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El Cerrito Operations + Environmental Services Division I September 1, 2013 Newsletter I Page1 September 1, 2013 Dear El Cerrito Recyclers, The City of El Cerrito periodically publishes and distributes “A Greener El Cerrito” newsletter with your East Bay Sanitary bills. Due to extenuating circumstances, the Fall 2013 newsletter content is being provided to you in this bulletin format. The regular newsletter format for “A Greener El Cerrito” will return in January. Garth Schultz I Manager El Cerrito Operations + Environmental Services Division CITY HALL ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATION AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC USE The City of El Cerrito has installed an electric vehicle (EV) charging station at City Hall and the station is open for public use! The Station provides “Level II” charging for $1.25 per hour (a full 4-hour charge costs $5.00 for most electric vehicles). The station is part of the ChargePoint system and can be accessed by drivers with a ChargePass card. Other credit cards are also accepted using a phone-in option that is displayed on the station. The station is located in the El Cerrito City Hall parking lot at 10890 San Pablo Ave. Parking for EV charging is limited to 4 hours per session. The station was made possible through a rebate program with ChargePoint Incorporated that provided the charging equipment for free. Supporting the development of an EV charging infrastructure is a strategy included in the City’s recently adopted Climate Action Plan. City staff is actively looking for more grant and site opportunities to increase the number of public charging stations in El Cerrito. For more information, please contact Maria Sanders in the El Cerrito Community Development Department at [EMAIL REDACTED]- cerrito.ca.us or [PHONE REDACTED]. STREET SWEEPING PROGRAM KEEPS BAY WATER CLEAN El Cerrito’s street sweeping program is part of the City's Clean Water Program. Street sweeping collects trash, debris and other pollutants from the street that would otherwise get into the storm drain system, and from there to the San Francisco Bay. In El Cerrito, sweeping on residential and arterial streets may occur between 7 a.m, and 4 p.m. Commercial areas are swept each Monday night, and residential streets are swept once a month. Sweeping does not occur on rainy days or if the street is wet. The full street sweeping map is available online at www.el-cerrito.org/streetsweeping Please use the following guidelines to help keep our streets and water clean: Know your street sweeping day and park cars off the street on your scheduled sweeping day Do not put leaves or other yard waste in the street Keep landscape plants pruned back far enough to allow sweepers to sweep against curb Notify the City Arborist [PHONE REDACTED] if City street tree branches obstruct the path of the sweeper ---PAGE BREAK--- El Cerrito Operations + Environmental Services Division I September 1, 2013 Newsletter I Page 2 ONLY RAIN DOWN THE STORM DRAIN! Controlling rain (a.k.a. storm water runoff) is critical to controlling water pollution. Rainwater moves contaminants, such as motor oil, fertilizers, pesticides, and animal waste, from the ground into the storm drain system, and eventually into San Francisco Bay. Part of El Cerrito's stormwater management program is to educate residents about this problem. You can help lessen the impact of contaminated stormwater runoff on local waterways by making sure that only clean rain water goes down the storm drain. For example, El Cerrito residents and businesses should: Reduce use of fertilizers and pesticides Not spill or dump hazardous materials like motor oil and paint into the gutter Assist street sweepers by parking elsewhere on street sweeping days Report illegal dumping into storm drains by calling 1-800-NODUMPING (1-[PHONE REDACTED]) Litter, such as wrappers, plastics, and cigarette butts, and leaves in the street can also get washed into storm drains. In addition to polluting waterways, litter and leaves can block storm drain grates and contribute to temporary flooding after a heavy rain. If you have a storm drain grate in the street near your home or business, please check it frequently to make sure it is not blocked, especially during wet weather. To request a storm drain cleaning, please contact the Operations + Environmental Services Division at [PHONE REDACTED]. SOLID WASTE COLLECTION HOLIDAY SCHEDULE The El Cerrito Recycling + Environmental Resource Center and East Bay Sanitary Offices will be closed for business on September 2, November 11, November 28 & 29, December 24 & 25, and January 1. Curbside collection of Recycling, Green Waste and Garbage will occur as normally scheduled on these dates, except for December 25 and January 1 – collection for those days and all subsequent days those same weeks will occur one day later than normal, with Friday collections occurring on Saturday. For more details, please visit www.ecenvironment.org, email [EMAIL REDACTED], or call [PHONE REDACTED]. SEPTEMBER TO DECEMBER OPERATIONS AND ENVIRONMENTAL CALENDAR For more details, please visit www.ecenvironment.org email [EMAIL REDACTED] or call [PHONE REDACTED] Sat & Sun Sept. 21 & 22 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Electronic Waste Collection Event Recycle your old electronics at this free drop-off event, now at the El Cerrito Recycling + Environmental Resource Center (7501 Schmidt Lane). Staff members will unload your car for you. Remember, the Center now collects e-waste for drop off year round! For more information, visit www.unwaste.com or call UnWaste at 1-[PHONE REDACTED]. Saturday Oct. 12 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fall Citywide Garage Sale Keep waste out of the landfill while shopping for great deals and getting to know your El Cerrito community. Registration forms are online at www.el-cerrito.org/garagesale on pg. 30 of the Fall 13 Recreation Brochure, or at 7501 Schmidt Lane. Daily Sept. 30 – Oct. 6 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free Compost Giveaway El Cerrito residents (with proof of residency) make collect up to 5 cubic feet (30 gallons) of free recycled compost from the El Cerrito Recycling + Environmental Resource Center. Free giveaway starts September 30 and ends October 6, or until supplies are exhausted. First come – first served. Bags, containers, and shovels not provided (please bring your own). 1st Wednesdays 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Free Tours of the Recycling Center See the range of recycling and reusable material accepted, find out how the City handles various materials, and learn about the sustainable features and services offered via this community resource! 7501 Schmidt Lane. 1st Saturdays 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Baxter Creek Work Party Join the City's Public Works Environmental Program Manager to remove invasive species and maintain the landscape of this El Cerrito jewel. Bring water if desired, wear a hat and close-toed shoes! All ages welcome with guardians. Heavy rains cancels. For more information, email [EMAIL REDACTED] or call [PHONE REDACTED].