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In This Issue
Earth Day Beach Cleanup Saturday, April 20, 9am-11:00am
Green Business Profile: The Four Points by Sheraton Ventura Harbor Resort
Launch of the second annual "Water: Take 1 Online Short Film Contest
Livin' Green: 10 Everyday Green Tips
This month on the "Sustainable Ventura" TV Series
March News Highlights
QUICK LINKS




April 2013

 

April 13

 

Friends of Cornucopia Garden 

 

BIG BAD VOODOO DADDY Benefit Concert 

 

April 20

 Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event  

 

Earth Day Beach Cleanup 

 

April 27 

Westside Community Cleanup & Recycling Event 

 

GET A GREAT DEAL ON RAIN BARRELS - SUPPLIES LIMITED!
by Christine Wied

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. 
  
Green Business Certification
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.

SET UP YOUR FREE CONSULTATION,
Contact: Courtney Lindberg,
805-667-6502 or email: [email protected]  

 

Commercial Business Recycling

It's THE LAW 

What every Ventura Business Needs to know!
Conserving our natural resources is essential for the health and well-being 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.  

 

 

What Can YOU Do To Help Preserve Ventura's Environment?

 
A Zero Waste Program
to reduce unwanted
mail & phone books
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!
YES! You can Recycle Cartons in Ventura

 

Juice, milk, soup, wine
and other carton packaging
made from high-quality paper is now acceptable in residential (in the blue bin) and commercial establishments (in the white commercial bin) in the City of Ventura.

 

To recycle, all you need to do is simply rinse, then place empty cartons in your recycling bin with your plastic, metal and glass containers. READ MORE. 


Featured Article
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Stormwater:
Best Management Practices
 
Storm Drains & Discharge Points

Dirt, oil, grease and litter are washed down the storm drain with each rainfall event creating polluted runoff. Polluted runoff from your facility can reach water bodies and other wildlife habitats and harm fish, birds and human life.

Implement Best Management Practices
  • Prevent spills from entering storm drains and discharge points.
  • Eliminate illegal connections to the storm drain.
  • Routinely inspect and clean out all storm drains, discharge points & catch basins.
  • Control litter by sweeping and picking up litter regularly.
  • Clean mats in a sink or use a mat cleaning service.
  • Collect all wastewater and discharge to the sanitary sewer.
  • Use "dry" cleaning methods (sweep rather than hose down) to clean shop floors, materials processing and storage areas, access roads and parking lots.
  • Use secondary containment measures for waste storage areas.
  • Practice good housekeeping to minimize liability, reduce costs and make detection of spills and potential problems easier to identify.
  • Clean up spills immediately to minimize safety hazards and prevent discharge to the storm drain system.
  • Train all employees. Your success depends on a well-trained staff.

For more information on preventing stormwater pollution, visit:  vcstormwater.org 

 


Ventura's Natural Beauty
Let's keep it that way!

April 2013 
Coastal "Earth Day" Beach Cleanup
Saturday, April 20, 9am-11:00am 

Earth Day Beach Cleanup, Saturday, April 20 from 9:00am to 11:00am takes place this year at Surfer's Knoll, 1560 Spinnaker Drive (See Map below). Due to the fact that the event is so popular, volunteers wishing to assist are being asked to pre-register at CLICK HERE.

 

"Each year, volunteers help us cleanup thousands of pounds of litter and trash at one of Ventura's busiest local beaches," said Rosie Ornelas with the City's Volunteer Ventura! Program.   "The cleanup is to young and old alike. It's a great way for families, neighbors, students and service groups to work together while having fun and cleaning up our beautiful beaches."  READ MORE. 

GREEN BUSINESS PROFILE:  The Four Points
by Sheraton Ventura Harbor Resort
by Maryann Ridini Spencer



Located in the Ventura Harbor sits The Four Points by Sheraton Ventura Harbor Resort surrounded by stunning ocean and hillside views.  In addition to being a popular travel destination, the resort is also getting recognition for their sustainable practices.

 

"We started our eco-friendly programs approximately four years ago," said Victor Dollar, General Manager, Four Points by Sheraton Ventura Harbor Resort.  "Our goal, and the goal of all Starwood Hotels which include Four Points, Sheraton and W hotels, is to cut our carbon footprint by 30% by 2020."

