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Sustainable Santa Monica Newsletter
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August 2012
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| Greetings! | |
Thank you for receiving this Newsletter-- Keeping you informed of everything Sustainable in Santa Monica, from community events, news, and resources, to business and educational opportunities! Sponsored by Santa Monica's Office of Sustainability and the Environment.
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SAVE THE DATES! September is Sustainability Month in Santa Monica!
From September 15-30, the Office of Sustainability and the Environment will be presenting events that will engage, educate and inspire on all things sustainable throughout the city. For more information and updates, check out
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SAVE THE DATE!
Green Prize for Sustainable Literature Awards Ceremony & Panel Discussion
"Words of Wisdom: Reading to Action"
Saturday, September 22, 11:00 am, MLK Jr. Auditorium, Main Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd. MAP
Join us in celebrating the 2012 Green Prize Awards with a fascinating discussion on how reading can lead to action, transforming knowledge into power. A panel of leaders in the fields of education, health, and the environment will discuss important areas in the green movement and ways that everyday heroes are addressing these challenges. The event will be followed by a zero-waste reception featuring vegetarian snacks and light refreshments.
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 Southern California Sustainability ForumPresented By:
August 15-16, 2012
Renaissance Long Beach Hotel
Tickets are still available! Secure your space today.
Visit the Forum webpage to learn about exciting updates and more information:
~Explore the Tools to Fund, Strategize, and Build a More Sustainable SoCal~
Southern California communities are leaders in sustainability. But with tightening budgets and increasing requirements to achieve multiple objectives-such as GHG reductions, improved transportation, water resources, and adapting climate change-cities and governments are in a tight spot. The annual Southern California Sustainability Forum is your opportunity to access the broad expertise in our region, coordinate opportunities for funding, and learn from peers about how to respond to the many interacting demands of sustainability.
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Find Out More About How the New Recycling Law, AB 341, Affects Your Business
A new state law, Assembly Bill 341, requires all major businesses to recycle as of July 1, 2012.
Who Must Recycle?
AB341 requires the following businesses to arrange for recycling services:
* Any business (including schools and government facilities) that generates 4 cubic yards or more of waste per week;
* Multifamily buildings with five or more units.
You can get help setting up or improving your recycling program at no charge by simply calling the Resource Recovery and Recycling Division at 310.458.2223 or visit them online
The City of Santa Monica is offering FREE consulting services and equipment to businesses, apartments and condominium complexes to help them meet the requirements of this new regulation, AB 341. Zero Waste Associates will help you go beyond complying with AB341 to work towards Zero Waste first by focusing on eliminating wasting and implementing reuse practices, then recycling and composting as much of what's left as possible.
For more information about California's business recycling requirements visit the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) website.
We look forward to helping you comply with this new regulation and making Santa Monica an even better place to live. Thanks in advance for your participation.
Para obtener información en español, llama al (310) 458-2223.
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Santa Monica is on the Road to Zero Waste!!
The City of Santa Monica has taken a big step towards achieving Zero Waste. Residents may now put all food waste into the green containers used to collect yard trimmings. The organic material will be processed into valuable compost, greatly reducing the amount of solid waste destined for landfill.
Click here to learn more!
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Household Hazardous Waste Program Updates
Santa Monica's Household Hazardous Waste Home Collection Program is now a permanent service, one that promises safe, convenient, and cost effective service for the community. Due to feedback from residents, the Household Hazardous Waste Center will remain open for drop-off service on the FIRST SATURDAY (9 AM - 2 PM) of each month through June 2013:
Household Hazardous Waste Center Open for Drop-off Services August 4th, 9am-2pm
Future Dates: Sept 1, Oct 6, Nov 3, Dec 1
The Home Collection service is provided in a few easy steps:
1. Reserve collection service: call (800) 449-7587, Mon-Fri, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
or e-mail atyourdoor@wm.com;
2. Receive collection kit in the mail (includes detailed instructions with collection day reminder);
3. Prepare collection kit at your doorstep or at a predetermined location on collection day;
4. Leave prepared materials and we'll do the rest, you don't even have to be home at the time of collection.
**Please allow for approximately two weeks from the point the service is initiated until your materials are conveniently collected from your home.
For additional information please visit sustainablesm.org/hhw or call (310) 458-2213. This service is provided by the Office of Sustainability and the Environment and Waste Management.
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Green Garden Academy
Lawn Be Gone: Part II
Saturday, August 18
10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Multipurpose Room, Santa Monica Main Library
601 Santa Monica Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90401 MAP
Building on the "Lawn Be Gone, Part I" class, this class will continue the exploration of lawn alternatives, then go on a tour of local gardens that have successful conversions to lawn alternatives, where attendees will meet the homeowners and their garden designers.
Important note: Meet at 10:30am in the Multipurpose Room of the Main Library for a short class. Then go offsite for the field trip. Provide your own transportation, or better yet, carpool!
Registration is NOT required.
Santa Monica Public Library and the Office of Sustainability and the Environment present Green Garden Academy, a monthly workshop on sustainable gardening and landscaping. Class is free and open to all!
