Sustainability Interest Group - What is Sustainability?
Lucy, Burke@CalRecycle
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Grass Roots Circular Economy and Climate Action |
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Join the Sustainability
Interest Group
at CalEPA to discuss sustainable
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Or call in (audio only) +1 916-619-7284, 955660965# United States, Sacramento Phone Conference ID: 955 660 965# Find a local number | Reset PIN
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What is Sustainability? |
Tuesday, July 8, 2025
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We’re surrounded by “sustainable” products, services, and ideas but what is sustainability? We’ll watch a video or two about this fundamental question and then talk about what’s sustainable in your own realm of CalEPA. Once truly defined, then what will it take to truly reach sustainability? Let’s get existential but also let’s get real about it! Come join the conversation! |
Plastics / Packaging
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Reusable cups are better for sustainability, but a bit confusing |
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Plastics News, July 3, 2025
Reusable cups are better for sustainability, but a bit confusing
Reusable foodservice cups have increased in use and popularity as both individuals and venues try to reduce their reliance on single-use plastics. But there's a catch: The system only works if users actually return the cups.
"Americans feel like if they pay the deposit, they've bought the cup and have the right to take it home," Michael Martin, the CEO and founder of r.World Reusables, told The Washington Post for a recent story on the growth of reusable foodservice products. |
Waste and Recycling
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Trashing fireworks: How to throw them out safely if you use them |
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LA-IST, July 1, 2025
Fireworks are dangerous and mostly illegal across Southern California, but that won’t stop many from using them on the Fourth of July. So, how do you dispose of them safely?
Why it matters: Throwing fireworks away properly is important for public safety and helps protect the environment. Both illegal and “safe and sane” fireworks contain combustible chemicals that shouldn’t spread.
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Plastics / Packaging
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Pet sustainability coalition addresses plastic scrap in pet industry |
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Recycling Today, June 30, 2025
The U.S. pet food and treat market generated nearly $66 billion in sales in 2024, The Pet Sustainability Coalition says, but 97 percent of all dried pet food and treats on the market are packaged in this flexible film food packaging material, which is not curbside recyclable, generating millions of pounds of plastic scrap.
The organization says every pet in the world creates a plastic “paw print,” the size of which varies depending on the size and breed and the pet.
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Sacramento Area Landscape Rebate Programs |
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· State of California Turf Replacement Program · Sacramento County Water Agency Cash for Grass o $2000 rebate · Sacramento Suburban Water District Rebate includes:
· Sacramento City’s River-Friendly Landscape Rebates cover a maximum of: o $3,000 at $1.50 per square of grass converted on the front, side and back yard o $400 for materials used to convert to drip irrigation for front, side or back yard o $400 for adding EPA WaterSense Labeled Smart Irrigation Controller. · Carmichael Water District Turf Replacement Rebate · Citrus Heights Water District Rebate Program
· Folsom Cash for Grass Turf Replacement Rebate
· Placer County Lawn Replacement Rebate Program · Roseville Cash for Grass Utility Rebates · West Sacramento Smart Controller Rebate and Water Wise House Call · Woodland Mulch Rebate · Yolo County Water Conservation Rebate Program |
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See the edible low water use plant example found in the City of Sacramento’s River Friendly Landscape Plant List below.
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Strawberry Tree |
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Size: 29 ft. x 26 ft. Water Requirement: Low Type: Tree Edible Uses: Fruit - raw or cooked. Sweet but insipid. The Latin name 'unedo' means 'I eat one (only)' and suggests that the fruit is not very palatable, though another report says that the fruit is so delicious that a person only needs to eat one. It does have a somewhat gritty skin, but the fruit itself has the texture of a lush tropical fruit and has a delicate pleasant flavor. For those people with sensitive taste buds, this is a fruit that can be enjoyed when eaten in moderate quantities. The fruit contains about 20% sugars and can be used to make delicious and nourishing jams and preserves. It is ripe in November/December and is about 15mm in diameter. When fully ripe it falls from the tree and so it is advisable to grow the plant in short grass in order to cushion the fall of the fruit.
Physical Characteristics: It is not frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower from October to December, and the seeds ripen from October to December. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees. The plant is self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure. It can tolerate atmospheric pollution.
