A Quarterly Newsletter Of

The City of Irvine (949) 724-7669

Waste Management of Orange County (949) 642-1191 ® Fall 2007 Irvine joins “Zero Cans for Cash California” effort The City of Irvine is competing in this year’s Cans for Cash Challenge, sounds like a nearly impossible case, stewardship is about planning the national contest that rewards cities like goal. However, in 1989, when the California ahead. ours for recycling their used aluminum bev- Integrated Act mandated • Consumer Action: Every consumer erage cans. The Challenge is simple—the 50 percent diversion from landfills, that decision sends a message to manufactur- City with the most cans wins! seemed like an impossible goal. And yet, ers. When consumers seek out products The City of Irvine has set the bar high across California we are keeping 54 percent made with recycled content and wrapped with a goal of 1 million cans. By working of our waste out of land- in less packaging, man- with Irvine Unified School District, local fills. In Irvine, we are ufacturers and retailers non-profit organizations, businesses, and keeping a full 56 percent ZeroWaste listen. By reusing and area recycling partners, Irvine aims to col- of our waste out of land- recycling what they pur- lect the most cans of any city in the nation, fills. So why stop there? You Make It Happen! chase, consumers while strengthening local recycling efforts Why “waste” 44 percent remind businesses and and community partnerships. of our discards? In fact, why waste any? government that the resources and Cans for Cash heightens community That’s what Zero Waste is all about. energy used to make those products are awareness about the many benefits of alu- Zero Waste takes waste reduction, , and worth reusing. minum can recycling: recycling one step further, focusing on sus- • Economic Benefits: Reducing our waste • Recycling 12 cans avoids as many tainable consumption. The goal of the Zero makes our economy more efficient, emissions as are released in over 2 Waste California program is “to reduce, trims trash disposal bills, lowers the hours from electricity usage at home. reuse, or recycle all discarded materials back costs of environmental cleanups and pol- local school or non-profit organization as a • Aluminum is 100% recyclable and is into nature or the marketplace in a manner lution controls, and creates business Partner in Recycling to help in their efforts the only material that has a recycled that protects human health and the environ- opportunities. to raise money and awareness for aluminum value that exceeds the cost of recycling ment and with all materials being managed to • Public Outreach: To make informed can recycling. Sponsored Cans for Cash it. the highest and best use to create a sustain- decisions, residents and businesses need collection bags will be distributed through- In Irvine, local schools and non-profit able California.” A sustainable California accurate and timely information. Irvine’s out the community to more than 25,000 stu- organizations will benefit from the opportu- couples a healthy environment with a vibrant City staff educates the public at outreach dents and their families. nity to raise funds through recycling. For economy. events, in educational materials, and To learn more about the City of each pound of cans recycled, the local In becoming a Zero Waste California through presentations. These efforts have Irvine’s Cans for Cash Recycling school or non-profit organization will community, Irvine is committed to the fol- long focused on the 3R’s (Reduce, Challenge, visit www.cityofirvine.org. receive $1 back to support its programs. lowing: Reuse, Recycle). We aren’t starting over. Working together, we CAN win! Businesses are encouraged to adopt a • : Properly manag- Zero Waste is impossible without the ing our resources means looking at the 3R’s. So, we’ll continue to promote design, planning for discards at the them and take it to the next level. With the end of Daylight-Saving “front-end,” rather than just dealing with • Public Policy: The City will advocate byproducts at the “back-end.” Product for local, state, and federal policies that stewardship can be as simple as remov- promote Zero Waste principles and help Time, change the smoke detector ing an unnecessary layer of packaging or develop a well-planned, statewide, waste as complex as designing for disassembly minimization and recycling infrastruc- batteries—and recycle them and recycling of individual parts. In each ture. Californians must keep all • Keep a plastic bucket in your home where your family can discard used Green gifts and tips “universal waste,” including batteries. Once the container fills up, batteries, out of household take it to a recycling center or retailer For information on everything from environmentally conscious gifts to green living tips, trash in your community that can safely visit www.greengiftguide.com, a service of the California Department of Conservation. recycle the batteries. When Daylight-Saving Time ends on • Start a neighborhood battery collec- Sunday, November 4, people will engage tion to help keep the batteries out of in the ritual of changing their clocks. the trash and cut down on the number Many will also follow the recommenda- of trips each home has to make to the Donate and Freecycle tion to change the batteries in their smoke household hazardous waste center or detectors. retailer to drop off the used batteries. Most of us are familiar with the adage, all across the country. The Freecycle net- But what • Set up a collection center at your work- “One person’s trash is another person’s trea- work is open to all communities and indi- to do with the place where employees can drop off sure.” And if you have moved recently, or viduals who want to participate and the old batteries? their used batteries and rotate among ventured to perform a main rules are that In California, co-workers to take the batteries to be little house cleaning, everything posted must it’s prohibited recycled. you may have encoun- be free, legal, and to place bat- You may dispose of batteries and tered usable items that appropriate for all ages. teries and other universal waste at no charge at the you are no longer Waste Management is other “univer- County of Orange Household Hazardous using. Instead of tossing those unwanted the proud founding sponsor of the Freecycle sal waste” Centers. One of these items, help clean up the clutter by donating Network. into house- centers is located in Irvine at 6411 Oak usable goods to charitable organizations. To find out more, or to become a mem- hold trash, so Canyon, off of Sand Canyon. The center Or, for another option, you can Freecycle it! ber in the Irvine community group, visit the City of is open Tuesday through Saturday from Freecycle is a network of community www.freecycle.org or go directly to the Irvine and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The center is closed on groups where members can give unwanted Irvine Community Group site at http:// Waste Management remind our customers holidays and rainy days. For more infor- items to other group members for free (or groups.yahoo.com/group/FreecycleIrvine/. to be sure to recycle them. mation, check the website, www.ocland get items they may be looking for). Whether you choose to donate to a local Waste Management offers the follow- fills.com, or call the HHW hotline at Freecycle started in Tucson in 2003 to pro- charity or to Freecycle, you can help live up ing tips for recycling your batteries: 714-834-6752. mote waste reduction and has grown to to the adage and turn those unwanted items more than 3,000 local community groups into someone else’s treasure.

