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A Greener El Cerrito News from the City of El Cerrito Environmental Services Division www.ecenvironment.org • (510) 215-4350 Winter 2013 • Volume 12 Garbage Container Size Residential Service Commercial / Multi-Family Service 20 Gallon $29.99 per month $29.99 per month 35 Gallon $39.99 per month $39.99 per month 64 Gallon $79.99 per month $79.99 per month 1 Cubic Yard (at once weekly pickup) NA $241.27 per month 2 Cubic Yards (at once weekly pickup) NA $467.67 per month Green Waste Collection (35 / 64 gal) 64 gal cart included Extra 64 gal cart is $48.80 per month 35 gal is $25.22 per month per weekly pickup 64 gal is $48.80 per month per weekly pickup Since reopening on Earth Day 2012, the El Cerrito Recycling + Environmental Resource Center has achieved LEED Platinum green building certification, received a Sustainability Award from Sustainable Contra Costa, and has been re-certified as a Contra Costa Green Business! Did you know that the Center is now providing more services to the El Cerrito community? The Center now collects all of the following and more for FREE from El Cerrito residents: • CFLs, fluorescent tubes, and batteries • Medicines / pharmaceuticals and needles • Reusable building and household items • All electronics and peripherals • Used cooking oil, motor oil, and filters Community Meeting on Rules of Conduct The City is in the process of establishing Rules of Conduct and Salvage for the Center in order to make the facility safer and more welcoming to all users. The City is hosting a community meeting at the Center (7501 Schmidt Lane) to discuss the new Rules on February 21, at 3 p.m. For information contact Garth Schultz, [EMAIL REDACTED], [PHONE REDACTED]. New Winter Hours Due to dark conditions, the Center will close 4:45 p.m. daily until March 1 (8-4:45 M-F, 9-4:45 Sa & Su). Recycling + Environmental Resource Center Update 10890 San Pablo Avenue El Cerrito, CA 94530 www.ecenvironment.org [EMAIL REDACTED] (510) 215-4350 Recycle Trees with East Bay Sanitary, and more! Christmas Tree Collection East Bay Sanitary Company (EBS), El Cerrito’s franchised hauler of garbage and green waste, will collect unflocked natural trees (free of stands, ornaments, tinsel, etc.) as part of regularly scheduled weekly green waste pickup between December 31 and January 18. Just put your tree out next to your green waste container on your regular collection day. EBS requests that trees be cut to size and placed in the green waste cart if possible. EBS is providing new services to El Cerrito residents and businesses, including: • Longer customer service hours - 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in office, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. via phone and email (237-4321, [EMAIL REDACTED]). • New website - with online bill payment via electronic account transfer (www.ebsan.com) • More on-call services - each El Cerrito household now gets up to 4 FREE on-call services annually (1 garbage, 1 green waste, and 2 e-waste collections from your home) • Cart cleaning services - $25 per cart 2013 Solid Waste Rates (visit www.ecrecycling.org for details) ---PAGE BREAK--- Environmental Activities Calendar www.ecenvironment.org I 215-4350 1st WED 3 PM to 4 PM Public tours of the City of El Cerrito Recycling + Environmental Resrouce Center: Come learn about what the Center has to offer and how to recycle more! Check in at the lobby, 7501 Schmidt Lane. 1st SAT 10 AM to 12:30 PM Baxter Creek Gateway Work Parties: Join volunteers and City staff in removing invasive species and restoring native habitat in this jewel on the Ohlone Greenway. For more info, [PHONE REDACTED], [EMAIL REDACTED]. 2nd TUES 7 PM Environmental Quality Committee: Come to the regular meetings of the City’s volunteer Environmental Quality Committee (EQC) - members needed, apply today! See www.greenerelcerrito.org for details. HOLIDAYS All day The Recycling + Environmental Resource Center and the offices of East Bay Sanitary will be closed on January 21, February 18, March 31, and May 27. Curbside collection of solid waste will occur as normally scheduled. JAN 12 & JAN 13 9 AM to 3 PM Electronic Waste Recycling - DriveThrough Event: See article on Page 4 for details. JAN 19 10 AM to 12 PM Greet the New Year by cleaning the gateways to El Cerrito! Meet at Rialto Cerrito or the shopping center at the SW corner of San Pablo Ave. and Potrero Ave. Visit www.ecenvironment.org (calendar) for more details. JAN 26 10 AM to 12:30 PM Pull Broom in the Hillside Natural Area: Join El Cerrito Green Teams and Friends of Five Creeks in removing invasive fire-prone French Broom from this natural resource. Wear close-toed shoes with good traction, long pants and sleeves (poison oak is a possibility). Meet at the entrance between 1522 and 1524 Douglas Dr., off Potrero. FEB 12 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM Climate Action Plan Public Workshop: Join the EQC and City staff to hear details of the City’s draft Climate Action Plan and provide community feedback. For more details, call [PHONE REDACTED] or email [EMAIL REDACTED]. FEB 21 3 PM to 4 PM Rules of Conduct and Salvage Community Meeting: See article on Page 1 for details. MARCH 23 9 AM to 12 PM Compost Giveaway at the Recycling + Environmental Resource Center (7501 Schmidt Lane): El Cerrito Resi- dents, with proof of residency, get up to 5 cubic feet (33 gallons) of compost made from yard waste and food scraps! MARCH / APRIL TBD Green is Good for Business! Workshop: Find out how green practices and products help the environment and your bottom line! This workshop is one of four workshops designed especially for the small business or entrepre- neur looking to improve their presence in the marketplace. Brought to you by the El Cerrito Environmental Ser- vices Division and Economic Development program. To