Your Daily Thread » green living los angeles

Earth Day In LA: Our Recycling Guide

Danielle Davis — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 19:04:14 +0000

There is some confusion out there about what can actually go in the recycle bin on trash day. A former neighbor of mine and I once had a long conversation in front of our trash receptacles and went through a number of items asking the age old question: blue or black? I’d like to help clear up any confusion, at least for those of in the City of L.A. So, when you’ve rethought and reduced and reused and you’ve got some stuff left over, here’s what CAN be recycled:

PAPER. That’s clean, dry paper that runs the gamut: wax paper sans food waste, newspaper, magazines, junk mail, and my favorite new addition: Post-It notes.

CARDBOARD. Cardboard boxes of all kinds can be recycled from moving to cereal to corrugated to toilet rolls, which aren’t boxes but are cardboard nonetheless. And, if you flatten them, you get a gold star.

METALS LIKE ALUMINUM AND TIN. Soup cans, tuna cans, cleanish aluminum foil, and paint or aerosol cans (tops off) all go straight to the blue bin. And now, we can even put wire hangers in there, too.

GLASS. Glass bottles all can be recycled whether they were filled with spaghetti sauce baby food, or pickles. You get another gold star if you rinse them. Though if you implement the reuse principle just think of all the bulk bin shopping and push pin storing you can do with those.

PLASTIC. All clean plastic can be recycled in L.A., including pesky plastic bags (of which we use 600 per second in CA). And, as for those numbers on the bottom of containers, they do tell us which are easier to process, but now it doesn’t really matter as they can all get recycled. What does matter is which are more toxic to store food in so you may want to check out this resource from CHEC (Children’s Health Environmental Coalition) on avoiding the baddies, #3, #6, and #7.

Plastics are petroleum products and they can’t be recycled into more plastic like glass or paper; they’re always reincarnated into something else-a bag or a bench or a walkway. So, avoid plastic at all costs, but if you find yourself with plastic containers, Styrofoam, plastic bags, plastic coat hangers, plastic non-electric toys, or plastic laundry baskets you can’t find a use for, toss them in the blue can and vow to avoid getting another item made of that in the future.

Get yourself a poster for easy recycling reference (what can and CANNOT go in the blue bin) here.

Or check with your local sanitation bureau.

Other Miscellany You Can Recycle

*Old Towels: Donate linens to a local animal shelter.

*Cosmetics Containers: Origins recently launched a recycling program: bring a used, empty cosmetic tube, bottle, jar (any brand!) into an Origins store and they’ll see that it’s recycled or put to good use.

*Household Hazardous Waste and E-Waste (e.g. batteries, motor oil, car batteries, paint, pesticide, electronics, harsh cleaners-yuck): The County of L.A. has various HHW and E-waste collections throughout our area. And check the CIWMB for more electronics recycling resources.

*Metal jewelry: Liza Shtromberg Jewelry on Hillhurst in Los Feliz now accepts unplated platinum, gold and sterling silver to be melted and made new again. (The precious metal now in circulation could last for decades, so recycling is certainly better than mining.)

*Athletic shoes: Nike’s Reuse-A-Shoe program collects sneaks of any brand to be transformed into playgrounds.

Happy Earth Day!

Are you celebrating Earth Day? How are you doing it? What events are you attending? Are you making your own event? Share with us how you’ve chosen to celebrate the Earth.

Related Articles

L.A. Stormwater 101

Danielle Davis — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 06:50:08 +0000

What is stormwater?

The water that flows along the streets when it rains (or when we make it rain by running hoses), picking up pollutants that are delivered from our streets and grass to catch basins, through the storm drain system, on to the L.A. River and out to the ocean. In light of heavy rains over the winter and crossed fingers for April showers, I went to Joyce Amaro with the City of L.A.’s Stormwater Program to find out why stormwater should be on our radar.

Since both end up in the ocean, what’s the difference between stormwater that goes through our storm drain system outside and the water we use inside our homes, our gray water?

Well, the largest difference is that the water which runs through our pipes at home, from our sinks, toilets, dishwashers and the like, ends up going to a treatment facility before being released into our waterways. That’s not the case with the water that runs off from our streets. And often this water can be just as toxic as wastewater from residential areas.

For example, when it rains, water races down the streets and picks up litter, oil residue and other pollutants; it travels through our City’s catch basins, then our storm drain system and into our ocean. There are no facilities that clean the runoff along the route, which means if our streets are dirty then our ocean will be too.

