 | 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. Discount on up to two units per customer or residential address.
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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What is an illicit discharge?
It's any activity or event that results in a release, flow, spill, escape or disposal of any material OTHER THAN RAINWATER (including liquids and solids) into the storm drain system.
REMEBER: Always keep trash dumpster lids CLOSED and place covers on all waste containers. Never put liquid waste into a dumpster. Store outdoor waste receptacles under cover to reduce exposure to rain that could wash pollutants into the storm drain system.
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Ventura's Natural Beauty
Let's keep it that way!
October 2012
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IT'S GREEN SCHOOLS AWARD TIME!By Christine Wied
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Monday, October 8 is the deadline for public and private schools  within the City of Ventura to apply for the sixth annual Green School Award. This award, sponsored by the City of Ventura's Environmental Sustainability Division in partnership with Agromin Premium Soil Products, recognizes a school that is demonstrating exemplary efforts to help the environment. "In visiting schools with our Environmental Education programs, we have noticed a number of schools doing many things to reduce waste, increase recycling, composting in their gardens and having a smaller footprint on our earth," said Christine Wied, Environmental Specialist for the City of Ventura. "We want to reward and celebrate their efforts and encourage other schools to follow their example, "she added. READ MORE and DOWNLOAD the Award application, CLICK HERE.  Listen to the Green School Award podcast, CLICK HERE. |
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GREEN PROFILE: THE JOLLY OYSTER
By Maryann Ridini Spencer
 Lto R: Mark Wallin and Mark Reynolds
The Jolly Oyster: Sustainable Shell Fish Farming From the Farm to Your Table
Eating fish is a great source of protein. Research has shown that generous helping of those great omega-3 polyunsaturated fats do wonders for reducing cholesterol and fighting off heart disease. However, in recent years, there's been a lot of talk about the environmental impact and health of eating farmed fish.
"When you eat our sustainable fresh farmed, organic Kumamoto and Pacific oysters and Manila clams," said Mark Reynolds, the owner of the Ventura-based Jolly Oyster, "you're eating a healthy source of protein that doesn't disturb the natural marine habitat or create an unhealthy product." READ MORE.
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ENVIROMENTAL EXCELLENCE AWARDS: Nominate Your Business  Every year, the City of Ventura Environmental Sustainability Division works with the Ventura Chamber of Commerce to identify a business that is integrating environmental concerns into their business practices and philosophy. Nominate your business by the deadline: November, 15, 2012. "It's our way of putting the spotlight on a local business that is doing something extremely positive for the health of our environment and our community," said Ray Olson, Manager, City of Ventura's Environmental Sustainability Division. "It's our desire that this award will create a conversation so that other businesses will follow a green path." 2012 Environmental Excellence Award Nomination  Forms are now available. All City of Ventura businesses are encouraged to participate in either nominating another business, or themselves. For any questions, call Courtney Lindberg at 805-667-6502 or email her at: clindberg@cityofventura.net. For more information, and to nominate your business get the PDF form, CLICK HERE. Visit the City of Ventura Environmental Sustainability Division website for for more information on previous Environmental Excellence Award winners. For information on becoming a Certified Green Business, Contact: Courtney Lindberg, (805) 667-6502 or email, clindberg@cityofventura.net.
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LIVIN' GREEN FOR HALLOWEEN: Environmental Sustainability's GREEN challenge
By Maryann Ridini Spencer
Halloween costumes, can cost at a minimum, $25 dollars on up per costume. If you've got several children or family members to outfit, the costume bills (along with candy and other fun fare) can really start to mount. So why not get creative with reusable, eco-friendly Halloween costumes? How do you start? Look in your closet. What do you have that might make a great costume? Maybe you have all the items you need or perhaps you may have to buy one piece rather than an entire costume. Check with friends and relatives to see what you can mix and match. Thrift shops, are also a great place to find the little nuances to add to your costume. Below are some great ideas for reusable Halloween costumes to try, READ MORE, CLICK HERE!
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THIS MONTH ON THE Sustainable Ventura TV SERIES
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LtoR: Josh Ball and Steve Dodge, Co-Founders of Endless Sustainability, standing beside of one of their aquaponic gardens
This month's Sustainable Ventura TV show talks with three local businesses, Crowne Plaza Ventura and Bell Arts Factory, about their sustainable and eco-friendly practices. The show also takes a tour of an aquaponic garden with the Founders of Endless Sustainability. Also watch for the "Sunflower People" music video featuring valuable reduce, reuse and recycling messages and the music of Holly Overin and Charell Charley. Environmental Sustainability's Ray Olson also appears.   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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FREE COMPOST WORKSHOP
Saturday, October 27, 2012, 10am-Noon
at Green Thumb Nursery in Ventura
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Turn over an old leaf, compost!
It's fall and a great time to start composting to have a wonderful soil amendment for plantings next spring. With the falling leaves more abundant this time of year, they provide the "browns" or carbon to go along with the "greens" or nitrogen of grass clippings and food scraps that help make a healthy balance for the composting process.
Composting is nature's way of recycling organic matter back into nutrients for our soil. Using compost in the yard and garden reduces the need for commercial fertilizers, pesticides and water. If you have questions about your composting efforts or would like to start a home compost bin, come to the FREE Composting Workshop on Saturday, October 27, 2012 at Green Thumb Nursery, 1899 S. Victoria Avenue in Ventura from 10:00 a.m. to noon. Everything you ever wanted to know about composting and vermiculture, composting with worms will be discussed. Fall planting and other related topics will also be covered. One free compost bin along with other prizes will be given away at the event. Must be present to win!
For further information contact the City at (805) 652-4584 or www.cityofventura.net/pw/es/resrecycling. Receive a discount coupon for a compost or worm bin through Green Thumb Nursery at the event or through the city telephone number and website referenced above.
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NEWS Highlights from September 2012
| September 15 - Coastal Cleanup Day
Coastal Clean Up Day saw thousands of people, young and old alike, picking up debris and recyclables from our beaches, lakes and waterways.
In Ventura County alone, over 2900 volunteers collected 8,604 lbs of trash and 1,949 lbs of recyclables during the three hour event!!!
For more information and results from this year, CLICK HERE!
September 13 - "Treasure of San Buenaventura" wins a Cappie Award
Caps-TV presented Ray Olson, Manager of the City's  Environmental Sustainability Division (pictured right) with a "Cappie" in the "Education and Government" category for the "Treasure of San Buenaventura" project Ray wrote and produced. The project touches upon important environmental issues and programs encouraging the citizens of Ventura back in old west of the 1880's to be more sustainable in their daily practices in order to protect future generations.
Listen to the Podcast with Ray Olson, CLICK HERE.
 | | Filming of "Treasure" at Olivas Adobe |
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"Treasure of San Buenaventura" is a Finalist in the WAVE AWARDS (Community, Lifestyle Category)
More than 350 entries were received for the WAVE AWARDS (Western Access Video Excellence). The awards ceremony will be held on Saturday, October 20 from 6:00-8:00pm in Sacramento, Ca, as the the concluding event to the Alliance for Community Western Region Conference. For tickets to attend this year's event honoring community television's "Best" in 2012, visit: AMCWest.org.
September 15 - Household Hazardous Waste Event  | | |
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Environmental Sustainability
is
Everyone's Responsibility!
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had booths at the event! 