Page 2 Fall 2007 10 Tips forGREENER gift-giving As the holiday season approaches, you didn’t want? Or what about the two may feel that you’ve entered the realm of weeks when all of the opened presents science-fiction. News reports will talk sat in the dining room because you had about “Black Friday” and “Cyber nowhere to put them? Remember trying Monday,” and you may begin to wonder to figure out what to do with your old to start. Be sure you know the per- if aliens are due on the planet. Never stuff that was still usable but now son’s size or taste, since secondhand fear, these news reports are talking about replaced with something almost exactly stores and antique shops may not shopping, not space invasions! the same, just newer? accept returns. Black Friday, so dubbed because it The holiday season leaves behind a 6. Pick up consumables. Food, fruit, and helps put retailers “in the black” for the lot of waste—usable items that have been candy are popular gifts and much- year, is the day after Thanksgiving. Often replaced, packaging materials, wrapping appreciated by the recipient. Coffees referred to as the busiest shopping day of paper and cards, and unwanted items. and teas also make great gifts. the year, the Friday after Thanksgiving Your holidays can be thoughtful without 7. Make gifts. Homemade gifts are a finds shoppers at stores before sunrise on being wasteful. Before you start shopping perfect way to honor what someone a spending spree. Black Friday is no for gifts, consider our tips for a greener has taught you. For instance, give a longer a one-day affair, with many of the and, we hope, happier holiday season: handmade scarf to the aunt who special deals continuing on Saturday and 1. Write down all the names of people taught you to knit. Glue fishing lures, Sunday to create “Black Friday for whom you normally buy gifts. Is bobbers, or weights to an old, bat- Weekend.” According to the National there someone on the list that you’d lieu of gifts, donate to a charity that tered picture frame and include a Retail Federation, 140 million shoppers like to see more often? Instead of you select as a group, have a “white photo of you and your grandpa fish- hit the stores for Black Friday weekend giving a gift, make arrangements to elephant” gift exchange, or draw ing together. Refresh a family mem- 2006, doling out an average of $360.15 get together. Could someone on your names and buy for just one person. ory by making your brother or sister each. list use company throughout the 2. Make a list of everyone to whom you the cookies or candy that Mom or Cyber Monday comes the day after year? Avoid buying a gift and, plan to give a gift—and check it Grandma used to make at the holi- Black Friday weekend as kids head back instead, promise a monthly visit. Do twice. days. to school and adults head back to work. you have adult family members on 3. Decide how much you plan to spend, 8. Cheer on the home team by giving As adults log onto the Internet Monday the list? Suggest a dinner together in both total and per person. Remember tickets to sporting events. Support the morning, the carts at online retailers the little extras that can add up, such arts with museum passes or theater begin to fill up. Last year, 60.7 million as stocking stuffers. As you begin to tickets. Give movie gift certificates to Americans planned to shop online on shop, keep track of your receipts. the movie buff in your life. Cyber Monday, a day which features Periodically evaluate how much 9. As you shop, carry your own sales and specials, as well as offers for you’re spending compared to the reusable bags. Pull out your canvas free or reduced shipping. Cyber Monday budget that you made. bags and throw them into your car. Did you Rather than dealing with lots of plas- isn’t the biggest Internet shopping day of 4. Consider gifts of yourself and your the holiday season, but it garners the time. These gifts improve your rela- tic shopping bags when you get most attention. tionships, cost nothing, and create no home, you can begin sorting and The reason for all the attention? Last know? waste. You might offer to drive an wrapping. year, Americans spent $457.4 billion older relative on errands once a 10. Remember to wrap without waste. During 2006, the typical gift giver (yes, billion!) on the winter holidays. month. Or, maybe you could wash Reuse last year’s paper (and save this spent $2,643 on gifts and $78 on This total included gifts, cards and sta- your Mom or Dad’s car monthly. The year’s for next cards, wrapping paper, and acces- tionery, wrapping paper and ribbon, food possibilities are endless—lawn mow- year). Choose sories. These included gifts for holi- and beverages, party supplies, indoor and ing, babysitting, reusable gift days, birthdays, and anniversaries, as outdoor decorations, and more. Of this watching movies bags. Decorate well as thank-you gifts to hosts, total, about $1,200 per household was together. Offer your- boxes that you house-warming presents, friendship spent on holiday gifts. self, your presence, use each year tokens, travel souvenirs given to oth- In the weeks leading up to this fren- and your help. for the same ers, and more. Gift shopping consti- zied shopping season, take some time to 5. Shop for unique person. Use tutes about 10 percent of all con- reflect on the holiday season you’d really reused gifts. fabric , sumer retail purchases. like to have. Remember last year when Vintage clothing, magazine you spent January and February paying Source: “The Gifting Report 2007,” funky antiques, pages, color- off credit cards? How about the lines at Unity Marketing or used books or ful brochures, Customer Service returning what you CDs are a great place or old maps to create unique wrapping “paper.” UOTES Learn more! QREQUOTED TThheeGGhhoossttMMaapp Do more! Trash collection and wastewater treatment We’re reminded a have come a long way—and our cities, Holiday Survival Kit, a part of the suburbs, and countrysides are healthier New American Dream’s Simplify the hundred times a day for it. If you’re wondering just how far Holidays program: we’ve come, pick up a copy of Steven www.newdream.org/holiday/ to buy things, but Johnson’s book, The Ghost Map: The Story of London’s Most Terrifying 42 Ways to Trim Your Holiday we’re not reminded Epidemic and How It Changed Science, Wasteline: to take care of them, Cities, and the Modern World. This book www.use-less-stuff.com/ULSDAY/ chronicles a cholera outbreak in London 42ways.html in 1854 that killed 10 percent of a sub- repair them, reuse stantial portion of the city in less than Reducing Holiday Waste, tips from 10 days. the U.S. Environmental Protection them or give them To learn more about the book, watch Agency: away. an interview with Steven Johnson on www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/specials/ YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch funfacts/winter.htm ?v=3P8shnNEXb4. Michael F. Jacobson Whatever you’re reading, remember Waste Reduction for Holiday Waste Center for the Study of to look for used books at garage sales, from the Greening Schools project: Commercialism used bookstores, and online. Or, visit www.greeningschools.org/resources/vie your library and borrow the book! w_cat_teacher.cfm?id=122 Page 3 Fall 2007