Why does stormwater in Los Angeles matter?

Stormwater pollution can be a very significant problem here in L.A. When the first rains of the year hit our area, a lot of backed-up litter ends up making its way to the beach. We call this the “first-flush.” The rainy season often brings about the most negative beach water quality scores provided by Heal the Bay. While these are certainly improving, we have a long way to go. But what this shows us is that we need to be diligent in decreasing litter, dog waste, oil waste and other toxins that can cause water pollution.

Wow us with some facts.

To give you some idea of the amount of water we are dealing with, even on a dry day the amount of water that flows through our storm drain system from runoff (this would include water from hoses, etc.) could fill the Rose Bowl—more than 100 million gallons! That’s a lot of water!

When it rains that amount can increase to 10 billion gallons of water reaching speeds of 35 mph and depths of 25 feet.

Our storm drain system here in Los Angeles consists of 34,000 catch basins and more than 1,500 miles of underground pipes and open channels.

Last year, City crews removed six million pounds of trash from catch basins.

(And movies filmed in LA’s storm drain system include the early Tarzan movies, Grease, Terminator II, Point Break, Volcano and the sci-fi classic Them.)

Is our system different from other cities/parts of the country? How?

L.A., as you all know, is a large urban area with a lot of impervious surface. The Stormwater Program is in the midst of developing a Low Impact Development Ordinance that will require commercial and certain residential development to manage stormwater more effectively by incorporating onsite capture of water to allow for natural infiltration into the soil, thus reducing polluted runoff.

Many larger East Coast cities have combined stormwater and wastewater treatment facilities. So they don’t handle runoff in the same manner. Our stormwater system was originally built in the late 1930s and 1940s to handle flooding. And while this left us with less likelihood of floods, we are now dealing with a system not set up to handle polluted runoff.

What’s the single most important thing we can do to prevent stormwater pollution?

I guess if there was one thing I would say people can do to prevent stormwater pollution it would be don’t litter and recycle all you can. This means do not toss anything on the ground—not one cigarette butt, gum wrapper or Popsicle stick–nothing. It also means picking up after our pets when they relieve themselves on the sidewalk, in the park or even in our backyards. Dog waste causes big problems because of the bacteria and viruses it contains. So let’s broaden our definition about what litter is and commit to never littering again. I have made a resolution not only to always pick up after my dog, Dodger, but to also pick up at least one piece of trash on our daily walks.

What are some runner up actions?

Some other important ones I’d add are to reduce our use of pesticides and fertilizers whenever possible. And make sure to never apply pesticides to your lawn prior to a rain shower as those chemicals can wash off and enter our storm drain system. Nasty stuff to have in the water!

Is there anything else concerned eco-citizens should know?

There are a lot of great environmental issues out there for people to get involved with. But stormwater really, at its core, is a simple one to engage (and you may not even know you are already doing it!). There are a lot of community events every month, whether they are clean-ups or tree-plantings that will help reduce stormwater pollution.

The City of L.A. will be introducing a rainwater harvesting initiative so residents can become part of the solution. Residents will capture rain from rooftops to conserve rainwater which can be used later for lawn irrigation and save money on water expenses. Also, it curbs the amount of polluted rainwater from the storm drain system, which keeps our local waterways and ocean clean.

You can get involved with L.A.’s Stormwater Program by visiting the website at http://www.lastormwater.org/index1.htm.

Its blog http://lateameffort.blogspot.com/ and calendar also list community events and its Team Effort page has all you need to know to make a difference.

And we at YDT want to remind you that Friends of the L.A. River’s La Gran Limpieza is coming up quickly—May 8^th! Hope to see you there if you’d like to get your feet wet with stormwater. Here’s our coverage of the event a couple of years ago.

Joyce Amaro is the public education manager for the City of Los Angeles’ Stormwater Program. She began her career in 1992 and promoted into her current position in 1999. She lives in Alhambra with her husband, son, and a handful of rescued animals in a restored 1912 Arts and Crafts-styled home. In her spare time, she volunteers with Best Friends Catnippers, an LA-based animal rescue group and sits on the board of directors for the Alhambra Preservation Group, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of Alhambra’s historic homes.

Images via Los Angeles City Stormwater Program.

Related Articles

RainBud: Collect Free Rain, Make Your Garden Blossom

Danielle Davis — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 07:50:23 +0000

When a natural resource falls from the sky for free, it makes good sense to collect the bounty. That’s the story with rainwater harvesting.

