Sustainability Interest Group - Top Everyday Unhealthy Things in Your Home

[Lucy, Burke@CalRecycle]

Grass Roots Circular Economy and Climate Action

 

Join the Sustainability Interest Group at CalEPA to discuss sustainable gardening,1 composting,2 and eco tips at our next Tuesday biweekly meeting.

 

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Eco news and events Area lawn rebates Low-water plant profile Monthly gardening tips Companion planting Planting/harvest guide Area produce exchanges Area buy nothing groups Other groups and tips		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 Learn More | Meeting options

 

Top Everyday Unhealthy Things in Your Home

Tuesday, August 19, 2025

Especially since we work at CalEPA, you likely know about a lot of these things but some might surprise you. You might work with household products at CalEPA so we especially want to hear from you. We’ll watch a short video that shares a good list but then let’s go from room to room: garage, kitchen, bathroom, etc. and see what we might add to the list. What’s lurking right under our noses and how good are you at ridding them from your home? Let’s talk about it!

Eco News and Events

 

Plastics Treaty

Deadlock on plastic production and chemicals as treaty talks draw to close

Associated Press, August 14, 2025 A draft of the treaty released Wednesday wouldn’t limit plastic production or address chemicals used in plastic products. Instead, it’s centered on proposals where there’s broad agreement — such as reducing the number of problematic plastic products that often enter the environment and are difficult to recycle, promoting the redesign of plastic products so they can be recycled and reused, and improving waste management.

 

Electronic Waste

New research uncovers the environmental benefits of lithium battery recycling

Innovation News Network, August 14, 2025 New research from Edith Cowan University (ECU) has highlighted the importance of lithium battery recycling in the race to a sustainable future.   The study evaluates tapping into used batteries as a secondary source of lithium, which not only reduces environmental impact but also secures access to this valuable resource, supporting a circular economy and ensuring long-term sustainability in the energy sector.

 

Disasters / Debris

Scientists argue for stricter lead soil contamination standards

Los Angeles Times, August 11, 2025 It’s a number thousands of Palisades and Eaton fire survivors have come to depend on: 80 milligrams of lead in each kilogram of soil.   Below this concentration, California has historically deemed yards safe enough for families to rebuild and move home after a fire. Any more, state scientists say, comes with a notable risk of kids developing neurological problems from the lead they accidentally inhale, absorb through their skin and eat while playing outside.   In a new paper out Friday, Harvard environmental health researchers argue it’s not strict enough. The scientists contend that the state’s health standard is not based on sound science and should sit around 55 milligrams per kilogram of soil (a measure also referred to as “parts per million”) instead.

 

Area Lawn Rebates

 

Sacramento Area Landscape Rebate Programs

·         State of California Turf Replacement Program ·         Sacramento County Water Agency Cash for Grass o   $2000 rebate ·         Sacramento Suburban Water District Rebate includes: Weather Based Sprinkler Controller ($150) Soil Moisture Sensor ($100) Irrigation Efficiency Upgrade ($500) Rain sensor ($100) ·         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 Free Smart Irrigation Controller Free Irrigation Efficiency Review Free Hydro-Rain B-Hyve controller ·         Folsom Cash for Grass Turf Replacement Rebate Cash for Grass Irrigation Efficiency Upgrade Rachio Smart Controller ·         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

 

Edible Low Water Use Plant Profile

 

See the edible low water use plant example found in the City of Sacramento’s River Friendly Landscape Plant List below.

Rose of Sharon

Hibiscus Syriacus Size: 9 ft. x 6 ft. Water Requirement: Medium Type: Shrub Edible Uses: Young leaves - raw or cooked. A very mild flavor, though slightly on the tough side, they make an acceptable addition to the salad bowl. A tea is made from the leaves or the flowers. Flowers - raw or cooked. A mild flavor and mucilaginous texture, they are delightful in salads, both for looking at and for eating. Root - it is edible but very fibrousy. Mucilaginous, without very much flavor.   Physical Characteristics: This deciduous shrub is in flower in September, and the seeds ripen in October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by insects. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.   Known Hazards: None known

 

August Gardening Tips

 

Deadhead your basil

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!

 

Prune tomato low branches and suckers

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.

Tomato Hornworms

Look for young tomato hornworms on the underside of tomato leaves and get rid of them.

 

Zucchini Harvesting

Harvest your zucchini before they get more than 8 to 10 inches long for maximum flavor.