RecycleMania hits college campuses After the first of the year, the competition will leave states and the District of Columbia took part in Registration begins in October for the 2008 com- the playing fields and enter residence halls and dining RecycleMania. More than 2.2 million students and petition. For more information about RecycleMania, facilities as colleges and universities once again take 500,000 faculty and staff members participated. By visit www.recyclemaniacs.org, or visit RecycleMania’s part in RecycleMania. the end of the 10-week competition, the schools had MySpace page, www.myspace.com/recyclemania. This competition to see collected 41,370,000 pounds of recyclables. Cal State which school can recy- San Marcos was cle the most is a Grand Champion, Across the country, students promote campus- fun way to Lamont-Doherty wide recycling with banners, posters, collages, promote recy- Earth Observatory and art walls. This banner was created by Rice cling and of Columbia University’s Student Recycling Council. waste preven- University took Before a Miami University football game, tion on cam- home the Per Capita students decorate a truck to promote pus. “Colleges are Classic, and the recycling. naturally competitive with their University of Texas rivals,” said Rob Gogan, Recycling and Waste at Austin won the Manager at Harvard University. “RecycleMania Waste Minimization hitches the recycling and conservation bandwagon to prize. Rutgers that powerful energy.” University was An annual event supported by the U.S. crowned Gorilla for collecting the largest total Environmental Protection Agency’s WasteWise pro- for recycling—a whopping 2,742,869 pounds. gram and the National Recycling Coalition’s College Four schools were recognized for collecting the and University Recycling Council, RecycleMania most per person in a single materials category, invites colleges and universities to compete to see including paper, cardboard, bottles and cans, which can collect the largest amount of recyclables and food service organics. per capita, the largest amount of total recyclables, or RecycleMania began in 2001 as a friendly the least amount of trash per capita, or have the high- competition between Ohio University and est recycling rate for various materials. Participating Miami University of Ohio. The goal of To promote RecycleMania on campus, students schools report their results weekly, and winners are RecycleMania then and now was to raise awareness at Bowdoin College in Maine dressed the part of recognized in several categories. about campus recycling programs and improve partic- recyclable containers. During 2007, 201 colleges and universities in 42 ipation—especially in residence and dining halls. Think before you buy

