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A Greener El Cerrito News from the City of El Cerrito Environmental Services Division El Cerrito’s Environmental Footprint is Shrinking www.ecenvironment.org • (510) 215-4350 Spring 2009 • Volume 2 Want to learn more about what the City is doing and get involved to conserve resources, reduce emissions, and promote environmental quality? Sign up to receive periodic email updates from the Environmental Services Division about topics such as volunteer opportunities, progress on the redesign of the Recycling Center, new environmental programs, and updates about our work on important environmental issues. Sign up online at www.el-cerrito.org/esd/action.html or contact the Environmental Services Division. Get Involved – Sign up for Email Updates www.ecenvironment.org [EMAIL REDACTED] (510) 215-4350 T he City of El Cerrito Environmental Services Division is spearheading several efforts to increase efficient use of energy and water in City facilities and operations in order to con- serve resources, save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In the past several months staff has initiated several projects that will reduce the City government’s contribution to global warming by 1.5% in 2009. By installing energy efficient lighting and planting less thirsty land- scaping, the City will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by over 30 tons this year! Also, El Cerrito’s Fire Department implemented a new policy in January 2008 that reduced the num- ber of miles that its employees drive while commuting by over 40%. This simple change saved over 6,500 gallons of fuel, $20,000 in fuel costs, and prevented over 75 tons of greenhouse gas emissions last year. Thanks to projects like these, the City government will have reduced its own carbon footprint by over 4.5% by the end of 2009. These projects are just the beginning. Environmental Services is plan- ning on initiating many similar projects during the coming years—achieving even greater greenhouse gas reductions, conserving valuable resources, and saving money. In this issue 1 Environmental Programs 2 New Curbside Recycling Program Update 3 Drop-off and Other Recycling Programs Our Future Community Recycling • Center New Rules for Battery Recycling • Summer Holiday Schedule • Free Plastic Bins Available • Free Curbside Pickup of Used Motor • Oil and Filters Free Household Hazardous Waste • Pickup for Seniors and the Disabled 4 News and Other Events Host a Garage Sale on May 23 • Free Electronic Waste Recycling • Recycle in City Parks • 10890 San Pablo Avenue El Cerrito, CA 94530 ---PAGE BREAK--- A Greener El Cerrito Spring 2009 • Volume 2 Page 2 El Cerrito’s new curbside recycling program is now fully underway! Our recycling trucks are now collecting more recyclables than ever and we need your help to make sure that our re- cycling program is as efficient and cost effective as possible. Please do your part to keep recycling collection affordable by following these instructions: Place your recycling cart on the street with the wheels • against the curb and the numbers on the front of the cart facing the street. Recycling trucks have automatic arms that come out of the truck, grab your recycling cart, and dump recyclables inside the truck— if carts are not placed properly, it is more difficult to collect your recy- clables (see photo at right). Put your recycling cart out for pickup by 6 a.m. on • your collection day. Late set out may be cause for a skipped pickup. Place all recyclables (except plastic bags, which should • be bundled) loosely in the recycling cart. If you regularly have more recycling than can fit in one cart, contact us and ask for an additional cart for free. Do not put large pieces of cardboard in the recycling • cart. Large pieces must be cut into small pieces no larger than 2 feet square and placed loosely in the cart. Larger pieces may also be brought to the Recycling Center for free drop-off. Do not put pieces of metal larger than a soup or soda • can in the recycling cart. Large pieces can jam in the truck and cause damage or injury to drivers—please bring large metal pieces to the Recycling Center for free drop-off. Please only put recyclable items in the recycling cart. • Clothes, diapers, animal and restroom waste, light bulbs, furniture, wood, soiled paper/plastics and many other items cannot be recycled. If you need help understand- ing what can be recycled, refer to the lid of your recycling cart or contact us. If you do not have enough recyclables to fill the cart • every week you should put it out for pickup only when full— every two, three, or even four weeks is fine. It is more efficient to collect full carts. New Curbside Recycling Program Update Frequently Asked Questions Q: I do not have a new recycling cart, how do I get one? A: Contact us at 215-4350 or [EMAIL REDACTED] to request a new cart. Q: What should I do with my old green recycling bins? A: You can keep the old containers for other uses in your home (storage, gardening, etc.) or you can drop them off at the Recycling Center. Q: I’m elderly/disabled and cannot safely move my new cart, how can I get help? A: Call us at 215-4350 to request yard service for elderly and/or disabled residents. Q: What plastics can I recycle in my recycling cart? A: All clean plastics, no matter what number, color, size or shape are now collected for recycling, including plastic bags, take-out and yogurt containers, and other plastics. Q: How do I keep shredded paper from blowing into the street? A: Put shredded paper inside of a paper bag and staple the top of the bag. Q: How can I recycle Styrofoam? A: At this time, Styrofoam is not accepted in the curbside recycling program. We are currently researching opportu- nities for collecting Styrofoam via drop-off at the Recycling Center. Contact us for more information. An automated arm grabs a recycling cart and tips the contents into the truck. ---PAGE BREAK--- A Greener El Cerrito Spring 2009 • Volume 2 Page 3 Thanks to the efficient new curbside recycling program, plans to rebuild the El Cerrito Recycling Center can now be made cheaper and more comprehensive. The Environmental Services Division is initiating work on a new design for the reconstruction of the Recycling Center that may include: Recycled building materials • LEED Certification as a Green Building • Demonstration of environmentally friendly