Known Hazards: None known. |
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July Gardening Tips |
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Deadhead your basil |
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If you want your basil plant to focus on growing more bushy leaves, nip it in the bud by pinching off the flowering part of the plant. It will also spread that wonderfully aromatic basil smell that distracts pests from your tomato plants among others. Add basil leaves to salads or pizza for a tasty flair or save them to make your own pesto! |
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Tomato Hornworms |
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Look for young tomato hornworms on the underside of tomato leaves and get rid of them. |
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Attract Ladybugs to Reduce Aphids |
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Attract ladybugs to help reduce aphids by planting dill, coriander, golden marguerite, and Queen Anne's lace. |
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Look for Snails |
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You’ll find snails hiding in your tender, young foliage in the evenings beneath plants and piles of lumber – get them before they start eating. |
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Prune tomato low branches and suckers |
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To avoid introducing disease, prune low branches that are close to touching the ground. Also, if your tomato sprouts a branch angling up at a 45-degree angle between the main stem and a horizontal branch (bottom right photo), cut off that sucker for indeterminant tomato plants and below the first flower node for determinant tomato plants. It will only draw unnecessary resources away from your tomatoes otherwise. |
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Place Mulch Around Trees |
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Add three inches of mulch under your fruit trees and shrubs to keep weeds down. Keep a six-inch ring of mulch away from the trunks to avoid rot. |
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Zucchini Harvesting |
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Harvest your zucchini before they get more than 8 to 10 inches long for maximum flavor. |
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Prune your Zucchinis |
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Prune Zucchini to increase air flow, increase production, and prevent powdery mildew and prevent blossom end rot. |
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Prune Grape Vines |
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Prune grape vines back to one to two leaves beyond the fruit to prevent disease and let the vine concentrate on producing more and bigger grapes than new growth vines seeking a foothold in all directions. You can also save those freshly cut grape vines (and apple tree branches) for any pet rabbits you may know. Your grape canopy should have about 60% exposure to the sun to prevent fungus and improve flavor. You can also thin your grapes by pruning off mildewed grape clusters and shoots with too many grape clusters. |
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Girdle Grapevines |
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You can increase your grape yield and size by girdling grapevines like this around the end of May at the start of or during bloom. Girdling means cutting through the “phloem” tissues below the bark to block the downward (basal) flow of sugars and other compounds produced in the leaves. |
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Plant Your Last Corn |
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Plant your last set of sweet corn when crape myrtles are in bloom. |
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Keep Planting through July |
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You can prolong your harvest by planting radishes, carrots, snap beans, and corn every two weeks through July.
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Check out the companion plants along with the harvest and plant guide below for plants to plant by seed or transplant. Consider companion planting caveats when compared to intercropping. |
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Plants to Avoid |
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Pole Beans, Thyme, Squash, Potatoes, Dill, Mint |
Cabbages, Tomatoes, Eggplant, Fennel |
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Sacramento Area Planting and Harvest Guide |
Also see the UC Sacramento Vegetable Planting Schedule
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This group is about sharing bountiful vegetable gardens with others. |
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Contact Will Cannady for more information. |
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In 2019, Martha Hogan started a local @cityofwestsac Facebook group called #WestsacCropSwap. They share and swap fruits and veggies home grown LOCALLY that would otherwise go to waste. If you know of families that may be in need of healthy fruits or veggies please have them reach out. |
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Sacramento |
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Folsom |
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Citrus Heights |
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Rancho Cordova |
Check out what you can borrow from the Sacramento Library in these categories:
Arts & Crafts ● Electronics & Technology ● Games & Hobbies ● Health
Kitchen Equipment ● Musical Instruments ● Recreation ● Science and Maker
Tools ● Video Games ● Yard Games
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Oak Park What: Free repair: bikes, clothes, lamps, tools, small appliances, knife sharpening. Plus, coffee, tea, snacks, beans & rice When: 11am-2pm, 2nd Saturday of every month Where: Community Shop Class, 3818 Stockton Blvd, Sacramento (turn into parking lot behind Trips For Kids Bike Shop)
West Sacramento What: West Sac residents can repair their bikes, clothing, and electronics for free. When: 10am-1pm, last Saturday of every month Where: Arthur F. Turner Library at 1212 Merkley Ave, West Sacramento. |
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Check out the Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates (SABA), which supports bike infrastructure and safety through advocacy, their Bike Valet program, Ride Ready Repair, BikeMatchSac, bicycle safety at night through Lights On, skills training, and Support for Businesses. |
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Did you know you could get $20 per month for reducing the number of cars on the road and biking in 11 times per month by completing the Bicycle Commuter Program Quarterly Self-Certification form? Check out the Bicycle Commuter Program FAQ for more information. |
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Don’t Change Your Car’s Motor Oil Too Soon - Check Your Number |
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Use CalRecycle’s Check Your Number website to find the manufacturer-recommended oil change intervals for most vehicles (2000 - 2021).
