Climate

Help Desk’s Top 5 Most Interesting Questions of 2022

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Two Ecology Center Staff at a farmers market tabling event.
Climate change is here, its effects are overwhelming and at times can leave one feeling hopeless. Through these difficult times, the Help Desk team finds solace in your passion for doing right by your community. From greywater installation to information on recycling systems, our Help Desk team is thrilled to have answered questions covering a… Read more »

SB 1383 Implementation is Here, What Does that Mean for You?

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Compost on the Facility Dirt Floor: Image is of food scrapes, wet paper and plastic film bags that contaminate the compost.
Contaminated compost A Look at Curbside Compost Having answered over 350 questions in 2022 so far through our Help Desk, we are well aware of our Berkeley community’s dedication to proper waste sorting. With inquiries ranging from where to drop off an old microwave to how to sort soiled cardboard, your thoughtful questions do make… Read more »

It’s Official! CA SB 54—California’s Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act—is California Law

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It's Official! CA SB 54—California’s Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act—is California Law
Yesterday SB 54 was signed into law establishing one of the world’s largest Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs. The law has a special focus on reducing plastic waste and its harm to communities and the environment. This bill is also among the most far-reaching in its control over the plastic packaging industry. “As the nation’s… Read more »

To Shop with the Planet In Mind, You Need to Buy From a Store that Sources that Way Too

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To Shop with the Planet In Mind, You Need to Buy From a Store that Sources that Way Too
We are becoming increasingly aware that plastic never goes away. In fact, the U.S. is ranked #1 in plastic waste generation globally.¹ Did you know that plastics poison our food chain, threaten wildlife, and affect human health? As the facts pile up, we all need to be avoiding non-recyclable materials such as items wrapped in… Read more »

Why Turning That Light Switch Off Actually Matters: A Dive into CA Electricity, Power Usage, and Legislation

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https://unsplash.com/photos/LJSH3NOTLwc
As the most populous state in the country, California faces unique energy challenges. California uses the second most energy of any state (following Texas), but per capita our residential sector uses less energy than any other state except Hawaii¹. This can be largely explained by efficiency requirements in the state’s building code, which mandates certain… Read more »