WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS

Celebrating America Recycles Day America Recycles Day, on November 15th, is a great day to remind ourselves of the importance of recycling and the role it plays in preventing water pollution. Household pollutants such as trash, plastics, and yard waste, if not disposed of or recycled properly, can flow from our property through water runoff and into our storm drain system. Pollutants that enter our storm drain system are not treated and can ultimately end up in our local waterways and ocean. One of the most effective ways to prevent pollutants from reaching our waterways is to not generate waste in the first place. By reusing, repurposing, donating, and recycling, not only will you help protect our waterways, but you’ll also be saving energy, conserving natural resources, and reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills. Get involved on America Recycles Day and throughout the year by following these recycling guidelines from the County of San Diego’s Re-Think Waste campaign.

• Practice recycling basics and stop contamination by learning how to Recycle Right. Items should be empty (with no food residue remaining), dry (with no liquid remaining), and loose (not bagged) when placing them in your recycling bins. Acceptable items for your blue curbside bin include paper, cardboard and cartons, plastic, glass, and metal. Make sure the lid on your bin stays closed so that litter doesn’t end up in our waterways. See the County’s Recycling Works…But Needs YOU newsletter to learn where your recyclables go and why it matters.
• Reduce food waste.
  • Proper meal planning can help reduce food waste by planning ahead, serving smartly, and using leftovers. Prepare the correct amount of food for your guests by using the Save The Food’s Guest-imator
  • Recycle organic waste. Go to the County webpage for great tips on how to recycle organic waste. Take it a step further by composting excess or unused food. Compost can help soil retain moisture, which reduces the need for frequent watering and minimizes polluted runoff. Compost can also replace fertilizers, which are another harmful source of water pollution.
• Rethink cardboard use.
  • Reduce the number of boxes you receive when making online purchases by consolidating orders/packages.
  • Reuse boxes for storage, shipping or moving, and offer excess boxes to your neighbors.
  • Repurpose boxes into new items like play equipment for children or pets and functional household items like drawers or closet organizers. 
  • Recycle any clean and dry boxes that you don’t have a use for. 
• Donate, swap or sell textiles and clothing. Swap or sell used or unwanted clothing in your community through online community groups or clothing swap parties. Upcycle your unwanted items into new garments, reusable bags, dog toys, and more. Clean and repair items by removing stains, mending holes or reattaching buttons. Donate or recycle any items that can’t be reused, repaired, or upcycled to the many donation centers, thrift stores, or nonprofit organizations in your local community. Visit Waste Free SD for donation locations.
• Pledge to recycle more and recycle right in your everyday lives. Join Keep America Beautiful in their America Recycles Day Pledge to actively choose to live a recycled lifestyle. Visit the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Reducing Waste: What Can You Do webpage for more tips on recycling at home, at work, at school, and in your community. And with the holiday party and travel season upon us, it’s also important to remember to minimize waste during holiday festivities and travel.

Thank you, County residents, for all you do to prevent stormwater pollution this Thanksgiving season and always! Taking on a zero-waste lifestyle is just one of the many actions you can take to protect our environment and preserve our water quality. Visit the County’s Watershed Protection Program to learn about other ways to prevent stormwater pollution.

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

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ONLINE SERVICES

Report Stormwater Pollution
Report observed pollution to the correct jurisdiction.

Citizen Access Portal
Research property information and permits. Apply for some permits online.

GIS Maps
Find property information including zoning designation with our web-based mapping tool. 

Watershed Protection Website
sandiegocounty.gov/stormwater

Learn more about available water quality rebates that you could apply to your property!

Project Clean Water efforts are focused on providing a centralized point of access to water quality information and resources for San Diego County Watersheds. Click HERE to visit Project Clean Water’s website.