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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEnviroLink - April 20241 Tara Reyes From:City of Diamond Bar <listserv@civicplus.com> Sent:Monday, April 1, 2024 9:02 AM To:Tara Reyes Subject:City of Diamond Bar EnviroLink- April 2024 CAUTION: This message originated outside of our City of Diamond Bar network. CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders. April 2024 2 Food Waste Prevention Week Challenge The annual Food Waste Prevention Week Challenge is here! From April 1 to April 5, check the City's social accounts for a chance to win prizes to support your food waste reduction journey: o Facebook o Instagram o X (formerly Twitter) Preventing food waste is essential for conserving resources and reducing environmental impact, as discarded food contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and wasted water, energy, and land. Minimizing food waste helps people and businesses save money, supports sustainable food production practices, and promotes a more efficient and equitable food system. Food Waste Prevention in 3 Easy Steps 1. Plan Your Meals: Take some time each week to plan out your meals. This not only helps you stay organized but also ensures you buy only what you need, reducing the likelihood of purchasing items that may end up going to waste. By planning ahead, you're not just preventing food waste but also saving money and contributing to a more sustainable environment. 2. Proper Storage: Ensure that you store your food properly to prolong its freshness. Use airtight containers for leftovers, keep fruits and vegetables in 3 the crisper drawer of your refrigerator, and store pantry items in cool, dry places. Understanding how to store different types of food can help prevent premature spoilage. 3. Use Leftovers Creatively: Instead of throwing away leftovers, why not get creative with them? Repurpose leftover vegetables into delicious soups or stir- fries, turn stale bread into crunchy croutons or flavorful breadcrumbs, and use overripe fruits to add a sweet twist to your smoothies or baked goods. By finding fun and tasty ways to incorporate leftovers into new meals, you can reduce waste and save money, all while enjoying your food in new and exciting ways. Earth Day Celebration The City , in collaboration with Walnut Valley Water District, is hosting its annual Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, April 20 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the South Coast Air Quality Management District parking lot, located at 21865 Copley Drive. Earth Day will include a variety of educational workshops, vendor booths with activities for children, community performances, free paper shredding and a mulch giveaway – all available on a first come, first serve basis. It's a day filled with fun and learning for the whole family, so mark your calendars! 4 April is Arbor Month Arbor Day is an annual observance that celebrates the importance of trees and encourages tree planting and care. Arbor Day serves as a reminder of the vital role that trees play in sustaining life on Earth and encourages individuals to take action to protect and preserve the planet's forests and green spaces for future generations, including: o Wednesday, April 17 | 9-10 a.m. The City’s Parks and Recreation Department will be holding an Arbor Day Tree Planting Ceremony at Larkstone Park. Toddler playtime includes Arbor Day- related activities. o Saturday, April 20 | 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Join us at our Earth Day Celebration for a free tree seedling giveaway with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, an educational workshop on Fire- Scaping, teaching residents how to plant trees to fireproof your home, and a free mulch giveaway to support healthy trees. o Tuesday, April 23 | 10:15-10:45 a.m. Bring your little ones to Diamond Bar Library for an Arbor Day-themed Storytime. o Wednesday, April 24 | 4-5 p.m. Bring your family, ages 5-12, to Diamond Bar Library for an Arbor Day Special Program to celebrate trees in our lives. Programming will include a story, activities, and crafts. 5 Save the Date: Mulch Giveaway Event A mulch giveaway event is taking place from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 18. Organized by the City, in collaboration with the Walnut Valley Water District, the event will be held at Water District offices located at 271 S. Brea Canyon Rd, Walnut, CA 91789. Two important rules for this event: 1. Mulch will be provided on a first come, first serve basis. 2. You must bring your own containers and scoop your own mulch. By incorporating mulch into gardening or landscaping practices, you can significantly reduce water consumption while simultaneously improving soil health and plant vitality Mulch Benefits o Moisture Retention: Mulch acts as a barrier, preventing soil moisture from evaporating quickly and reducing the frequency of watering needed for plants. o Temperature Regulation Mulch helps moderate soil temperature by insulating it against extreme heat or cold. This ensures that plants' roots remain at an optimal temperature for growth, reducing stress and water needs. 6 o Weed Suppression Mulch acts as a natural weed barrier, preventing weed growth and reducing competition for limited water resources. o Erosion Prevention Mulch helps prevent soil erosion by reducing water runoff and ensures that water stays within the root zone of plants. Residential Waste Management Services Waste Management customers are eligible for a variety of services. Some of these services include: o Free replacements for damaged carts. o Up to four bulky item pickups per calendar year, and o Free additional organics and recycling carts. Additional refuse carts are not part of this program. You can arrange these services by calling (800) 266-7551 or visiting the Waste Management website. Common bulky items include mattresses and box springs, bed frames, cabinets, sofas, and other large furniture items that do not fit into refuse carts. 