By getting a simple rain barrel designed for the task, you can collect rainfall to water your garden (or wash your car). (An added bonus is that rain’s not treated with chlorine like that which flows from the tap, making it perfect for plants.)

Brainchild of writer Alex Metcalf and landscape designer Paula Henson, RainBud barrels answer the call for Southern Californians who want to water their gardens without paying their utility or draining reservoirs. They also ensure you do your part to divert rainwater from streets where it picks up pollutants and washes out to sea. And the best part is RainBud products contain no new plastic and are made right here instead of far, far away.

The duo at RainBud takes food grade polyurethane containers from local food importers (think giant vats of pickles) and retrofits them for use under your house or apartment’s downspout. Complete with hose bib and mosquito screen, they’re ready to go. Since only 30% of homes don’t have rain gutters in L.A., there’s a good chance you’re a perfect candidate for the super easy install a barrel requires.

1/10^th of an inch of rain will fill a 60 gallon barrel. That’s a fraction of what could be collected each year, even in our dry climate, even in a drought. For example, just a couple of weeks ago our Southern California downpour delivered a dozen inches in some areas. That would fill a lot of barrels.

According to the EPA, you could save 1,300 gallons of your outdoor water use in the summer by saving rain from an earlier season.

A RainBud barrel is a little over a hundred bucks, and if you live in Santa Monica, it’s very worth looking into a possible rebate. And ydt readers, Alex says you get free delivery.

Or there’s always this quirky mini version.

One more thing: check out TreePeople as a smart resource for even more ways to capture rainwater on your property.

Related Articles

PeopleTowels for the Planet

Danielle Davis — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 08:01:46 +0000

Hankies have been out of mainstream fashion for some time and while I applaud anyone saving tissues by using them, I for, one, don’t want to keep goobers in my pocket. There is, however, a new handkerchief-inspired product that makes a whole lot of sense environmentally, even for germaphobes like me!

What about a personal towel you carry with you when you’re out and about? Especially one that’s super cute, made from Fair Trade, organic cotton and non-toxic dyes, is only for your use and saves all those paper towels?

That’s where PeopleTowels come in.

The PeopleTowel people say that by using them, the average person will save ¼ of a tree in a year. Get three friends to carry them and that’s a whole tree. Get a few more people and, well, that’s a whole lot of trees not downed in the name of dry hands. You can reuse them over and over again, stick em in the wash with your other laundry, and start reusing for a few more years.

If we carried personal towels, businesses could save money by not having to buy paper ones, not to mention diverting landfill waste and the water it takes to make wood-based products. (Find out more about paper production here.)

And don’t worry, each comes with a hangtag for affixing to your bag or belt. It seems to me they’re most suited for a student, someone who works in an office or a guy or girl on the go who like me drinks a lot of water and, thus visits the facilities frequently. If we’re carrying our reusable bag and bottle, perhaps this is the next natural step.

So, would you use one? I’m thinking I would.

See all the PeopleTowel designs here. And some real people out and about with theirs.

One more thing: when you are shopping for paper products in your home or office (I mean, we can’t do away with tp right?), check the Greenpeace Tissue Guide first to make sure your brand is made from 100% recycled fibers, 50% of which are post-consumer waste, and not bleached with toxic chlorine.

ydt Giveaway: Enter to win a set of three PeopleTowels by commenting below with how and where you’ll use yours!

Related Articles

Active Through The Holidays

Tracy Hepler — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:49:27 +0000

As the holidays get stressful, the first thing to get dropped is often our exercise routine. This is rather unfortunate because exercise is a tool we have to help eliminate stress and the extra pounds that come from munching on holiday treats.

If you’re worried about falling off the treadmill, fear not. I recently sat down with certified Pilates instructor Kristen Matthews who shared some tips to keep your core tight and your body lean during the holidays and beyond.

Compared to working out in a gym, Pilates is much better for the environment since it uses no electricity and can be practiced almost anywhere. And by doing it outdoors you can save even more energy.

Kristen teaches a bi-weekly outdoor mat class on Thursdays at 4 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m. on Ocean and Palisades Aves. in Santa Monica. The class is perfect for all levels as Kristen is able to provide individual guidance and attention to beginners and people with injuries in addition to challenging more experienced students. Plus, with its picturesque location looking over the ocean, it is a mini escape from life’s daily stresses.

Kristen recommends using Manduka mats for Pilates as they’re free from PVC and other toxic chemicals.

She also teaches private and duet lessons in a studio space that uses only non-toxic cleaners and second-hand reformers as to not add to the chain of production waste. She also makes house calls (possible gift idea for the fitness buff in your life)!