Green Garden Academy meets monthly at the Library; there is a different topic each month. For more information, visit www.sustainablesm.org/landscape, or call 310-458-8972.
Visit the Website for more information and a complete class schedule!
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Tweens T-Shirt Crafts
Ocean Park Branch - 2601 Main St. MAPThursday, August 9, 2:30-3:30pm
Make scarves, belts and accessories out of old t-shirts. Grades 4 to 7. Contact Wendy Chen for more info or call (310) 458-8683.
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Textiles Recycling & Reuse Workshop
Saturday, August 18, 9am- 2pm
City Yards, 2500 Michigan Ave., Santa Monica MAPThe City of Santa Monica is planning their next textile collection event! Not only will residents have the opportunity to recycle all their old rags, unusable clothing, towels, bedding and so much more; they can also learn how to construct no-sew t-shirt bags perfect for shopping at the Farmer's Market.
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Santa Monica Farmers Market-- 2012 QUARTERLY LIBRARY PANEL SERIES
"Cuisine and Culture"
What cooking and food choices throughout history reveal about who we really are.
Linda Civitello, author of the Gourmand-award winning book Cuisine and Culture: a History of Food and People (2011), which is used to teach food history in culinary schools throughout the United States and Canada, will moderate a discussion about the history of food in civilization based on her award-winning book.
Panelists
James Birch-Owner, Flora Bella Farm
Richard Foss-Author of Rum: A Global History (2012)
Charles Perry-Author of A Baghdad Cookery Book (2005)
Clifford A. Wright-Winner of the James Beard Cookbook of the Year and Beard Award for the Best Writing on Food for A Mediterranean Feast (2000)
When: Thursday, August 23, 2012, 7:00 - 9:00 pm
Doors open for panelists' book sales 6:30 to 7:00 pm
Where: Santa Monica Public Library, 601 Santa Monica Blvd. MLK Auditorium MAPCost: Free and open to the public!
Stay after for market treats prepared by Linda Civitello and Richard Foss
For more information, Contact Jodi Low or call 310.458.8712 x 5.
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Composting Workshop
Saturday, August 25, 11am - 12:30pm
Master Gardener Emi Carvell will show us how to turn garden waste and kitchen scraps in to soil rich with nutrients. Worm bins too!
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The City of Santa Monica has joined the Meatless Monday campaign, a non-profit initiative of The Monday Campaigns. In honor of the campaign we offer you our
so you can start each week with healthy, environmentally friendly meat-free alternatives. Our goal is to help you reduce your meat consumption by 15% in order to improve your personal health and the health of the planet. More at meatlessmonday.org. |
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 Green Rebates
$300 rebates available for new high-efficiency clothes washers that use half the water as older models while keeping clothes clean. Apply today while funds are available - www.sustainablesm.org/rebate.
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Beat the pump, cycle the town, and enjoy Santa Monica's sights and sounds with Cause for Creativity: Tour da Arts. The Santa Monica Museum of Art's fourth annual event takes place Sunday, August 19. Tour da Arts underscores the creative side of bike culture and takes you on a ride filled with music, dance, and art.
Bike tour and festivities are FREE. Registration is required.
Art Reflector Workshop Admission: $5 non-members; FREE for SMMoA members
Activities are open to all ages. Space is limited.
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SAVE THE DATE!! 7th Annual AltCar Expo & Conference
Friday, September 28th & Saturday, September 29th 10am - 5pm Santa Monica Civic Auditorium MAP FREE ADMISSION AltCar Exhibit Hall provides one of the most extensive presentations of Alternative technology vehicles and transportation, infrastructure, renewable energies, energy efficiency and urban planning found worldwide.
For more information, please visit the website at altcarexpo.com.
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SAVE THE DATES!
Solar Water Heating Basics for Single-family Residences
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Santa Monica Public Library, Multi-purpose Room
601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90401 MAP
Solar Water Heating Basics for Multi-family Apartment and Condo BuildingsWednesday, September 26, 2012 10:30 a.m. - Noon Santa Monica Public Library, Multi-purpose Room 601 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90401 MAP
The SWH Basics for Single-family Residences Workshop will inform homeowners about solar water heating technology and systems, the benefits of heating your water with the warmth of the sun, and the availability of rebates offered through the California Solar Initiative - Thermal Program. A question and answer session will follow the presentation. Light refreshments will be served. The workshop is free and open to the public. Reservations are requested at socalgas.com/solar.