 

Prune your Zucchinis

Prune Zucchini to increase air flow, increase production, and prevent powdery mildew and prevent blossom end rot.

 

Attract Ladybugs to Reduce Aphids

Attract ladybugs to help reduce aphids by planting dill, coriander, golden marguerite, and Queen Anne's lace.

 

Look for Snails

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.

 

Prune Grape Vines

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.

 

Girdle Grapevines

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.

 

Plant Your Last Corn

Plant your last set of sweet corn when crape myrtles are in bloom.

 

Place Mulch Around Trees

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.

 

Companion Planting

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.      Companion plants Plants to Avoid Brussel Sprouts Beans, Basil, Carrots, Celery, Garlic, Onion, Peas Eggplants, Peppers, Potatoes, Tomatoes, Mustard Greens Rutabaga Beans, Beets, Carrots, Chives, Onion, Peas, Turnips Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflowers, Brussel Sprouts, Mustard Greens Cabbage Dill, Garlic, Onion, Sage, Thyme, Chamomile Beans, Corn, Potatoes, Tomatoes Broccoli Basil, Cucumber, Dill, Garlic, Lettuce, Mint, Radishes, Rosemary, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Shallots, Thyme Asparagus, Beans, Cantaloupe, Eggplant, Mustard Greens, Pepper, Pumpkin, Squash, Strawberries, Sweet corn, Tomatoes, Watermelon Cauliflower Beans, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Celery, Cucumber, Garlic, Kale, Mint, Mustard, Onions, Radish, Sage, Shallots, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Thyme Corn, Tomatoes, Melons, Peas, Pumpkins, Strawberries Kohlrabi Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Celery, Cucumbers, Kale, Lettuce, Mustard, Onions, Potatoes, Shallots, Thyme Beans, Melons, Pumpkins, Strawberries, Sunflowers, Tomatoes Potato Basil, Beans, Celery, Chives, Cilantro, Corn, Garlic, Lettuce, Onion, Parsley, Peas, Peppers, Radishes, Tomatoes, Thyme Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Collards, Fennel, Kale, Kohlrabi Lettuce Asparagus, Beets, Carrots, Chives, Eggplant, Garlic, Mints, Melons and Squash, Onions and Shallots, Parsnips, Radishes, Turnips Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage Cauliflower, Kale, Kohlrabi Turnips Beans, Broccoli, Cabbage, Garlic, Kale, Mint, Peas, Thyme Potatoes, Onions

Sacramento Area Planting and Harvest Guide

Also see the UC Sacramento Vegetable Planting Schedule

 

Area Produce Exchanges

 

Carmichael

This group is about sharing bountiful vegetable gardens with others.

 

Pocket/Greenhaven Neighborhood

Contact Will Cannady for more information.

 

West Sacramento

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.

 

Area Buy Nothing Groups

 

 

Sacramento

Arden-Arcade (Southeast) Curtis Park Fair Oaks (West) Florin Land Park Natomas / Sundance Lake (East) Midtown - BuyNothing App Community Established  Special Needs Tahoe / Colonial / Tallac / Elmhurst The Pocket - BuyNothing App Community Established (West) Old West Sac / Bridge District / Southport

 

Davis

(Central) (East) (North) (South) (West)

 

Elk Grove

Village Village

 

Roseville

(West) (West)

 

Folsom

(East)

 

Citrus Heights

Citrus Heights Citrus Heights (West)

 

Carmichael

(North) (South)

 

Rancho Cordova

Rancho Cordova

 

Other Groups and Tips

 

Sacramento Library of Things

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

 

Oak Park Fix-it Cafe or West Sac Repair Café

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.

 

Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates

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.

 

Bicycle Commuter Program

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.

 

Don’t Change Your Car’s Motor Oil Too Soon - Check Your Number

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).

 

Check Your Car’s Tire Pressure

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.

 

Save Electricity, Save Money

…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

 

Super Trees!

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.

 

Up to 10 Free Trees

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.

 

Free Wood Chips

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.

 

Sacramento Digs Gardening Articles

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.

 

Take a Plant, Leaf a Plant *Free* Sacramento (Map)

 

Harvest Sacramento

Consider donating or volunteering for Harvest Sacramento

 

Resoil Sacramento

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.

 

Consider Donating Extra Produce at any area food pantry

 

Have You Committed Crape Murder?	Join the Climate Victory Garden movement

 

Invite a Friend

Consider forwarding this email to invite a friend or colleague to:  or email burke...@calrecycle.ca.gov.

 

Note:

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.