7 Springtime Tree Care Caring for your trees in springtime is essential to promote healthy growth and vitality throughout the growing season. These inexpensive tree care tips provide a variety of benefits, including enhanced property value, reduced utility costs, stormwater management, and enhanced well-being. Tips o Inspect for Winter Damage Before the new growth begins, carefully inspect your trees for any signs of winter damage, such as broken branches or cracks in the trunk. Prune damaged branches to promote healthy regrowth. o Mulch Apply a layer of organic mulch around the base of your trees, taking care not to pile it against the trunk. Mulch helps retain soil moisture, regulate soil temperature, suppress weeds, and improve soil structure, all of which promote healthy root development. o Watering Provide supplemental water to trees, especially young or newly planted ones, during dry spells in spring. Deep watering is preferable to frequent shallow watering, as it encourages roots to grow deeper into the soil. 8 o Fertilization Consider fertilizing your trees with compost in early spring if they show signs of nutrient deficiency, such as pale or yellowing leaves. o Pruning Spring is an ideal time for light pruning to remove dead, diseased, or crossing branches, as well as any unwanted growth. Pruning promotes air circulation and sunlight penetration, which are essential for overall tree health. o Pest and Disease Management Monitor your trees for signs of pest infestation or disease, such as unusual leaf discoloration, spots, or lesions. Address any issues promptly through cultural practices, such as proper pruning and sanitation, or, if necessary, by using appropriate pest control measures. o Guide to Ridding Trees of Six Common Pests o Protection from Wildlife If your trees are vulnerable to browsing by wildlife, such as deer or rabbits, consider installing protective measures, such as fencing or tree guards, to prevent damage to the bark and foliage. Hazardous Waste Disposal Diamond Bar residents have a couple of options to safely dispose of hazardous materials. Both contracted haulers, Waste Management and Valley Vista Services, 9 have home collection services for household hazardous waste. Contact your respective hauler to coordinate a pick-up. o Waste Management: Schedule a free HHW curbside pick-up by calling (800) 449-7587 or online. o Valley Vista: Schedule a free HHW curbside pick-up by calling (800) 442-6454. Another option to dispose of HHW is at LA County HHW disposal events: o The next free drive-through Household Hazardous and Electronic Waste collection event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 6 at the LA County Fair Complex at 2118 N White Avenue, Pomona, CA 91763, Gate 9, Area 4. The event will be held rain or shine. Preparing for the HHW Disposal Event To participate, pack your items in a box/disposable container and place them in your vehicle trunk or pickup bed. Once at the event, remain in your vehicle. LA County event staff will remove the box(es) when it is your turn. There is a waste limit of 15 gallons, or 125 pounds, per trip. For more information and a complete list of acceptable items, visit the County’s website or call (888) CleanLA (253-2652). Water Conservation and Rebates 10 The water experts at Walnut Valley Water District (WVWD) are dedicated to helping customers adopt a water-efficient way of life. By embracing the principles of water conservation and sustainability, residents can discover methods to minimize water wastage and safeguard our vital natural resource – water! Together, we can contribute to environmental protection, conserve water for future generations, and potentially reduce monthly water expenses. The initial step involves making a few changes in water consumption around your household and taking advantage of rebates. These rebates, provided by WVWD in collaboration with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD), aid customers in detecting leaks before they inflict property damage and revolutionize water usage in and around their homes. Learn more about Water District rebates. Tips to Reduce Household Water Consumption Bathroom: o Install low-flow showerheads and faucets to reduce water usage while showering or washing hands. o Fix any leaks in toilets, faucets, or pipes promptly to prevent water wastage. o Take shorter showers to minimize water usage. o Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or shaving to conserve water. o Use a bucket to catch water while waiting for the shower to warm up, then use it for watering plants or cleaning. Kitchen: o Use a dishwasher instead of hand washing, as it typically uses less water. o Only run the dishwasher when it's fully loaded to maximize water efficiency. o Defrost frozen foods in the refrigerator overnight instead of using running water. o Wash fruits and vegetables in a bowl of water instead of under running water. o Fix any leaks in faucets or pipes promptly to prevent water wastage. o Consider installing a faucet aerator to reduce water flow while still maintaining pressure. Laundry Room: o Wait until you have a full load before running the washing machine to maximize water efficiency. o Use the appropriate water level setting for the size of the laundry load. o Reuse towels when possible to reduce the frequency of laundry loads. 11 o Fix any leaks in washing machine hoses or connections promptly to prevent water wastage. Outdoors: o Water plants and lawns early in the morning or late in the evening to minimize evaporation. o Use a broom instead of a hose to clean driveways and sidewalks. o Collect rainwater in a barrel or container to use for watering plants. o Choose drought-resistant plants for landscaping to reduce the need for watering. o Mulch around plants to retain soil moisture and reduce the need for watering. Contact Information City of Diamond Bar | Environmental Services 21810 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA 91765 For information about this newsletter, contact the City's Environmental Services Division at (909) 839- 7015 or greendb@diamondbarca.gov. If this newsletter was shared with you, sign up to receive your own copy at www.diamondbarca.gov/signup and select "EnviroLink Newsletter" Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share via Email Copyright 2024 City of Diamond Bar. All Rights Reserved. 21810 Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, CA 91765 If you no longer wish to receive emails from us, you may Unsubscribe. Powered by Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.