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SAVE THE DATES! Follow that Chef
The highly popular "Follow That Chef" series will have some new followers this September. In celebration of Sustainability Month, the Meatless Monday and Cool Foods campaigns will be joining the Office of Sustainability and the Environment, Farmers Market and the Gourmandise Cooking School to provide four vegetarian market shopping tours & cooking classes as part of their free "Follow that Chef" cooking series. To learn more and to register for these free classes go to www.thegourmandiseschool.com/. 1. Wednesday, September 5th Vegetarian Meal
2. Saturday, September 15th Children's Vegetarian Lunches
3. Wednesday, September 19th Vegetarian Indian Feast
4. Saturday, September 29th Family Vegetarian Cooking
All classes run from 9-11:30am Featured Chefs will be announced in August |
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Green Business Networking
GBN SUMMER BASH networking event, in collaboration with
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
6:00 - 9:00 PM PST
Smashbox Studios
8549 Higuera Street, Culver City, CA 90232 MAP Complimentary organic (mostly vegan) food, wine, juice, tea, ice "cream", snacks, cookies and more will be provided. Did you know... Monthly GBN events are also recycling collection points? Bring your old batteries, cell phones, clean, dry and empty plastic shopping bags, dry cleaning bags and newspaper wrappers, and we will properly dispose of them for you!
The tax-deductible door charge on the day of the event is $15, or only $10 when you contribute in advance using PayPal no later than 3pm on the day of the event.
For further event information please contact us at
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Seed Library of Los Angeles (SLOLA) Monthly Meeting
Saturday, August 18
The Learning Garden at Venice High School
This month, SLOLA hosts a summer salsa tasting showcasing produce from member gardens. Following the tasting, Jeffrey Smith (author of Seeds of Deception) and Tom Newmark (Board Member, Greenpeace USA, founder Sacred Seeds) will speak about GMOs and the global food supply. The library will be open for seed checkouts. SLOLA monthly meetings are open to the public, for more information, contact membership@slola.org. |
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ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES
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Featured Green Business for the Month of August: Healthy Spot 1110 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401 Tel: 310.458.2004 www.healthyspotla.comHealthy Spot is an all-in-one pet retailer providing preventative and proactive canine care, eco-friendly products, and a variety of services ranging from doggie-day care to pet grooming. Products used are organic, natural, raw or eco-friendly and made with responsible manufacturing practices. Healthy Spot opened their doors in 2008 with four employees -and four years later, with sustainability as a priority in their business model, they have forty employees on payroll and received a 2012 Santa Monica Sustainable Quality Award. Healthy Spot offers a range of products and services which are not often found in most pet supply establishments. They ONLY stock biodegradable doggie bags and bio-training pads. Pets visiting for daycare services are treated with a natural flea and tick spray called Vet's Best which contains clove and peppermint oils. Most of their Green Seal certified office supplies are purchased and delivered by Costco Business products . Notable green building features include solar tubes in restrooms that provide natural sunlight, and a tank-less water heater. Healthy Spot invested $1,400 in water conservation retrofits. Discarded pet hair is collected for spinning into yarn to create doggie sweaters! The Santa Monica Green Business Certification Program (SMGBC) is a voluntary program that encourages businesses to implement proactive actions that are good for their bottom line and the environment. The SMGBC is a collaboration between the City of Santa Monica, Sustainable Works, the Chamber of Commerce, the Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Santa Monica College Small Business Development Center, to recognize businesses that meet the City of the Santa Monica's resource efficiency standards in the areas of Waste Reduction, Energy and Water Efficiency, Pollution Prevention, Sustainable Procurement, and Transportation Management. For details of the required and optional measures businesses must achieve, visit www.smgbc.org. 
Check out and "LIKE" Santa Monica Community Gardens new Facebook page!
With the popularity of community gardens continually on the rise in Santa Monica, the waiting list
continues to grow and outpace available plots. With no new community garden site planned in the City in the near future, staff has been looking for other opportunities to get gardeners growing and one such opportunity is the Garden Sharing Registry. The concept is simple: gardeners looking for room to grow opt-in to the registry; property owners in need of help to make the most of their available land choose a gardener from the list. Together they establish the terms of their partnership from length of time, frequency of gardening, plants to grow, and cost sharing. As an innovative way to meet community demand, this program is a win-win for the City because it encourages social interaction between the community members, addresses recreational needs, and meets sustainability goals.
To date, nine partnerships have been formed. Interested gardeners and property owners can contact the Community Recreation Division at (310) 458-8573.
Energy Upgrade California
Solar Santa Monica is now an information hub for the Energy Upgrade California program. EUC is offering up to $8,000 for Santa Monica homeowners who make qualified energy efficiency upgrades through a Participating Contractor.
Want to know what a typical experience through the EUC program is like? Watch testimonial videos and read through example home assessments at our website!
Bike Center Santa Monica is now open!
The Bike Center has two locations. The primary, staffed location is at 2nd Street and Colorado Avenue, and the secondary location is at 4th Street and Broadway.
To promote the use of non-auto transportation, and bicycling in particular, the City built a Bike Center in its downtown core near the future terminus of the Exposition Light Rail Line. The facilities are located in two Agency-owned parking structures (Parking Structure 7 at 320 Broadway and Parking Structure 8 at 215 Colorado). The Center is intended to provide secure bike parking and a variety of mobility services, including retail, bike repair, bike rental, attended bike parking, public information on alternative transportation, and additional related services. The Center is operated by an independent contractor.
Check out all of the information on their website!
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Thank you for your commitment to a Sustainable Santa Monica!
Sincerely,
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Samantha Sommer
Sustainable Santa Monica
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