register, contact [EMAIL REDACTED] or call 215-4350. APRIL TBD TBD El Cerrito Tree Inventory: Presentation of the City’s new Tree Inventory Global Imaging System Program funded by a Grant from the US Forest Service and Cal Fire. Learn about the composition of your City’s Urban Forest and the way it contributes to improving our environment. Email [EMAIL REDACTED] or call [PHONE REDACTED] for info. APRIL 20 9 AM to 1:30 PM Earth Day Volunteer Event and Appreciation Lunch: See form on Page 3 for details. APRIL 27 10 AM to 12 PM Less Toxic Pest Management Workshop: Uninvited visitors in your home or garden? Join a panel of experts at a FREE interactive workshop to learn about the dangers of some “solutions” and discover safer over-the-counter fixes to pest problems. For more information and to register, contact [EMAIL REDACTED] or call 215-4350. MAY 3 8 PM to 9 PM FILM - History of the El Cerrito Recycling Center: Join the City and partners for the premier of a short film about the history, character, and community of this long-standing El Cerrito resource. This event will be held outdoors at (7501 Schmidt Lane), and includes a short reception. Bring your folding chairs - be prepared for outdoor weather. MAY 5 10 AM to 5 PM Bringing Back the Natives Tour: A free, self-guided tour of 50 native gardens in Alameda and Contra Costa counties, sponsored by the Clean Water Program. Visit www.bringingbackthenatives.com for more information. MAY 9 7 AM to 9 AM Bike to Work Day: Walk or roll to the energetic EC Plaza BART / Ohlone Greenway “Energizer Station” for free goodies, bicycling information, and to chat with City staff about bike/ped topics. MAY 11 9 AM to 3 PM Shop the Spring Citywide Garage Sale: See form on Page 3 for details. MAY 18 TBD Family Cycling Workshop: Join the City and the East Bay Bicycle Coalition for a day of fun games, safety drills, skills building, and a neighborhood ride. Parents and children must attend together. For more information and to register, contact [EMAIL REDACTED] or call 215-4350. A Greener El Cerrito Winter 2013 • Volume 12 Page 2 ---PAGE BREAK--- A Greener El Cerrito Winter 2013 • Volume 12 Page 3 Garage Sale Registration Form Spring 2013 El Cerrito Citywide Garage Sale May 11 I 9 AM to 3 PM Registration forms are due (with $15 NONREFUNDABLE registration fee paid by check to the City of El Cerrito) on April 23 by 4 p.m. to: Environmental Services Division—Garage Sale 10890 San Pablo Avenue El Cerrito, CA 94530 Name_ Street Address/Sale Nearest Cross Phone Email Address (please provide an email address if you would like the opportunity to review the accuracy of your listing prior to publication): Sale Description: Maximum of 20 words describing the items for sale and any other details about the sale (i.e. fundraiser for a specific charity, snacks available, etc.). Descriptions will be repeated verbatim in the listing - use good grammar. SHOP THE SPRING GARAGE SALE ON MAY 11! Find good bargains! Shop the Spring Garage Sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Garage Sale listings will be available online at www.el-cerrito.org and in self-serve literature stands located at the Community Center (7007 Moeser Lane) and the Recycling Center (7501 Schmidt Lane) starting May 3. Register for the Spring Citywide Garage Sale HOST A SPRING GARAGE SALE! Turn your old stuff into treasure! Register now to host a garage sale at your home during the Spring Citywide Garage Sale. Registration fees cover the costs of advertising and promotion which includes posting your sale in the garage sale brochure, classified ads in local newspapers and online. Help spread the word about the Citywide Garage Sale. Make your event fun and enjoyable by providing refreshments, treats, prizes or other enticements! Send us your suggestions regarding how to make our advertising strategy more effective—feedback from past garage sale hosts is especially valuable. Volunteer for El Cerrito’s Annual Earth Day Celebration April 20, 2013 I Earth Day Volunteer Registration Form Work Parties from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (Citywide) Volunteer Appreciation Lunch from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. (El Cerrito Community Center - 7007 Moeser Lane) For more info: email [EMAIL REDACTED] or call [PHONE REDACTED]. Registration forms are due by April 5 to: Environmental Services Division – Earth Day 10890 San Pablo Avenue El Cerrito, CA 94530 Phone Do you have have an idea for a work party or project that you would like to be involved in? Do you have any suggestions for potential work projects? ---PAGE BREAK--- A Greener El Cerrito Winter 2013 • Volume 12 Page 4 A Greener El Cerrito Winter 2013 • Volume 12 Page 4 City of El Cerrito City Hall 10890 San Pablo Avenue El Cerrito, CA 94530 STD U.S. Postage Paid Oakland, CA Permit #2508 ECR-WSS POSTAL PATRON FREE Drive Through Recycling Collection Event for Computers, Electronics, and More! T he City of El Cerrito is hosting a drive-through recycling drop-off event at the new Recycling + Environmental Resource Center with contractor Universal Waste Management, Inc. “UnWaste” is a California State approved recycler that collects electronic waste and peripherals at the Recycling + Environmental Resource Center and holds periodic drive-through collection events. At this FREE event, anyone can recycle TVs and computer monitors, computers and accessories, stereos and music equipment, VCR & DVD players, toner cartridges, printers, fax machines, copiers, phone equipment, cell phones, MP3 players, microwaves and more for free! UnWaste will unload your car for you – it’s fast, easy and the right thing to do. For information: www.unwaste.com or call UnWaste at (888) 832-9839. January 12 & 13I 9 AM to 3 PM El Cerrito Recycling + Environmental Resource Center (7501 Schmidt Lane) TIME SENSITIVE MATERIAL: PLEASE DELIVER BY JANUARY 9, 2013