 | GET A GREAT DEAL ON RAIN BARRELS - SUPPLIES LIMITED!
by Christine Wied
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A rain barrel discount program for City of Ventura residents is now available through Environmental Sustainability and Ventura Water. Working in cooperation with Smith Pipe and Supply at 3060 Sherwin Avenue in Ventura, the Channel/Bushman 60-gallon rain barrel with a retail value of $85.oo will be available for $42.oo plus tax at their store with a Rain Barrel Discount Voucher.
READ MORE.
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Green Business Certification
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Become a State Certified Green Business The Green Business Certification Program is currently available to office/retail and restaurant businesses within the City of Ventura, but other sectors will be added as the program gains traction. Although the certification requirements differ for each sector, the main environmental categories are waste, energy, water, pollution prevention, wastewater, and general staff education.Contact: Courtney Lindberg, 805-667-6502 or email: clindberg@cityofventura.net to set up your FREE consultation.
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Commercial Business Recycling It's THE LAW as of July 1, 2012
What every Ventura Business Needs to know!
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Conserving our natural resources is essential for the health and wellbeing of our community and our planet.
In keeping with this sentiment, beginning July 1, 2012, the State of California has made business recycling mandatory. According to the newly enacted legislation (AB341), businesses that generate 4 cubic yards or more of trash per week (the equivalent of a large commercial dumpster) and all multifamily complexes with five or more units (regardless of the amount of trash they generate), will be required to recycle.
Compliance is determined by solid waste service capacity. Businesses that share trash service accumulating the 4 cubic yards or more of trash per week must comply even if individually, the businesses do not generate that amount of trash. READ MORE.
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What Can YOU Do To Help Preserve Ventura's Environment?
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A Zero Waste Program
to reduce unwanted
mail & phone books
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Did you know that 11 billion pounds of mail was delivered in the US in 2008? That equals 900 pieces (100 lbs) for every household. Out of that amount, only 40% is recycled.
Over 660,000 tons of phone books enter the waste stream annually. Only 20% get recycled. Nearly 70% of adults in the U.S. "rarely or never" use the phone book.
If you are tired of getting tons of junk mail in your mailbox and would like to save trees, reduce the waste that goes into our landfills and care about reducing greenhouse gas emissions, there is a way you can make a difference.
Join along with the City of Ventura's Environmental Sustainability Division and sign up with Catalog Choice to opt-out of getting junk mail deliveries to your home and business.
Catalog Choice is the largest independent mail preference registry in the United States. When you sign up, it's FREE and you get to opt-out of receiving all forms of advertising mail and unwanted phone book deliveries. The great thing about Catalog Choice is that with a database of more than 5,500 titles (and increasing daily) that you choose what you want to opt-out of receiving.
Under the Fair Information Practice (FTC), your information will also be kept private and be protected.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN!
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Stormwater:
Best Management Practices
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Sweep paved surfaces, rather than hosing down or using blowers. Why? hosing down surfaces just transports waste untreated into our storm drain system and back into our waterways. Blowing waste around, just blows waste around. However, sweeping paved surfaces and then depositing the debris in the proper waste bin solves the issue!
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Ventura's Natural Beauty
Let's keep it that way!
