1. science
2. ecology
3. waste management
4. recycling

March 26, 2009 at Clubhouse 5 at 6:00PM
How to Recycle in the Village
Speakers:
City of Laguna Woods
Mayor Bob Ring & Doug Reilly
Ruth May
Linda Wilson
Cynthia Conners
Dick Gray
GRF
United Mutual
Third Mutual
Mutual 50
Compiled by Denise D. Welch for CCA
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In Laguna Woods Village,
Laguna Woods, California
\http://www.recycling-revolution.com/recycling-basics.html
The What and How for the Rest of Us
by Dawn of A Recycling Revolution
The amount of information and seemingly endless facts about recycling is overwhelming.
Product X is accepted, Product Y is not, and Product Z is accepted as long as you remove the
cap, click your heels three times, and chant "there's no place like home." Can't someone just
give me the recycling basics? How are we supposed to keep track of all these rules?
 First things first...stop stressing! Do what you can and don't worry about the
rest. I would rather that you recycle only what you are comfortable with than
to get frustrated and decide that recycling is just too much trouble. Every little
bit counts! Recycling is not about all or nothing
 Second, keep in mind that recycling includes more than just the typical paper,
cans, and bottles. Every time that you donate your old clothes or have a yard
sale, you are recycling, Yay you!
 Third, practice makes perfect. OK, so we aren't really going for perfect, but the
more you do it, the more naturally it will come to you. Just keep trying and
before you know it, you won't even consciously think about it, you'll just do it.
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 Fourth, one person CAN make a difference. Every little bit counts. Oops, did I
already say that? I did and I'll say it again,
Every Little Bit Counts!
 And finally, K.I.S.S, Keep It Simple Silly. You don't have to invest all sorts of
money for special bins or fancy sorting containers. I simply purchased a cheap
second garbage can (a green one) and we use it for any item that can be
recycled. Of course, if you would like to buy special bins and containers, they
are definitely available.
Let's get started with the recycling basics...
What To Recycle
If you are unsure of what to recycle, start small, start easy.
The following list describes items that are typically accepted at most recycling centers and
curbside pickup and have the least amount of "rules":
Aluminum Cans (you all know these, the Coke, Pepsi,
and Sprites of the world)
Steel Cans (soup cans, veggie cans, coffee cans, etc.
and you don't even need to remove the labels) hint: a
helpful mantra to remember the first two is "The cans
can (be recycled)!"
Newspaper (OK, so I'm not going to insult you with a
description for this one
Magazines and slick inserts (after you are finished with
that People magazine and all those catalogs and Walmart ads that arrive in the mail, they can be recycled)
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What To Recycle Continued
The next list of what to recycle describes items that are accepted on a regular basis,
with some exceptions, and a few more rules:
Corrugated Cardboard (shipping and packaging boxes, usually
identifiable by a squiggly layer of paper sandwiched between sheets.
Used pizza boxes are often NOT accepted)
Paper and Paperboard (office paper, notebook paper, cereal boxes,
non-Styrofoam egg cartons, some pre-packaged food boxes. Some
paper items like paper milk cartons and drink boxes are lined with
wax or plastic and are often not accepted)
Plastics (milk jugs, shampoo bottles, detergent bottles, vitamin
bottles, plastic soda and water containers etc. Most centers will only
accept those plastics labeled with the PETE 1 and HDPE 2 symbols.
These can generally be found molded into the bottom of the
containers. If you can't identify the type of plastic, don't include it.
Most facilities also require that you remove the cap since it is usually
made of a different type of plastic. Some facilities will accept
additional plastics, so if you are so inclined, check with your local
recycling center.)
Glass (beer bottles, wine bottles, pickle jars, jelly jars, etc.
Occasionally a center will accept only certain "colors" of glass. Light
bulbs, Pyrex, ceramics, and mirrors are NEVER accepted. Glass is
becoming less accepted because of the potential of worker injuries
due to broken glass.)
Wow, even that simple list seems somewhat overwhelming. Don't worry. You can start small
and build as you feel more comfortable. Remember, Every little bit counts!