building • practices and operations Improved drop-off collection for a wider range of hard- • to-recycle materials and reusable items If you would like to learn more about plans for this facility as they are available, please sign up to receive periodic updates by visiting www.el-cerrito.org/esd/action.html or by contact- ing us. If you have specific suggestions about new materials or items that we might consider collecting at the new center, for recycling or reuse, please let us know—your input could help to shape the scope of a cutting edge recycling program and the recycling center of the future. Free Household Hazardous Waste Pickup for Seniors and the Disabled The West Contra Costa County Household Hazardous Waste Facility is offering free pickup of household hazardous waste from West County residents that are elderly or disabled. Household hazardous waste includes: paints, batteries, cook- ing oil, electronic waste, fluorescent tubes and bulbs, fuel, cleaners, microwaves, chemicals, sharps, TV’s, and more. Call (888)-412-9277 to make an appointment or for more information. Free Curbside Pickup of Used Motor Oil and Filters Do you change your own motor oil? El Cerrito Recycling provides free motor oil and filter recycling kits and free curbside pickup of used oil and filters for El Cerrito residents. Contact us to request a free oil and filter recycling kit or to request a free oil pickup from your home. Maximum collection per pickup is 2 oil containers no larger than 6 quarts each and 2 oil filters. Containers must have a screw on lid in order to prevent contamination of storm drains and the Bay. Free Plastic Bins Available at the Recycling Center Need plastic bins for storage, gardening supplies, or for other projects? The Recycling Center is giving away free 18 gallon plastic tubs while supplies last! Just stop by the Recycling Center during normal business hours and look for the free bins sign. Note: plastic tubs are not intended for use with the curbside recycling collection program. Summer Holiday Schedule The Recycling Center will be closed to the public all day on Memorial Day (May 25), The Fourth of July, and Labor Day (September Curbside collection of recyclables will occur as normal on these days. New Rules for Battery Recycling Due to new laws about transporting used batteries aimed at reducing fire risk, residents who drop-off used household batteries at the Recycling Center and at other battery collec- tion locations are asked to: 1) separate their batteries by type, 2) place tape over the battery terminals, and 3) put batteries of the same type into separate plastic bags. The types of bat- teries are: Alkaline batteries, such as • 9-volts, AAA, AA, C and D batteries Lithium batteries, such as • the type found in cameras, computers and watches NiCad batteries, such • as the type found in cell phones, power tools, and electronic toys For more information, please call Recyclemore, the West Contra Costa County Integrated Waste Management Authority, at (510) 215-3104 or visit www.recyclemore.com . a ab Our Future Community Recycling Center ---PAGE BREAK--- A Greener El Cerrito Spring 2009 • Volume 2 Page 4 Save Money! Save Resources! Host a Garage Sale on May 23 Recycle your old electronic waste during this free drop-off event and help the needy at the same time by donating non- perishable food items. (All donated food will go to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano). All electronic wastes collected will be recycled by the State approved collector/recycler Universal Waste Management, Inc. in accordance with the standards approved by the DTSC, CIWMB, EPA and the State of California. Location: El Cerrito Department of Motor Vehicles at 6400 Manila Avenue Accepted Items: computers and monitors, computer peripherals, televisions, VCR and DVD players, toner cartridges, printers, fax machines, copiers, telephone equipment, cell phones, MP3 players, cameras, cable boxes, wiring, radios, stereos, speakers, video games, and microwaves charge for microwaves). Unacceptable Items: No appliances, batteries, paints, pesticides, chemicals, etc. Please take these items to the West County Household Hazardous Waste Facility at 101 Pittsburg Avenue in Richmond. For more information, call (888) 412-9277. Free: to all residents and business, no residency restrictions, no appointment needed. For more information please call (888) 832-9839 or visit www.unwaste.com . Too much old stuff? Need space in your garage? Host a garage sale during the 20th El Cerrito Citywide Garage Sale on Saturday, May 23 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Registration is open to El Cerrito residents only. You pay a $10 registration fee and we do all the advertising for you! Make checks payable to the City of El Cerrito. (Please do not mail cash). To register, please complete this form and mail or hand deliver with the $10 fee to: City of El Cerrito Environmental Services Division–Garage Sale 10890 San Pablo Avenue El Cerrito, CA 94530 Your name and contact information will be kept confidential. We will publish addresses, cross streets and sale items/categories only. Confirmation of your registration will be sent to the email address listed on the form or to the location of the garage sale if no email address is available. Want to Shop during the Garage Sale? Participant lists and maps will be available online at www.el-cerrito.org and in self-serve literature boxes at the El Cerrito Community and Recycling Centers in advance of the sale. Registration for the May 23, 2009 Citywide Garage Sale Registration forms are due Monday, May 11, by 4 p.m. Street Address (Location of Cross Street_ Daytime Phone Email_ Is this a fundraiser? o yes o no Items for Sale (10 word description)_ Categories: o Babies & Kids o Clothes and Toys o Adult Clothing o Electronics o Furniture o Gardening and Tools o Household Items and Appliances o Knick-knacks, Books, Etc. Keep El Cerrito Tidy – Recycle in City Parks Thanks to grant funding from Recyclemore.com, the Environmental Servic- es Division recently part- nered with Public Works to place 50 new recycling containers throughout most El Cerrito City Parks. Now you can recycle paper, cardboard, cans, plastic, and glass almost anywhere in El Cerrito—just look for the new parks recycling bins like the one pictured here. Thank you for recycling! Free Electronic Waste Recycling Event and Food Drive – June 6 & 7