If the holidays have you too busy to attend a class, Kristen has shared four exercises below that target the whole body and can easily be done at home to keep you in shape through the busy days ahead.

Learn more about Kristen and her classes at www.kristen4pilates.com.

YDT GIVE AWAY: To get you in shape for the New Year, Kristen is giving away one Private Studio Class and two Group Mat Classes to a lucky YDT reader. To enter, comment on how you’ll stay healthy through the holidays.

Pilates Exercises

1) Hundreds: 100 counts

Start lying on your back and bring your knees to a 90 degree angle with your arms by your sides.
Lift your head and shoulders and curl up over your ribs.
Pump arms between your hips and knees while you inhale (through nose) for 5 counts and exhale for 5 counts, repeating 10 times.
To make the exercise more challenging, straighten your legs to a 45 degree angle.

Tips: Draw your belly button to your spine to prevent abs from popping out. Lengthen legs out of hips if they are straight and pump from the back of arms to widen collarbone.

2) Shoulder Bridge: 3 times holding for 30 seconds, breathe throughout exercise

Lie on back with knees bent, feet hip width apart, and arms long by your sides.
Press into the back of your arms and lift your hips up to the sky.
Create a long line from your knees to your chest.
Pull your belly button to your spine and keep your tailbone long.

Tips: Visualize holding a yoga block between your inner thighs. Keep equal weight on all corners of your feet. Look up to the sky to keep neck long.

3) Side kick series: 8-10 of each..

Lie on your side and line your whole body up to the back edge of your mat bringing your legs forward to the front of your mat.

Prop your head up onto your hand and place your other hand firmly on the mat in front of you for support.

Step 1) Lift your top leg hip height and rotate it out. Kick leg forward for 2 counts and sweep it back on 1 long count. Inhale as the leg sweeps forward, exhale as it sweeps back.

Step 2) Start with your top leg over your bottom leg, reaching the top leg 6 inches longer than the bottom. Lift the top leg up toward the sky (picture resisting through water) and lengthen to lower. Inhale to lift left, exhale to lower.

Step 3) Start with your top leg hip height and reach it 6 inches longer than the bottom leg. Circle the leg 10 times in one direction then reverse the circle, picture tracing a quarter. Breath throughout circles.

**For all the side kick exercises engage your core by pulling your belly button towards your spine.

4) Forearm Plank: 2-3 times holding for 10 seconds, breath throughout exercise.

Set up on your forearms and your knees placing shoulders are over your elbows and clasp your hands together.
Stretch your legs behind you to create a plank position.

Tips: Pull your belly button towards your spine and lengthen your tailbone. Lengthen your spine from the crown of your head to your heels.

*Disclaimer: Please consult your doctor or medical professional before trying any of these exercises. Your Daily Thread and Kristen Matthews are not responsible for any injuries.

Related Articles

Bloume Baby

Tracy Hepler — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:02:35 +0000

Babies enter the world pure and should remain so, but with the amount of chemicals found in the average baby product, it becomes hard for them to stay that way. This is why Annie Totten decided to create Bloume Baby, an online destination for modern, eco-friendly clothing, toys and all other products related to baby.

Annie previously worked for big corporate retailers like Gap and Disney but wanted to create a retail experience that would embody her love of children, fashion and our planet. Before having her first child, she birthed Bloume Baby in an effort to offer consumers an alternative to traditional products without sacrificing comfort, quality or style and still be healthy for the planet and baby.

On Bloume Baby you’ll find over 20 categories of items for baby, from organic skincare (Annie is a big fan of locally produced erbaviva), Plan Toys which are made from natural rubber trees with water based paints and Fair Trade labor and a variety of super cute baby fashions like Go Gently Baby which is also a company that is based in Los Angeles and uses organic cotton and safe dyes. Bloume Baby also offers gift registries and a section for Momma that can be your one stop shop for your baby shower needs.

Annie hand selects, heavily researches and samples each item before it is listed on Bloume Baby. She seeks out brands that have the right environmental intentions, are mindful about their footprint and who haven’t had an outlet to showcase their work.

Annie’s thoughts sum up why a company like Bloume Baby is so important these days. “Babies come to us completely pure, I believe it is our daily duty and our place to protect them. It is our responsibility to take care of each other and our planet.”

If you’re looking for some holiday gift ideas for a baby in your life, we like the Cashmere Sweater/Hat sets from Oscar and Bell ($88), Arabian Rocking Horse from Plan Toys ($60) and the Peace Pants made with organic terry cloth from Go Gentle Baby ($48).