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Recycling Quicklist
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The City Speaks on Recycling
ACCEPTABLE MATERIAL
 ALL METAL, PLASTIC, & GLASS CONTAINERS
 ALUMINUM FOIL & METAL SCRAP
 MIXED PAPER (MAGAZINES, JUNK MAIL, TELEPHONE BOOKS,
OTHER PAPER)
 CARDBOARD, CEREAL BOXES
 PAPER & PLASTIC GROCERY BAGS
Please place ACCEPTABLE MATERIAL inside the blue container and
keep lids closed. ACCEPTABLE MATERIAL left outside the container
will not be picked up. Please call Ware Disposal if you have any
questions: (877) 714-9273
NOT ACCEPTABLE MATERIAL





MIRRORS, SAFETY/WINDOW GLASS & LIGHT BULBS
FOOD WASTE & GREEN WASTE
CLOTHING, CARPET, & OTHER TEXTILES
CONSTRUCTION WASTE
STYROFOAM
It is illegal to place Household Hazardous Waste (HHW), Electronic
devices (E-Waste), Batteries, and Medical Waste or medications in trash
or recycling containers.
Please call the City at (949) 639-0500 to arrange for free collection of
most HHW and E-Waste. Dry medication, batteries, small appliances,
fluorescent bulbs, cell phones, mixed paper, and printer cartridges can
be dropped off at City Hall
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The City Speaks on Recycling
Recycling Pilot Program
By Janet Whitcomb and Peggy Blizzard,
The Laguna Woods Globe
CITY OF LAGUNA WOODS RECYCLES
639-0500
.Recycling Pilot Program: This week, the City of Laguna Woods and Ware
Disposal, the City's franchised waste hauler, will start a pilot -recycling, program
to enable residents to dispose of recyclables separately from trash. The program is
being conducted with cooperation from Third Mutual, United Mutual and the
Golden Rain Foundation in Laguna Woods Village, and The Regency assisted
living facility on Calle .Sonora
The City is providing large, blue plastic recycling bins through a grant from- the
California Department of Conservation. Ware Disposal will, collect recyclables
from the bins at no cost to residents. The bins will be placed in or near trash
enclosures or newspaper recycling areas in 33 locations each in Third and United
at all clubhouses, the community center, and the Regency, Bins locations were
selected by Housing board: directors and interested volunteers. Selected cul de
sac‘s include 5, 9, 10, 15, 16, 23, 24, 28, 30, 40, 41, 202, 203, 205, 210, 219, 220,
221, 222, 316, 363, 364, 367, 371, 372, 404, and 405
Residents served by the recycle bins will be required to separate .such recyclables
as plastic containers #1 through #7 (stamped on bottom of containers), cardboard,
glass and: plastic bottles, cans, envelopes, sheets of paper, magazines , telephone
books and plastic bags but no Styrofoam. All other trash will continue to be placed
in wet trash bins.
''Ware will affix stickers to the blue bins listing materials that can and can‑ not be
placed in them.
Newspapers will continue to be collected separately, and -residents will be urged to
-take advantage of the City's free, door-to-door household hazardous waste and
electronic waste ' collection program to avoid contaminating recyclables.
The - success of the pilot program will -determine if there is sufficient interest in
recycling to expand the program city‑ wide.
The curbside program now in effect in Third Mutual will continue.
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The Pilot Program’s Pilot Program
By Shari Horne
Vice President, Garden Villa Association
The new Pilot Program for the recycling of garbage will begin soon for some 50
selected buildings in Laguna Woods Village, but its genesis was in the first Pilot -the Pilot‘s Pilot -- which began last year.
In January 2008 I was interested in recycling in a remote sort of way, when I
heard about ―The Greening of the Woods‖ draft report discussed at a Third Mutual
Board meeting. Board member (now Third President) Carol Moore, who was also
active with Earthworks, contacted me about a Pilot Program they wanted to run.
Their plan was to get a few 3-story Garden Villa buildings together and teach the
residents the ―right‖ way to process recyclables from pantry to trash. They gave me
500 blue plastic 33 gallon trash bags to distribute among each participating
resident for recyclables, and once-a-week at a predetermined time the bags would
be left outside their door and volunteers would come around, pick it up and take
them to the Campo Verde recycling area. I was also asked to monitor the levels of
trash in our red dumpsters and to see if any blue bags had been incorrectly dumped
down the chute. Conveniently I am a building captain and I had a building meeting
coming up. Many of the residents wanted to recycle in an easier way than taking
everything to the Vons parking lot or to Campo Verde; some had recently moved to
the Village from communities that had active recycling programs; even one blind
resident and others with mobility issues were enthusiastic and ready to give the
new program a try. I then recruited two other building captains to participate (Irene
Emerson and Charlotte Paskil) -- and we were ready!
