Will you be cooking this holiday season? Remember not to F.O.G. up the drain! F.O.G. (Fats, Oils and Grease) solidify when they cool, and can cause blockages and clogs in the sewer system. Sunnyvale’s Wastewater Collections Supervisor, Jerry Barajas, says, “Clogged pipes are no fun for anyone. They can cause sewer backups into your home, and it can be hard for City crews to get the pipes clean and flowing again.” Sewer backups and overflows cause health hazards and harm the environment.

Scrape cooled meat drippings, dairy products, sauces and small quantities of cooking oil into a clear plastic bag and place in your food scraps bin. If you have large quantities of cooled cooking oil, pour it into a non-breakable screw-top container and drop it off at the SMaRT Station®, 301 Carl Road. Single-family residents can also leave the cooking oil container next to your split carts on collection day. By following these guidelines, you can help protect our community's infrastructure and keep the environment clean this season and all year long.

From festive feasts to traditional dishes, food and the holidays go hand-in-hand. In the midst of celebration, it's still important to prevent food waste. Food bound for landfills produces the greenhouse gas methane, and that is NOT the spirit of the season. Try these tips to make sure you're feeding your family, not the garbage bin.

Having guests over? Use the Guest-imator tool by Save the Food to tell you exactly how much food to purchase. Input your number of guests, type of meal and desired leftover amount; the tool does the rest.

Encourage guests to bring reusable containers for leftovers. You (as the host) won't be left with too much food, and guests will have an encore of your amazing meal.

Get creative with your leftover food. Add cooked vegetables to casseroles, make sandwiches with turkey or brew a soup. The Zero Waste Chef has a helpful guide to make a "No Shop, No Waste" soup.

Lastly, make sure to FoodCycle any scraps or inedible pieces of food. Use a clear plastic bag to collect bones, shells, peelings or stems. When the bag is full, tie the top and place inside your food scraps cart or bin.

Are you ready for the rain? As the winter season begins, it’s a good time to start harvesting rainwater. By capturing rainwater during the wetter months, you can store water for future use in the drier summer and fall seasons. If you are storing water throughout the wet season, ensure your barrel has a tight-fitting, fine mesh screen to prevent mosquitos and debris from entering the rain barrel. 

You can collect rainwater directly from your roof with just a few basic tools - PVC pipes, clean gutters, filters, and storage barrels. You can use the water for non-potable purposes like watering your lawn, cleaning, or even flushing toilets. It’s a simple and effective way to lower your water bill while helping to conserve water. 

The City of Sunnyvale has partnered with the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) to offer a rebate of up to $50 per rain barrel. We encourage residents to take advantage of the rebate program and make conservation a California way of life! BAWSCA has helpful resources to start your rain barrel journey. Learn more about the program requirements and apply with the Rain Barrel Rebate Application. 

Electrifying your home reduces harmful emissions that come from gas while being more energy efficient and lowering your energy bills. Switch out gas-powered appliances to all-electric, such as swapping your gas stove with an induction cooktop. If you want to try one out first, check out Sunnyvale’s Cool Cooktops Program and borrow one for free from the Sunnyvale Public Library. Place a hold, pick it up from the library and try it out for three weeks - just like a library book.    

Minimize the cost of electrifying your home with Silicon Valley Clean Energy's (SVCE) home energy improvement rebates. SVCE offers $100 to $2,500 in rebates for homeowners to switch their various gas appliances to a new heat pump water heater, induction cooktop, heat pump air conditioning system and much more. Visit Rebates for additional financial assistance programs.

Renting and unable to replace major appliances? Learn about energy-efficient kitchen appliances available from the Switch is On. These appliances will reduce your energy use and lower the health risks from gas kitchen appliances.