The Center for a New American Dream wants you to be a conscious consumer by thinking before you buy and evaluating your intended purchase. To help you do this, the Center has created a “wallet buddy” which holds a credit, debit, or gift card. The buddy is designed to make you stop and think as you pull out your card to buy something new. The buddy includes several questions, such as: • Is this something I need? • Do I already own something that could serve the same purpose? Capturing • Can I borrow one, find one used, or make Capturing one instead of buying new? • Was it made with environmentally prefer- able materials? In 2006, Americans recycled 51.9 billion aluminum bever- ingC Cansthe equivalentans of a gallon of gas. That means we could • Will it serve more than one purpose? age cans, a rate of 51.6 percent of all the beverage cans have saved the equivalent of about 2.3 billion gallons of • Can I recycle or it when I’m done used. Although this rate has held steady for the past three gasoline if we had recycled the 48.9 billion cans that were with it? years, it is far lower than it was in 1992, when the recy- thrown away last year. That’s a lot of energy that went to • If I’m still not sure, can I wait a month cling rate for cans peaked at 67.9 percent. However, what waste! before deciding to buy it? it really means is that we are still trashing nearly half of all Recycling aluminum creates far less pollution, too. the aluminum cans used in this country. Making aluminum from used cans generates about 95 per- These questions can help you save money There’s really no excuse for us to be throwing away cent fewer emissions than using virgin materials. and make wise buying decisions, as well as half of our cans. Aluminum beverage cans are widely Aluminum beverage cans are easy to recycle. After reduce the amount of waste that you must reuse, accepted in recycling programs. Aluminum is a valuable you’ve finished enjoying your beverage, simply rinse the recycle, or dispose. recyclable—worth about four times as much as the next can with a small amount of water, turn it upside down to Download the instructions and pattern to most valuable recyclable. Aluminum is also endlessly recy- drip-dry, and put it into the closest recycling container. If create your own wallet buddy at www.new clable—your entire aluminum can will be made into a new you can’t rinse the cans, don’t worry. Just turn the can over dream.org/walletbuddy.pdf. Remember to print can. What’s more, it will be back on store shelves as a new and shake out the last few drops of liquid. If you’re on a the pattern for your buddy on the back side of can in as little as 60 days. picnic or tailgating at a game and there is no recycling used paper! Aluminum recycling saves a great deal of energy. container nearby, put the cans into a bag or box in your car For more information about the Center for According to the Aluminum Association, throwing away a or van and recycle them at home. a New American Dream, visit www.new single aluminum can is like pouring out six ounces of On average, each American uses 350 cans per year. dream.org. gasoline. For every 21 cans you throw away, you are wast- Try to capture all 350 of those for recycling!

