More than a celebration, America Recycles Day is the only nationally
recognized day dedicated to the promotion of recycling in the United States.

Get Involved! Take the Pledge! AmericaRecyclesDay.org

Elk Grove Kicks Off Earth Week
with Massive Citywide Athletic Shoe Collection

Elk Grove agencies are teaming up now through April 29th for a citywide recycling program aimed at keeping thousands of athletic shoes out of the region’s landfills.  The City of Elk Grove, Elk Grove Unified School District, Cosumnes Community Services District and Allied Waste will be collecting athletic shoes in various locations in Elk Grove, while educating thousands of local students about the importance of recycling and demonstrating an alternative to disposing used products in landfills.

Listen to commercial playing on Radio Disney AM 1470.

The athletic shoes collected throughout the week will be processed and recycled into material used in basketball courts, tennis courts, athletic fields, running tracks and playgrounds. Last year, more than 2 ½ tons of shoes were collected. A photo of a local soccer field made from recycled shoes is below.

Any brand of athletic shoes can be donated. The shoes should be dry and not contain metal or
cleats. Dress shoes will not be accepted. Drop-off locations in Elk Grove include:

• Elk Grove City Hall, 8401 Laguna Palms Way
• Barbara Morse Wackford Community & Aquatic Complex, 9014 Bruceville Road
• Laguna Town Hall, 3020 Renwick Ave.
• Cosumnes Community Services District Fire Stations

And participating Elk Grove Unified School District schools:

View Press Release.

New Law Requiring Improved Energy Efficiency
for Light Bulbs Begins Jan. 1, 2011

1/1/11 is the effective date for the first phase of EISA - "ban of 100w incandescent bulbs".  This means retailers are no longer able to purchase wholesale 100w incandescent bulbs for their stock.

Below is a media advisory from the CA Energy Commission. View a simple fact sheet from NRDC.

MEDIA ADVISORY

 New Law Requiring Improved Energy Efficiency for Light Bulbs Begins Jan. 1, 2011
Consumers to Save Money with High Performance Bulbs

SACRAMENTO - A new federal law will start saving consumers money by improving the energy efficiency standard for incandescent light bulbs sold in California on or after January 1, 2011.
The standard - Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) - will save California consumers money with new bulbs that offer the same amount of light while using less power. Passed by Congress and signed by President George W. Bush, EISA created new energy efficiency standards for light bulbs. The law is designed to reduce energy use and associated pollution and make the United States less dependent on foreign sources of energy. While the country will adopt this standard on January 1, 2012, California was given authority to implement the national standards one year earlier to avoid the sale of 10.5 million inefficient 100-watt bulbs in 2011 which would cost consumers $35.6 million in higher electricity bills*.

Reducing energy use in California also results in improved environmental quality by avoiding the construction of new power plants and air pollution from burning fossil fuels.
The standard in California states that a 100-watt bulb manufactured on or after January 1, 2011 must use 28 percent less energy (i.e. a 100-watt bulb may not use more than 72 watts). The new 72-watt replacement bulb will provide the same amount of light (i.e. lumens), use less power, and cost less to operate.

New lighting technology has become more efficient than old-fashioned incandescent bulbs. Approximately 90% of the electricity used by traditional incandescent bulbs is wasted as heat instead of visible light. Replacing traditional incandescent light bulbs with more efficient halogen, compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL) or light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs will save consumers money while still offering same amount of light.

The new standard is technology neutral and allows consumers to choose among a variety of high-performance products for their replacement lighting. Additionally, it does not affect the existing supply of incandescent light bulbs stocked in retail stores or incandescent light bulbs already in use.

This standard builds on the California Energy Commission's long and successful reputation of saving consumers money though energy efficiency standards. Since 1978, California's appliance and building efficiency standards have saved more than $56 billion in electricity and natural gas costs.

For more information and Frequently Asked Questions, please go to:

• FAQs for New Light Bulb Standards for a More Efficient California
• Lighting Is Changing

Public Rate Notice of Proposed Increase to
Solid Waste Rate Service Rates

Public Hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, November 10, 2010, at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers.

Public Rate Notice of Proposed Increase to Solid Waste Rate Service Rates
Questions regarding the Proposed Increase to Solid Waste Service Rates

An error was identified in the original public notice.  Folsom’s rate is $22.50 per month.

Donate Your Computer System

If you have a  complete computer system that is in good working condition, the City of Elk Grove will donate it to a local school in need.  It must have all the components, including the monitor, hard drive, mouse and keyboard.*  To donate your system, please contact Kim Perry at 478-2289 or kperry@elkgrovecity.org.

*Please make sure all personal data is removed from the hard drive.  The City of Elk Grove and the school receiving the computer system will not be responsible for any remaining data.