So, in February, 2008, a hearty band of community volunteers (which now
included Virginia Kincaid, Edna Reid and her pick-up truck, and my husband Hal)
met on a Tuesday afternoon in Phase 2 and began the Pilot Program‘s Pilot. For
example, in my building: typically on Sunday evenings the bin would be
overflowing, often backing up into the chute. After just 2-3 weeks, a noticeable
drop occurred -- the bins now are rarely over half-filled on Sundays. Once the bags
were loaded we drove to Campo Verde and flung them into the bins After a while,
we got our own shipping container to fill up and deposited all of the bags in there.
After 3-4 months the pattern was very clear: our building was recycling
approximately 70% of the garbage, with only 30% as ―wet garbage,‖ i.e., banana
peels and kitty litter
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The Pilot Program’s Pilot Program
(Continued from page 9)
Over the next months, we had changes: changes in pick-up times, changes in the
volunteers. In September, the Earthworks volunteers left, and just myself, my
husband and the two other building captains remained to coordinate the effort.
Soon, residents were taking their recycle bags to the garage to save us time and
effort. By then I was a Vice President in the Garden Villa Association (GVA) and
all of the people who‘d been recycling wanted the program to continue -- and so
we did. We began to recruit neighbors to help us deliver the bags to Campo Verde.
Eprom ―Mac― McCurley, a new resident, volunteered himself and his pick up
truck! On November 20, then Mayor Pro-Tem Bob Ring was the guest speaker at
the regular meeting of the GVA, and talked about recycling and other City services.
Afterwards he invited Dr. John Paulus and myself to City Hall to discuss a new
program the City had in mind. A few days later the three of us met with City
Manager Leslie Keane and Assistant City Manager Doug Reilly. Mayor Ring
related what had transpired at the GVA meeting, and Leslie told us that the City
had just received grants for recycling bins, as had been recommended in the
―Greening of the Woods‖ environmental policy draft paper. I told the gathering
about the Pilot program originally started by Earthworks and its current status.
We wanted those bins. It was amazing: I got such a response of happiness that I
had a waiting list by the time I‘d finished calling.
Soon, representatives of United were calling to find out where we could put the
bins for their buildings. Then, GRF got involved and resolved to place bins at each
clubhouse. Like the proverbial snowball, the project grew and gained more
adherents each week (An example: residents from buildings that were NOT in the
Pilot were bringing their recyclables TO the Pilot buildings!).
Our Village‘s hard-won reputation as a recycling leader will continue and add
value to our assets.
It took many people before my involvement, during the Pilot‗s Pilot, and behind
the scenes in the Village and at City Hall to accomplish this. This has been an
exciting ride and something I‘ll never forget.
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GRF Speaks on Recycling:
1 The California EPA Recognizes the Village for being
Green
The State of California has honored the Village as a California Green Business that
makes extraordinary efforts to reduce waste. The Village has extensive in-house
recycling opportunities, and the Boards are vigilant in encouraging residents to
recycle. The Village also recycles its own green waste, reusing it as compost for
landscaping.
About the Program:
More than 1,200 businesses are part of California‘s recycling revolution, earning
special recognition from the California Integrated Waste Management Board
through its 2008 Waste Reduction Awards Program (WRAP).
The honorees have diverted over 1 million tons of materials from landfills and
reduced greenhouse gas emissions by more than one-half million tons of CO2
through recycling. As an added bonus, their voluntary waste reduction efforts have
saved millions in operating costs to these businesses.
WRAP winners found reuses for a variety of materials, including paper, cardboard,
plastic, and other items specific to their industries. Some found innovative and
even lucrative ways to reuse scrap pieces of their product that had formerly been
sent to landfills. Residents who use medical Sharpes - needles, syringes, lancets
and pins - can call City Hall at (949) 639-0500 and request that a free return
postage paid Sharpes kit be mailed to their home. Once the disposal container is
filled, it can be sealed and dropped in the mail.
The businesses purchased office supplies and other products made from recycledcontent materials, and set aside landscape trimmings for composting. They also
had programs to educate their employees. These efforts all combine to keep
valuable resources and renewable materials out of landfills.
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GRF Speaks on Recycling:
(Continued from page 11)
Applicants are honored based on a set of criteria applied to each application.
Practices evaluated include waste prevention, materials reuse, recycling, recycledproduct procurement, and employee education.
Winners are listed online at www.ciwmb.ca.gov/WRAP/ along with examples of
the methods being used by award-winning businesses to divert waste.
The California Integrated Waste Management Board is the state‘s leading authority
on recycling and waste reduction. It promotes reducing waste whenever possible,
managing all materials to their highest and best use, and protecting public health
and safety and the environment.
The California Integrated Waste Management Board is one of six boards,
departments, and offices within the California Environmental Protection Agency
(Cal/EPA).