Page 4 Fall 2007 Old use, new use, reuse There is a lot more to the second of the glue, or a needle and thread may be all sure to recycle your old cartridges. For 3R’s, reuse, than just finding new uses for you need. details, visit www.Recycle4Kids.org. old shoe boxes. Reuse includes selecting • Rent what you will need for only a • Borrow books, videos, tapes, and other durable items and using them over and short period of time. Rental is also a media from the local library. over again, as well as finding new and cre- great way to use large equipment that • Rent movies and video games from a Residents with curb- ative uses for something old. But that’s not you don’t have the money to buy or local store or an Internet service. side service all. Here are just some of the ways that you the room to store. For local rental • Download music or books for your are allowed can reuse: stores, check the Yellow Pages for iPod or MP3 player. two bulky item • Choose reusable containers for left- “Rental Service Stores.” • Trade what you have and don’t need collections per overs and lunches. Washable contain- • Share tools, lawn equipment, carpet for something that you can use. year, with up to ers can be used for years without cleaners, or other needed items that • Sell working and usable items that you four large items being replaced—saving you money don’t receive daily use with neighbors, no longer want or need. or 20 bags per pickup. The bulky item and reducing your waste! family members, or friends. • Buy from resale stores, such as thrift program has been expanded to include • Fix broken items. To make many • Refill your inkjet cartridges, or pur- stores, antique shops, and used book- collection of electronic waste (e- repairs, a small tool kit, some wood chase remanufactured cartridges. Be stores. waste) and universal waste items. These items consist of TVs, computer monitors and other electronic devices, household batteries (AA, AAA, C, D), and fluorescent bulbs and tubes. This Attention, is a special service. To schedule a pickup, residents must call Waste Management’s Customer Service gardeners! Center at 949-642-1191. OOO You can have healthier plants and lower water bills! Learn how by Holiday tree collection is available to attending one the Irvine Ranch Water District’s free residential land- residents with curbside service. Trees scape workshops. These workshops promote water efficiency and give will be collected on your service day you great gardening tips. Any residential customer in the IRWD ser- for three weeks following Christmas. vice area is eligible to attend these workshops at no charge. Simply place your tree out at the curb For more information, and to get on the reservation list, visit on your regular collection day. You this website, www.irwd.com/FreePrograms/workshops.php, or call must remove decorations, stands, tin- 949-453-5327. sel, etc. Trees 6 feet or taller must be cut in half. OOO Upcoming events! Recycling depends on YOU! October 24 — City Employee Health Fair Recycling has three parts—and each one punch in recyclable #1 PET (polyethylene content notebook paper, folders, pencils, November 16 — Senior Health Expo depends on you. First, you’ll need to terephthalate) plastic bottles instead of fleece hoodies, and more. Some products, January/February 2008 — Youth “precycle” by selecting locally recyclable non-recyclable bottles or juice bags or such as aluminum and steel cans and Action Team Outreach to middle products and packages when you shop. boxes. Then, be sure to rinse, recycle, and cardboard boxes, are almost always made schools Not sure what you can recycle? Find out! repeat at home. Also, if you don’t see from recycled materials. Call Waste Management Customer recycling bins when you’re out, be sure This year, America Recycles cele- Service at 949-642-1191, or visit www.w to carry your bottles home for recycling. brates its 10th anniversary. The goal of morangecounty.com/cities/irvine.asp or And, of course, buy recycled! To do America Recycles is to increase recycling www.cityofirvine.us/recycle_ home.html. this, you will need to read labels and look by reminding people that recycling is a Second, you need to collect clean recy- for words such as “post-consumer recy- simple activity which saves energy, con- clable materials and deliver them to the cled-content,” which means that someone serves resources, reduces air and water curb or a drop-off center for processing. like you used the recyclables and col- pollution, and helps create jobs. Third, you should “buy recycled” by lected them before a manufacturer turned For more information about America choosing products that have been made them into the new item you’re holding. If Recycles 2007, visit www.america from recyclables. you look, you’ll be able to find recycled- recyclesday.org. Since recycling depends on you in these three really important ways, we need your help. This fall, commit your- I know that recycling depends on me! We want your suggestions, self to being a better recycler. As you Yes, I pledge to make every day of the coming year questions and comments! shop, look for packaging that is locally “America Recycles Day”! Here’s what I’ll do: The City of Irvine recyclable. For example, select fruit qRecycle something I don’t currently recycle. P.O. Box 19575 qRecycle more. Irvine, CA 92623 qBuy recycled-content products. qVisit a solid waste facility, such as a recycling center, composting facility, or landfill. (949) 724-7669 qInvite a speaker to visit my club, class, or business and tell us more about recycling and The views and statements of environmental buying recycled. organizations referenced in this publication do not qOther (specify): ______necessarily represent those of the City of Irvine. Name: ______

Address: ______

City: ______State: ______ZIP: ______

County: ______Daytime Phone: ______qCheck here if you are under the age of 18. Return your form to: This program is brought to you by City of Irvine Environmental Programs, Attention: America Waste Management and the City of Irvine. Recycles 2007, P.O. Box 19575, Irvine, CA 92623. Entries Copyright© 2007 must be received by November 15, 2007. The City of Irvine and Eco Partners, Inc. All rights reserved. By filling out this form, you will be entered in local and national random drawings. Local prizes include a variety of recycled-content items. Your PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER name and address will be kept confidential. You will not be contacted unless 70% POST-CONSUMER NEWS CONTENT, you are a winner. No purchase necessary. One entry per person. USING SOY INKS