And just in time for the holidays, Bloume Baby is offering YDT readers a discount. Simply enter YDTBB at checkout to receive 10% off your entire order.

Related Articles

Gobble Gobble Give Back

Tracy Hepler — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:01:34 +0000

Thanksgiving is about more than just the Turkey (or Tofurky for that matter). It can be a time to show gratitude and give thanks for all the good that you experience in your own life.

If you’re looking for ways to give thanks through giving back check out our list below, from meal volunteer opportunities to online giving, there are certainly ways for all to “gobble gobble give.”

For Locals in Los Angeles

Midnight Mission: A downtown based group that seeks to offer a bridge to self sufficiency from homeless. They will be hosting a Thanksgiving meal this Thursday, November 26^th. Email volunteer@midnightmission.org to sign up.

Gobble Gobble Give: Going eleven years strong this organization sets up shop at The Echo in Echo Park and prepares, packs and delivers meals to the homeless in need on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.. A range of volunteers are needed, including people who are willing to prepare a turkey the night before. You can also donate items such as personal goods, food (home made or store bought) Get more information and sign up at www.gobblegobblegive.org

LA Food Bank: For every $1 in donations, the LA Food Bank is able to provide families in need with $5 worth of food. They are hosting thanksgiving volunteer opportunities throughout Los Angeles. Find one near you at www.lafightshunger.org. You can also make a donation if you’re unable to volunteer personally.

LA Works: This website is a one stop shop for volunteer opportunities throughout Los Angeles. Check out there completely listing of holiday volunteer opportunities here. If you’re looking for volunteers you can list your own event too.

West Side Thanksgiving: The Santa Monica Civic Center will be hosting a West Side Thanksgiving celebration helping the less fortunate on the West Side. You can volunteer to serve food, make a turkey, pie, donate personal goods, clothes or volunteer your time i.e. give haircuts, write thank yous etc. Volunteers are needed on Tuesday and Wednesday too. Get complete details and sign up at www.westsidethanksgiving.org

If you can get out and give back, you can easily make a different with a click of a key.

Social Vibe: The online social media tool that helps people partner with brands to support charities has partnered with the UN World Food Programme to donate meals to people in need. Simply download the Thanksgiving Feast app on Facebook and start inviting your friends to join you. The more people you get, the more points you get and the more meals you can help provide. As of last night over 22,000 meals have been earned. Get the Facebook app and start your own Thanksgiving Feast Here.

If you know of any great ways to give back this Thanksgiving, please share it in the comments.

Images via Gobble Gobble Give and Social Vibe.

Related Articles

Wonderful Woolly Walls and Floors

Danielle Davis — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:20:43 +0000

What’s woolly and good for plants? Woolly pockets made by the Woolly Pocket Garden Company.

More and more growing things are aspiring to great heights, literally, in the form of vertical gardens. Miguel Nelson and his wife were drawn to the stunning hydroponic living systems creeping up the walls in France (no wonder as it is home to the original vegetal wall credited to Patrick Blanc). So when they returned home Miguel dreamed up a way to make Los Angeles’s walls come alive.

It started in the husband and wife’s event space, smogshoppe in Culver City, what used to be an auto shop and is now the greenest place to party. There, Miguel put together a prototype vertical garden in pockets made from recycled plastic bottles, watered, waited and found it thriving. That’s when other people took note and the project evolved into an honest to goodness product (with help from brother Rodney—a family affair).

There are several benefits to woolly pockets, aside from being cute and fuzzy and perfect for greening your walls and floors. They make plants happy with their breathable, air-circulating space for roots to thrive. They don’t require drainage like regular pots, so every last nutrient stays in the soil where it belongs. They are also mildew and UV resistant.

Miguel’s mission with the Woolly Pocket Garden Company? To inspire the world to stop what it’s doing and start living the good life, growing plants. The ad campaign shows what a truly natural state that would be.

One more thing, DIYers: they’re easy to install and maintain. See all the options and see what customers have created in their own homes and backyards. Finally, here’s my woolly wall pocket in action filled with native lavender (it took my husband about five minutes to hang).

YDT Deal: One lucky reader who is ready to buy three woolly pockets of any kind can get half off the whole bunch. Just be the first to comment below! (We’ll put you in touch with the woolly pocket folks.)

Photos courtesy of Woolly Pockets and Kate’s Paperie

Related Articles