5
Village Has Saved Millions
LAGUNA WOODS VILLAGE SAVES $35 MILLION THANKS TO COSTCONSCIOUS MOVES BY PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT
Laguna Woods Village residents have realized a saving of almost $35 million due
to cost-cutting measures instituted by Professional Community Management
(PCM), the managing agent that directs the services, programs, and operations of
the community.
Many of these efficiencies were suggested and implemented by PCM‘s creative
and motivated work force, which suggests that the company‘s policy of rewarding
(Continued on page 13)
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GRF Speaks on Recycling:
(Continued from page 12)
loyal and productive employees pays off in very tangible ways, says General
Manager Milt Johns.
―–It has everything to do with people and building relationships with them,‖ Milt
says.
―We value and appreciate our employees for what they do and the Community‘s
leadership strives to give them the resources and support they need to do the job
right. That‘s what motivates people and motivated people generate ways to save
money and offer unsurpassed service.‖
(NOTE: Recycling & Composting amounts to $6,130,000)
(Continued on page 14)
Item Description
Effective
One-Time
Annual
Savings to
Date
Savings
Savings
Date
Property Tax
2005
$1,500,000
$550,000
$4,250,000
Federal Income Tax
2001
600,000
250,000
2,850,000
State Income Tax
1996
500,000
50,000
1,200,000
Grants
Emergency Access
Road
2000 & 2008
935,000
935,000
2007
950,000
950,000
In-House Cable TV
Workers‘
Compensation
Ad & Hi-Speed
Internet
2003
850,000
5,950,000
1994
350,000
5,600,000
2005
500,000
2,500,000
Composting
1992
225,000
4,050,000
Gate Clearance
System
2006
200,000
800,000
Nursery
1990
185,000
3,700,000
Recycling
1994
130,000
2,080,000
$3,290,000
$34,865,000
$4,485,000
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GRF Speaks on Recycling:
(Continued from page 13)
There are a variety of ways that you can recycle
 Village residents can separate newspaper for homeowner association pick-up
and drop off other materials at their maintenance yard on Campo Verde.
 Residents with curbside collection can voluntarily separate plastics, metal and
glass into a special container—call (949) 833-9901 for information.
 The City will pick up televisions, small appliances, computers, digital
equipment and household hazardous waste (paint, pesticides, fluorescent
bulbs, batteries, etc.) at your doorstep—call (949) 639-0500 to find out how to
schedule a pick-up.
 Used batteries can be dropped off at City Hall or at most businesses in the City
that sell these items.
 White paper, small electic devices (the size of a telephone or hair dryer) and
cell phones can be dropped off at city hall for recycling.
 Used motor oil can be taken to the EZ Lube at the corner of Moulton and El
Toro.
 Non-hazardous recyclables can be redeemed for cash at the NexCycle
recycling facility in the Vons parking lot.
 Household hazardous waste can be taken to the Orange County Hazardous
Waste Disposal facility at 6411 Oak Canyon Road (off of Irvine Center Drive).
Call (714) 834-4000 for facility hours.
“HELPING HANDS” A booklet ―To help YOU share your no longer needed
but useful items with others in the community who need these items
Available in the Recreation Department Office
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The Mutuals Speak on Recycling
2.
Does the Community have a recycling program?
Laguna Woods Village encourages recycling and has three methods available to
recycle non-hazardous materials.
 Newspapers are collected at a variety of convenient neighborhood collection
stations. The exact locations of the collection stations will vary depending on
the neighborhood, in many locations containers or racks will be located near
the neighborhood trash dumpsters.
 Manors in Third Mutual with curbside trash service are provided with special
―blue bins‖ in which they can place their recyclable materials.
 Self-service recycle bins are available in the employee parking lot at the
Maintenance Service Center, located on Via Campo Verde, for residents to
recycle all other non-toxic recyclable materials such as glass, plastic,
aluminum, paper, scrap metal, etc.
The City of Laguna Woods allows residents to properly dispose of/recycle
hazardous materials such as electronic equipment, printer cartridges, batteries,
compact fluorescent tubes, paint, household chemicals, etc. Contact the City of
Laguna Woods at 949-639-0500 for information.
3. What steps are being taken by the Community regarding
“Green” or environmental issues?
Since 1987 Laguna Woods Village has been an innovator in waste reduction and
recycling efforts and in 2006 recycled approximately 62% of it‘s solid
waste. Laguna Woods Village has been awarded the State of California‘s Waste
Reduction Awards Program award 11 times since 1995.
