Compost and Mulch for Water Wise Gardening - September 2021
Nearly half of California is in an exceptional drought, including Alameda County, which is seeing its 10th driest year on record. Outdoor landscapes can be some of the biggest water users at our homes, but simple and cost-effective approaches are available to help reduce outdoor water use and keep your garden healthy.
Waste Prevention Grants - July 2021
Each year, StopWaste awards local nonprofit and businesses grant funding for projects focused on repair, reuse, food waste prevention, and food donation equipment. The program engages businesses and community-based organizations to reduce waste in Alameda County while helping to address some of the County’s most pressing environmental and equity issues.
COVID-19 - Reusable Foodware Update - June 2021
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a steep increase in the use of disposable foodware. The Alameda County Department of Environmental Health, consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, allows the use of reusable foodware when properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized. StopWaste encourages the use of reusables wherever possible to reduce cost, waste, litter, and improve diner experience.
Medication & Prescription Drug Disposal - May 2021
Medicine and prescription drugs play a critical role in our lives, but unfortunately, many consumers are unfamiliar with the proper way to discard leftover or old prescriptions. Medications and prescription drugs should not be put in the trash, recycling, or compost bin, nor flushed or poured down the drain.
Improper disposal can have significant negative impacts on the environment and our communities, but fortunately, a multitude of safe disposal options are available.
Bulky Items Disposal - April 2021
Large items like mattresses, furniture, and appliances can be a challenge to dispose at the end of their useful life. Fortunately, all residents in single-family homes in Alameda County have at least one curbside bulky waste pickup available annually, as part of their normal waste collection services.
Food Recovery Grants - March 2021
Since 2012, StopWaste has offered grant funding for projects that aim to reduce the generation of wasted food. Since 2018, additional grant funding has been provided to help purchase equipment that ensures edible surplus food finds its way safely to people in need.
State Recycling Commission Recommendations - February 2021
In the wake of changes in global markets for recyclable materials, in 2019, Governor Newsom signed into law AB 1583, requiring CalRecycle to convene a Statewide Commission on Recycling Markets and Curbside Recycling. This collaborative concept was modeled after StopWaste’s own Alameda County Recycling Markets Network, and is tasked with evaluating California’s current state of recycling and recommending policies to fix it.
SB 1383 - Annual Procurement Requirements - January 2021
Starting on January 1, 2022, cities and counties in California will be required to procure a minimum amount of products made from recycled organic waste each year. Affected jurisdictions can meet the requirement by procuring products for their use or to give away.
Surplus Food Donation Equipment Grants
The Surplus Food Donation Equipment grants provide funding to strengthen the capacity of non-profit organizations to safely recover and redistribute edible surplus food generated in Alameda County, increasing the volume of food available to help nourish communities in Alameda County. These grants support the acquisition of essential equipment, to improve efficiency and building capacity for the edible food recovery components of SB 1383.
Examples of eligible equipment include:
Honoring Businesses for Waste Prevention - December 2020
As part of its annual Business Efficiency Awards, StopWaste is recognizing four Alameda County businesses for their efforts in upstream waste prevention through reuse, recycling, composting, and food waste prevention. Their leadership this year is particularly exemplary given the operational challenges they faced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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