Waste

Waste

In the News
>>Santa Monica now offers oil and grease recycling for restaurants and residents for free!

>>Recession squeezes recycling programs - Rising recycling costs and dropping values for recyclables are hurting city budgets.

>>Following The Trail Of Toxic E-Waste - 60 Minutes November 9, 2008 segment that follows America's toxic electronic waste as it is illegally shipped to become China's dirty secret


Landfills






























>>How a Landfill Works. Description from the website How Stuff Works

>>See Where Your Recyclables Go - Visit this interactive website from Waste Management to see what happens with your recycled products.

Plastic Pollution in the Pacific Ocean
Capt. Charles Moore of the Algalita Marine Research Foundation first discovered the Great Pacific Garbage Patch -- an endless floating waste of plastic trash. Now he's drawing attention to the growing, choking problem of plastic debris in our seas.


Beyond a Linear Waste System
>>Learn more about Cradle to Cradle design by clicking the diagram.

Creative Reuse, Purchasing Recycled Content, and other Resources

>>AltUse - The ultimate destination for everything Alternative Use! Save money and heal the earth by extending the life of everything you already own.

>>Recycle4Cash - Recycle your used electronics for cash and reduce your ecological footprint. Through this resource you can appraise and turn your used cell phone, computer, games, MP3 player, camera and GPS into cash.

>>Zero Waste Moving - www.rentagreenbox.com founder Spencer T. Brown has imaginatively found a way to reclaim trash from landfills and reformat them into ecofriendly moving supplies, including boxes, peanuts, packing paper and dollies.

>>Hair for Oil Spills Program - donate your hair clippings to make hairmats that can help with oil spill clean up.

>>Recycled Tissue and Toilet Paper Guide by Greenpeace - Recycled tissue products help protect ancient forest, clean water, and wildlife habitat. Via Greenpeace.

>>Free Cycle Los Angeles

>>Craig's List Free Stuff

>>StuffYaDontWant

>>CA Integrated Waste Management Board Recycled-Content Products Directory

>>Sign up for Los Angeles Apartments & Condos Recycling

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)
>>Santa Monica Neighborhood HHW Collection Sites - a complete list of locations in Santa Monica where you can drop-off your electronics, lightbulbs, thermometers, batteries, paints and solvents, and oil and oil filters.

>>Los Angeles HHW and Electronic Waste Program - See a schedule of Collection Events or see a list of Permanent HHW Collection Centers.

>>e-Stewards - a group of recyclers leading North American electronics recyclers and asset managers who have been qualified as upholding the highest standard of environmental and social responsibility.

>>eWaste Center, Inc. - free pick up of e-waste in the Greater Los Angeles area if you have at least one computer monitor or one television to dispose.

Composting


>>SmartGardening.com - Countywide Smart Gardening program has FREE composting and gardening workshops. They are an excellent resource and their workshops are lead by very knowledgeable instructors. Check their website for a list of upcoming scheduled workshops. Highly recommended! DIY Worm Bin Instructions


>>Want to get started composting? Check out this informative video

>>Composters.com - Great web resource for picking out what kind of Composter works for you.

>>Groundworks' Free Java Mulch - "Stop by five of our six Los Angeles locations, and take home a free bag of Java Mulch, spent coffee grinds-- packed in previously used coffee bags. Using Java Mulch in your garden saves landfill space while perking up your petunias!"

>>Tutorial on homemade vermicompost - Follow Jay on this video blog of his journey in creating the perfect vermicompost for an apartment setting. Via PodTech.Net

>>Compost Pooch Poop - Step-by-Step blog outlining a simple and effective method for composting your pooch's poop. Blog hosted by Boing-Boing

Junk Mail Prevention sites
>>Movement against unsolicited phone book delivery - Sign up to remove your home or office from receiving telephone directories. Signing the petition authorizes www.YellowPagesGoesGreen.org to contact the Telephone Directory organizations to cease and desist from distributing any and all future directories published to your listed premise.

>>Climate Change Enclosed: Junk Mail's Impact on Global Warming - Greenhouse gases created each year by junk mail are the annual equivalent of more than nine million cars. The average car travels 12,000 miles per year -- as opposed to junk mail, which gets us nowhere. Read about how junk mail contributes to global warming in the report, Climate Change Enclosed via Forest Ethics.

>>EcoLogical Mail Coalition - helps businesses stop mail addressed to former employees.

>>Native Forest Network's Guide - five easy steps to stop junk mail.