A. Laguna Woods Village provides residents the opportunity to recycle non-toxic
materials such as paper, plastic, glass and metal, while the City of Laguna
Woods has a program to recycle hazardous materials such as batteries,
electronic equipment and household chemicals.
B. Both United Laguna Hills Mutual and Third Laguna Hills Mutual are currently
writing Architectural Alteration Standards to simplify the process for installation
of roof-top Solar Panels that generate electricity or heat water.!
Continued on page 14
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The Mutuals Speak on Recycling
C. All Clubhouses and the Community Center in Laguna Woods Village have
programs in place to reduce the use of water and the energy utilized for lighting,
heating and air-conditioning.
D. The Community Center recycles office paper.
E. Construction debris is recycled when appropriate. In 2007, 634 tons of concrete
were recycled.
F. Whenever possible, retired equipment is sold or donated.
G. The City of Laguna Woods, in coordination with Laguna Woods Village, is
forming a blue ribbon citizen‘s committee, ―Greening of the Woods‖, to look at
citywide sustainability and global warming issues.
H. Landscaping operations: Approximately 8,000 tons of green waste generated by
pruning and cutting activities in the Community is composted annually.
a. This compost is then used as mulch and soil amendment.
b. Grass is cut using mulching mowers which mulches the lawn and
reduces the amount of green waste generated by landscape activities
by approximately 4,500 tons.
c. The irrigation system is being converted to a centralized control
operation that allows watering to be performed more efficiently, and
sprinkler heads are being repositioned to prevent overspray and runoff.
d. To further reduce greenwaste, the Landscape Division has adopted
the following:
 Mulch is added around the roots of plants to increase the water
permeability and water holding capacity of the soil.
 A sustainable re-landscaping program is in place whereby plant material is
being grouped more appropriately into irrigation zones (hydrozoning) that
more accurately meets the water, soil and exposure requirements of the
plants grouped there.
 Proper pruning techniques minimize the amount of new growth, thereby
reducing the amount of green waste that needs to be recycled.
 Plant selections are based on mature plant size versus available space in
planters to allow for a more natural look for the community which also
reduces pruning, thus greenwaste!
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The Towers Speak on Recycling
Mutual Fifty participates in the recycling of green waste through the
Landscaping operation in the community. This is an award wining
operation and very progressive in its accomplishments.
Mutual Fifty recycles newspapers and has collection on every floor. The
newspapers are sorted and collected separately from other waste material.
All dry cardboard from moves and from the industrial kitchen deliveries
are sorted and recycled.
The remainder of the waste products generated at the Towers are sorted at
the collection facility.
Mutual Fifty remains sensitive to the topic of recycling and continually
seeks ways and means of being more environmentally
responsible. Recently, Mutual Fifty was commended by representatives
from Southern California Edison regarding the efficient operation of the
facility. Mutual Fifty is investigating insulated window film to protect from
heat and cooling transference through the large number of windows in the
Towers. Additionally, Mutual Fifty has addressed water conservation
through a program of repairs in individual units and the addition of more
drought tolerant greenscape.
Judie Zoerhof
Towers Administrator
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Earthworks Speaks on Recycling
4
Earthworks Club is Greening the Village
The Earthworks Club was established in July of 2007; the founding president was
Nobel Laureate Dr. Irwin Rose, at that time a resident of Laguna Woods Village.
The club's constitution states, "The Earthworks Club was formed in response to
evidence that the climate changes that were being reported by the end of the last
century were man-made in origin. The aim of our members is to retreat from the
generation of global warming CO2 and other greenhouse gases at all levels of our
community and to support programs with the same aim in other communities."
Currently, the club is seeking to establish a viable program of recycling for every
manor in Laguna Woods Village.
On Earthday 2008 the club hosted a fair in the community center to raise
awareness of environmental problems and solutions. Volunteers from the
Earthworks Club transformed a room at the Laguna Woods Communtiy Center into
an efficient place to dispense information about Earth Day. Many local municipal
organizations donated "green" items to give away to visitors. In all, nearly 300
people attended this event.
California Edison donated 1,000 compact florescent light bulbs that were given
away to guests. Earthworks members Betsy Martin and Maureen LaBonte
provided 160 reusable grocery store bags. The El Toro Water District provided an
informational exhibit plus watering spigots and timers for showers. All these items
were free, and they were given away very fast.
In addition, tables at the Earthworks fair included a solar cooker, signups for a trip
to the Windmill Farm near Palm Springs, a large and colorful exhibit of recyclables
and trash designed by current Third Mutual President Carol Moore, a photo essay
of Laguna Woods by Gil Brenner based on photos taken by Paul Landman, and a
refreshment stop.
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