Eco-tip for 5-19-19 Revamped Public Works Day Uses Hands-on Learning to Expose Students to Environmentally Beneficial Careers By David Goldstein, Ventura County Public Works Agency, IWMD and Katie Yates, Consortium Media The theme of this year’s annual Public Works Day, “Lean Forward. Leading Excellence,” refers to an emphasis on innovation, opportunity, and accomplishment in careers…
Eco-Tip for 5-12-19 Bike to Work Week Offers Entertainment, Opportunities and Prizes By Susana Andres and David Goldstein An inspiring bicycling event is coming to Ventura County in the middle of Bike to Work Week. This Thursday, May 16, from approximately 1 PM to 5 PM, some of the world’s best bicycle racers will complete…
Eco-tip for 5-5-19 Making it Last: Extending Product Life to Reduce Waste By David Goldstein, VCPWA, IWMD An adage of conservation says, “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.” That bit of frugal advice saves resources, but it can also lead to a house full of ugly furniture, uncomfortable clothing,…
Eco-Tip for 4-7-19 Earth Day 2019: Events, Opportunities, and Inspiration By David Goldstein, Ventura County IWMD, PWA An Earth Day e-card already making the electronic rounds this year sarcastically says, “I admire your determination to save the planet despite your inability to save a houseplant.” Another says, “I’m hoping Earth Day will make Polar bears…
Eco-Tip for 4-14-19 Batteries not Included in Your Garbage Can or Recycling Cart By David Goldstein, Ventura County Public Works Agency, IWMD Lithium-based batteries are turning an important environmental issue into an urgent one. Proper management of discarded batteries has always been important to conserve resources and avoid toxic contamination, but now improper disposal of…
For Eco-Tip 3/31/19 Pet License Amnesty, Options, and Reasons By David Goldstein, Ventura County Public Works Agency Animal licensing can help reunite you with a lost pet, and although licensing is not as effective as having a microchip implanted under your pet’s skin, licensing has additional advantages. Importantly, a license proves your pet is vaccinated…
Eco-Tip 3/24/19 Certifications Give Clear Signals Amid “Green Noise” By David Goldstein, Ventura County PWA/IWMD A greeting card I recently received had a statement printed on the back, “Printed on paper made from responsibly managed forests.” People overwhelmed by the “green noise” of environmental claims may not pay attention to details, but this claim was…
Eco-Tip for 3-17-19 Shelters Reuse Common Items to Help People and Animals By David Goldstein, Ventura County PWA, IWMD Some discards are difficult to recycle but wonderful to reuse. Items made from multiple material types, categories of commodities with poor markets, and items with the potential to tangle sorting lines are better repurposed than recycled.…
Eco-Tip for 3-10-19 Bottle and Can Buyback Recycling Options By David Goldstein, VCPWA, IWMD Tobie Mitchell is a recycling expert, working for the Ventura County Integrated Waste Management Division, but even she had trouble recently trying to redeem the deposits her family paid for bottles and cans. “There are so few buy-back centers that even…
Eco-Tip for 3-3-19 Mail-in Recycling Program Turns Cigarettes into Bench By David Goldstein, VCPWA, IWMD An on-line “unveiling” last month of a Ventura beach bench made from recycled cigarette butts quickly generated over 153 social media shares and dozens of comments on the Ventura Parks and Recreation Division Facebook page, as web surfers took the…