Used oil can contain such contaminants as lead, magnesium, copper, zinc, chromium, arsenic, chlorides, cadmium, and chlorinated compounds (CalRecycle). The “every 3,000 miles or every three months” rule is outdated because of advances in both engines and oil. Many automakers have oil-change intervals at 7,500 or even 10,000 miles and six or 12 months (Consumer Reports). |
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Fuel economy is reduced by 0.2 percent for every 1 pound per square inch (psi) your car is underinflated. That means you could save up to 3 percent in gas mileage, according to the DMV, which is naturally a little more environmentally friendly, too. |
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Save Electricity, Save Money |
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…and save the Planet by running your dishwasher, washer, dryer, or EV charger in off-peak times (typically avoid 4-9pm). Depending on your electricity provider, download, print, and keep handy the rate details schedule from SMUD (like below), PG&E, VCE (Yolo County), or Roseville Electric.
SMUD Rate Schedule
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Super Trees! |
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Consider planting any of these Super Trees! They’re water-wise for the Sacramento area—all but the loquat tree are on the City of Sacramento’s River Friendly Landscape Plant List, they have edible fruit (pomegranate or strawberry) or flavorful leaves (sweet bay), they attract beneficial wildlife, provide cooling shade in the summer, most let warming light through in the winter, and all but the olive have fruit and are free to SMUD customers (subject to availability). Check out SMUD’s Free Shade Tree Program and Free Tree List. |
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Up to 10 Free Trees |
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The Sacramento Tree Foundation will give you up to 10 free trees for your yard. Check out the Shady 80 recommended trees for a cooler Sacramento region. You can also volunteer to help the City plant 25,000 new trees per year through 2045. |
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Free Wood Chips |
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Adding wood chips to your yard each year will lead to healthier plant growth by reducing weeds, cooling the soil in the summer, conserving water, and slowly adding organic matter as it breaks down. You can get free wood chips by signing up for ChipDrop or you can search for tree trimmers in your area, then call or complete their website form to request free wood chips the next time they cut down and shred a tree in your neighborhood. SMUD customers can also pick up wood chips. ChipDrop may give you up to 20 cubic yards, which could cover 9 inches of a standard ranch-style home/property; more than the recommended 4 to 6 inches. To prevent nitrogen depletion or spreading diseases, only apply as ground cover in shrub beds, natural areas, and around trees while keeping the mulch away from the tree trunks and vegetables or annual flower beds. |
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Debbie Arrington is a master rosarian. Kathy Morrison Hellesen is a UCCE master gardener. Together they have more than 60 years of gardening experience in California, most of that in Sacramento's grower-friendly climate. They believe all gardening is local. They both love to cook what they grow. They also are longtime journalists (at the Sacramento Bee and elsewhere) who believe Sacramento deserves local gardening coverage. |
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Take a Plant, Leaf a Plant *Free* Sacramento (Map) |
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Consider donating or volunteering for Harvest Sacramento |
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Resoil Sacramento |
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ReSoil Sacramento advocates for three things that we can do to address our changing climate: 1) compost, 2) grow our own food, and 3) build regenerative, climate-resilient landscapes. Check out the latest and get involved. |
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Consider Donating Extra Produce at any area food pantry |
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Consider forwarding this email to invite a friend or colleague to:
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Note: |
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1) Every pound of homegrown vegetables you grow can cut 2 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions when compared to the store-bought counterpart, although what you eat matters more (e.g., fruits, nuts, and vegetables) than how it’s transported. 2) A single home compost bin diverts approximately 646 pounds of waste from landfill each year. |