 

"It's important for a business to be green," continued Dollar.  "Sometimes there are upfront costs initially, but if a business gets past that, it can save money over the long run.  Most importantly, we all need to be stewards of our environment.  It's the only one we've got."  


The Second Annual Water: Take 1 Online Short Film Contest's Launch Party  
By Maryann Ridini Spencer
 
   
On "World Water Day," Tuesday, March 19, 2013, hundreds gathered at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach Hotel's magnificent "Top of the Harbor" ballroom located in downtown Ventura, to embrace and celebrate WATER and the launch of the second annual Water: Take 1 Online Short Film Contest.

 

 

In order to elevate the value of water and the importance of conserving water, Ventura Water has partnered with Patagonia, Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach Hotel, iThentic, and other sponsors, kicking off the contest with cocktails and a special film presentation hosted by Patagonia, one of the contest's key sponsors.

 

"The contest is a creative way to bring attention to the serious issues facing our water resources and to highlight how we can all be a part of the solution if we work together," said Shana Epstein, General Manager for Ventura Water.

 

"Water is such a vital resource, not only in our community, but around the world," said City of Ventura Mayor Mike Tracy. "The effort that Ventura Water is taking to spread the word about our valuable and vital water resources and what we can do as a community, is extremely important." READ MORE and WATCH the slideshow.  


 
LIVIN' GREEN:  9 Easy Everyday Tips

 

Every person can make a difference in the health and sustainability of our community. 
If everyone does their part, just a little everyday,  imagine what an impact this would have on a global scale!  Here are 10 simple tips that can be easily incorporated into your everyday life.  Be a green champion and help keep our environment safe, healthy and thriving  by livin' green today and everyday!
READ MORE. 

GREEN Savers: Reduce Your Food Waste. Feed People, Not Landfills.
Food is the single largest type of waste going to landfills and incinerators. Americans disposed of approximately 33 million tons of food waste in 2010. When excess food, leftover food, and food scraps are disposed of in a landfill, they decompose and become a significant source of methane - a potent greenhouse gas. Much of the food that is discarded in landfills is actually safe, wholesome food that could have been used to feed people. So when you are thinking about making your family dinner, think about how you can reduce your food waste to save money, help communities, and protect the environment. 

 

THIS MONTH ON Sustainable Ventura



This month's Sustainable Ventura TV show visits with two local Ventura businesses - The Four Points by Sheraton Ventura Harbor Resort and Naturally Wild Artisan Soap & Bath to find out about their green and sustainable initiatives.  The show also attends the launch party of the second annual "Water: Take 1 Online Short Film Contest" at the Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach Hotel and Environmental Specialist Jill Sarick talks about carton recycling now available in the City of Ventura.
 
Sustainable Ventura TV Series - April 2013 Show
Sustainable Ventura TV Series
 April 2013 Show

 WATCH
Sustainable Ventura weekly on Caps-TV!

                     
Sustainable Ventura, hosted by Maryann Ridini Spencer and Ray Olson,  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.

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WATCH & SUBSCRIBE TO US ON YouTube, CLICK on the icon below!

"
NEWS Highlights from March 2013

March 15-17:  Home and Garden Show

The City of Ventura Environmental Sustainability Division had a booth at the Home & Garden Show located on the Ventura Fairgrounds.  To view more photos, CLICK HERE.




WATCH Sustainable Ventura.TV Video News Online at VenturaCountyStar.com! 
 

Video News Stories playing in April:

Sustainable Ventura.TV Video News is featured in the VenturaCountyStar.com
on the News Pages. 

News Videos cover environmental and sustainable practices, programs, events, issues and happenings taking place in the City of Ventura.  
  
LISTEN and SUBSCRIBE to Sustainable Ventura Podcasts on iTunes. CLICK HERE 
 
Environmental Sustainability  
is  
Everyone's Responsibility!
 
Save!
Green Thumb Nursery in cooperation with the City of Ventura's Environmental Sustainability Division, provides Garden Gourmet Compost bins and Wriggley Wranch worm bins at amazing prices to Ventura residents.*
CLICK HERE.

*While supplies last