goal is to eliminate as many toxins from the oceans as possible.

I am now a new fan of Rob Machado and personally speaking I would rather read about his exploits more than Paris Hilton.

Tags: Sports
Posted in California | No Comments »