September 2012
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28th Annual Coastal Clean up Day, September 15, 2012, 9:00am-NoonBy Christine Wied
|  Saturday, September 15 will be the 28th Annual California Coastal Cleanup Day from 9:00 a.m. to noon at a number of sites throughout the State. On Coastal Cleanup Day thousands of Californians as well as people in other parts of the world, take time out from their busy schedules to clean up beaches and inland waterways to offer some relief and protection for marine and human life. Last year, 3,165 people in Ventura County alone picked up 12,810 pounds of trash, 1,880 pounds of recyclables in three hours covering 36.3 miles. Of the numerous items picked up, the top four items included 16,991 cigarette butts, 6,674 food wrappers and containers, 4,286 caps and lids along with 2,845 plastic bags. Fishing line, beverage containers, straws and a wide variety of items were also removed. READ MORE.  If you wish to participate in Coastal Cleanup Day, CLICK HERE and sign up for the sites in the City of Ventura. For other cleanup sites in Ventura County, visit: vccoastcleanup.org. |
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The Boys and Girls Club Thrift Store in Downtown Ventura Makes a GREEN Fashion Statement
by Maryann Ridini Spencer
 | | Boys & Girls Club Thrift Store in Downtown Ventura |
For over 100 years nationwide, The Boys & Girls Club's mission has been to provide a positive environment and quality programs for all youth, especially those in need, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. "It's an honorable mission and the club provides such a valuable service," says JD, Founder and Operator of The Boys & Girls Club Thrift Store located at 222 Ventura Avenue. "At the thrift store, our focus is to promote the reuse and recycling of clothing, household items, electronics, office supplies and many other valuable items that can be sold, reused and repurposed. This recycling not only helps others, it directly impacts the waste going to our landfills." READ MORE.
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"Sustainable Ventura" talks with the Boys & Girls Club Thrift Store about the 3 R's
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GOT JUNK MAIL? Now You Can Decide What Gets In Your Mailbox
with Catalog Choice
by Maryann Ridini Spencer
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GOT JUNK MAIL?
Are you tired of opening your mailbox to find a plethora of advertising mail?
When you get your phone books, do you throw them into the recycle bin preferring to search for information online?
If you answered YES, you're not alone.
According to a Harris Interactive survey, in 2008, a 100 billion pieces (or 11 billion pounds) of advertising mail was delivered in the US. That translates into 900 pieces (or 100 pounds) for every household. Out of this total, only 40% of advertising mail gets recycled. READ MORE.
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LIVIN' GREEN: Environmental Sustainability's GREEN challenge
Every person can make a difference in the sustainable  health and longevity of our environment. To this end, the City's Environmental Sustainability Division issues a monthly, ongoing "green" challenge. For this month, listed below are just four ways YOU can help save our natural resources. Here are some great tips.
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THIS MONTH ON THE Sustainable Ventura TV SERIES
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This month's Sustainable Ventura TV show focuses on the 3 R's,  Reduce*Reuse*Recycle. Featured interviews include: JD, Founder and Operator of the Boys and Girls Club Thrift Store talking about their 3 R commitment, Educator Paul Vaksvik talks about and demonstrates what makes a great compost bin, and the show looks in on the Ventura Chamber of Commerce's Green Task Force "Green Drinks" event at EcoLogic Life in downtown Ventura.   Sustainable Ventura airs on Caps-TV VTV's Channel 15, Thursdays at 8:30pm. It rebroadcasts Monday-Thursday and Saturdays at 9:00am, Sundays at 8:30pm and every other Wednesday at 8:30pm. LIKE US on Facebook, CLICK HERE!WATCH & SUBSCRIBE TO US ON YouTube, CLICK on the icon below! |
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NEWS Highlights from August
| August 1 - Green Drinks hosted by Ventura Chamber of Commerce's Green Task Force
On Wednesday, August 1, The Ventura Chamber of Commerce's Green Task Force (GTF) organized this year's first Ventura-based Green Drinks event at
EcoLogic Life, downtown's designer showroom for sustainable home decoration products. The event was a smashing success with over 50 attendees. Tutti's on Main provided the delicious food. Alquimia Tequila provided the green drinks, made from organic agave, no food coloring included.
August 18 - Household Hazardous Waste Event
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Every third Saturday of the month (except in December), the City hosts Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Events at Gold Coast Recycling. To make an appointment, call 805-652- 4525. Also visit:
GREEN THUMB POP DISPLAYS  If you happen to be wandering down the isles at Green Thumb Nursery at 1899 Victoria
Avenue, take notice of the "Less Toxic Pest Management" tags (for ants, snails and weeds), that direct consumers to more eco-friendly choices for their home, lawn and garden maintenance.
Listen to Sustainable Ventura
podcasts on iTunes.
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Environmental Sustainability
is
Everyone's Responsibility!
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