Learn how to turn yard waste into compost and improve the health of your soil! These free seminars include a how-to lesson, a special compost recipe and the ability to purchase a Biostack compost bin for $65 (retails for $129). Each seminar will feature a special lecture on various topics that will help your garden continue to flourish all year long. Composting is great for flower and vegetable gardens and can help conserve water and recycle yard waste. No reservations necessary. Come join us! March 13, 2010 8 a.m.-10 a.m. Southside Park Community Garden 5th and W Streets Lecture Topic: Adding green manure/cover crops to garden BioStack Compost Bins will be available at-cost ($65, retail

Do you have a beautiful water-efficient garden? If so, the City of Sacramento, the Regional Water Authority (RWA) and its partner agencies are looking for you! The Regional Water Authority (RWA), City of Sacramento Department of Utilities and other local water providers invite Sacramento-area residents to show off their “Blue Thumb” by staring in its new television and radio advertising campaign promoting water efficiency. “We’ve all heard of ‘Green Thumb,’ which is often used to describe someone who has a natural skill for gardening,” said RWA Water Efficiency Program Manager Linda Higgins. “Our campaign will showcase people who have a ‘Blue Thumb’—a talent for creating a beautiful wat

The City of Sacramento is proud to offer many options for our customers to recycle their Christmas trees. Preparing Your Holiday Tree for Recycling Cut trees longer than 6 feet into 3-foot or shorter pieces. Remove trees from stands or plastic bags. Remove ornaments, lights, nails, tinsel and metal rod supports from trees. Artificial trees will not be accepted. Containerized Yard Waste Customers Option 1: After cutting your tree into 3-foot or shorter pieces, place your holiday tree in your yard waste container. Make sure the trimmed pieces fit completely into the container with the lid closed Option 2: Place your tree out for loose-in-the-street collection by 6:00am on your regular

The City of Sacramento Department of Utilities Solid Waste Services reminds residents that many of the special items used during the holidays can be recycled or reused. “Everything from trees to boxes and wrapping paper and ribbons can be reused or recycled,” says Edison Hicks, Integrated Waste General Manager. “Even large amounts cooking oil, fats and grease can be recycled by taking them to the Sacramento Recycling and Transfer Station or North Area Recovery Station.” The City of Sacramento encourages residents to recycle wrapping paper, bottles, cans, mail order catalogs, boxes, and greeting cards by placing them in blue recycle bins with commingled recycling. Christmas trees can be r

Changes to the City of Sacramento Water Conservation Ordinance go into effect on December 9, 2009. The changes to the ordinance include: □ After daylight savings time ends, watering landscapes and car washing is permitted one day a week, Saturday or Sunday only. Customers may choose which day to water or car wash on. □ Customers who utilize drip irrigation are permitted to water their landscapes using the drip irrigation system at any time during the day, on any day of the week, including during summer months. □ Limitations to how many times a violator may take the Water Conservation Class within a 24 month period to waive fines. “The City of Sacramento reminds all of its customers that c

The seminar on 3/13 is from 8 a.m.-10 a.m.

The City offers composting workshops throughout the summer. The most recent schedule is posted here! http://www.cityofsacramento.org/utilities/solid-waste-recycling/residential/residential_education_backyard_composting_seminar_schedule.cfm The City also sells Biostack compost bins for $69. Contact us at 311 for more information!

Last I checked Department of Fish and Game (that was in 2005) stocked the ponds in City Parks.

It is now a violation of City code to scavenge in ANY bin, not just the recycling bin. If you see this taking place, you should call the police department. Other ways to limit scavenging in your neighborhood include not placing bins out for collection until the morning of your collection day and placing containers behind locked gates in between collection dates.

Hi Dale, Our staff is committed to providing the best service possible, so often times, especially when the program is new to an area, they will just pick up the pile. However, after the neighborhood has been in the program for a while, the drivers do become very familiar with who has the bins and who doesn't. If a pile appears in front of a home that has a bin and it is not a week for loose in the street collect, the crew will call in for a supervisor to double check the site. If the resident is in fact in the program, the pile will be left and a note will be placed on the customer's door letting them know that they can place their waste in the bin, call for a special pick-up (costs approximately $90), or they will be cited for illegal dumping. Also, often times, we get calls from neighbors who complain that a pile has been on their street and has not been collected. This typically means that all of the street has opted into the program and therefore no claw driver has been on street. If it is not a week for loose in the street collection in the containerized areas, the Supervisor will go out and place the same note on the customer's door.