From our blogs

A recycling facility in Seattle, Washington fills up as waste managers are struggling to find plants to process their recyclables. Credit Wiqan Ang/New York Times.

Livia Albeck-Ripka, a freelance journalist covering the environment, writes in today's New York Times Business section:

Plastics and papers from dozens of American cities and towns are being dumped in landfills after China stopped recycling most “foreign garbage.”

Read on to find out more about how, because of a far-reaching rule change in China, some of the recyclables are ending up in the local dump anyway.

A feral cat at Shoreline Park, home to about 50 burrowing owls that nest in the ground. Credit Jason Henry/New York Times.

David Streitfeld writes in today's New York Times Technology section:

Cats have stalked birds forever, but in Shoreline Park a final victory is at hand. The number of cat sightings there last year was 318, according to the City of Mountain View’s official count. And 2017 was the first time in 20 years of record-keeping that no owl fledglings were observed in the park.

Saturday, May 19, 2018 is National River Cleanup Day. Come help out with litter collection as we join others around the world in an effort to keep our rivers clean. Together with other concerned citizens, we’ll pick up trash and tidy up a local body of water. Come with a hat, sunscreen, and a great attitude, and we’ll provide the rest.

Plastic bottles and bags, fast food packaging, cigarette butts and other litter along Santa Clara County’s waterways is not only awful to look at, but affects local creeks and streams as well. If and when it does rain, this litter is swept off the roadways and into storm drains that flow directly to local waterways, posing a threat to both the local habitat and water quality. Also, when the accumulation of litter is paired with natural occurrences, such as broken tree limbs and erosion along creeks and streams, debris can impair the flow of water, increasing flood risks.

Each year the Santa Clara Valley Water District partners with Creek Connections Action Group, a consortium of five public agencies and non-profit organizations in Santa Clara County, to host cleanup sites for National River Cleanup Day. Santa Clara Valley Water District coordinates site selection, volunteer recruitment and marketing efforts.

In 2016 more than 1,124 volunteers at 48 sites across the county cleaned up more than 61 miles of waterways and picked up more than 3,135 pounds of recyclables and 30,292 pounds of trash.

For cleanup day, wear long pants, sturdy shoes and don't forget the sunscreen. Clean-up supplies and light refreshments will be provided. Volunteers will need to bring their own pick-up sticks and all youth under the age of 18 will need to be accompanied by an adult.

For a list of cleanup locations, registration information and more details about National River Cleanup Day, visit http://www.cleanacreek.org/volunteerinformation.asp.

Date: May 19, 2018 from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location: San Jose, CA
Organizer: Ricardo Barajas
Contact: rbarajas@valleywater.org | Office: 408-630-2239 | Mobile: 408-681-9265

On Thursday May 10, 2018 join tens of thousands of regular and first-time Bay Area residents who will bike to work for the 24th Annual Bike to Work Day, part of the National Bike Month.

More than 90 Energizer Stations in Santa Clara County and 40 in San Mateo County will give people on bikes a chance to stop and get a snack, a tote bag, goodies, and a few words of encouragement.

Stop at our energizer station on Marshlands Road at Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Fremont from 7:00 am to 9:00 am and pick up a free tote bag, while supplies last.