Costa Mesa Spanish Winter 09.indd

Page 4
Winter 2009
Here it comes!
Build Green
Incentive Program
The City of Costa Mesa is offering the
Build Green Program for a second,
nine-month window, which began on
September 17, 2008 and runs through
June 30, 2009. The Build Green
Incentive Program was created to
encourage and assist all City residents
and businesses to build green.
The Build Green Incentive Program,
created by the City Council, provides
a waiver of all building permit fees for
residents and businesses installing solar
panels; domestic tankless water heaters;
high-efficiency heating, ventilation, and
air conditioning systems; and/or Energy
Star windows and doors.
Detailed information is available
under the topic “Build Green” on the
City’s Website at www.ci.costa-mesa.
ca.us/departments/green-building/greenbldg.htm.
The information may also be obtained
at the Building Safety Division counter
in the Development Services Department
located on the second floor of City Hall
in Costa Mesa. Or, call the Building
Safety Division at 714-754-5273.
La ciudad de Costa Mesa está
nuevamente ofreciendo el programa
incentivo “Build Green”, por nueve
meses más que corren del 17 de
septiembre del 2008 hasta el 30 de junio
del 2009. Este programa elimina las
cuotas de los permisos de construcción
para los residentes y comercios que
instalen en sus facilidades tableros
solares, calentadores de agua domésticos
sin tanque, sistemas de alta eficiencia
de calefacción, ventilación y aire
acondicionado y/o ventanas y puertas
certificadas por Energy Star. Entérese
de todos los detalles visitando la página
www.ci.costa-mesa.ca.us/departments/
green-building/green-bldg.htm; o vaya
al aparador de Building Safety Division
que se encuentra en el Departamento de
Servicios de Desarrollo, localizado en
el segundo piso del City Hall de Costa
Mesa; o si prefiere llame al 714-7545273.
ZeroWaste
You Make It Happen!
We want your suggestions,
questions, and comments!
City of Costa Mesa
77 Fair Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
714-754-5323
[email protected]
www.ci.costa-mesa.ca.us
Funded by a grant from the California
Department of Conservation.
Copyright© 2009
City of Costa Mesa and Eco Partners, Inc.
All rights reserved.
PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
70% POST-CONSUMER NEWS
CONTENT, USING SOY INKS
Please recycle this publication
after you have read it!
Unless you’ve been out
of the country for several
months, you’ve probably
heard about the
transition from analog
to digital television
(DTV) transmission.
As of February 17,
2009, local television
stations will no longer
be broadcasting
with analog signals.
Instead, these free,
full-power, overthe-air stations will
be broadcasting with
digital technology,
supplying more
programming options and
higher quality signals. So
what does this mean for you?
If you subscribe to a pay service,
such as cable or satellite, you don’t need
to do anything. All of your TVs that are
connected to this service will continue to
receive local television signals. It doesn’t
matter whether your TVs are analog or
digital. If all of your TVs are connected to
the pay service, you are all set and don’t
need to do anything else.
If you rely on “rabbit ears” or a rooftop
antenna, the type of TV that you are using
will matter. You have three options:
◆ Check to see if your current TVs have
built-in digital tuners. You can look for
labels such as “Integrated Digital Tuner”
or “Digital Receiver.” If you can access
the “extra” local channels now, your TV
Take 5
Have you ever tried to go an entire day
without handling any paper? Can you
imagine a day with no morning newspaper,
no receipt for your cup of coffee, no printed
reports at work, no junk mail, no bills paid,
and no book or magazine at bedtime?
Paper is the medium of our lives. It is
also the single largest discard in the U.S.,
comprising 33.9% of all municipal waste
and weighing in at nearly 97 million tons
per year. Fortunately, 56% of that paper, or
about 360 pounds per person each year, is
being recycled.
There won’t be days without paper
anytime soon. However, you can use
paper more wisely. Rather than aim to be
“paperless,” plan to be “paper smart.” Start
with these five steps:
1. Use less paper. Rely more on electronic
communications and online forms,
both in your personal life and at work.
Organize email messages that you
need to keep in electronic folders. Add
websites to your favorites list. Archive
documents on your computer hard drive
and on a backup medium, such as a flash
drive or CD.
2. Get more use from your paper. As
you’ve probably noticed, paper has
has a digital tuner. Any TVs that have
digital tuners will receive the signals
properly after February
17, so you don’t need
to do anything more.
◆ Purchase a set-top
digital-to-analog
converter box for
each analog TV.
These boxes cost
from $50 to $70
and are available at
home electronics and
appliance stores. The
federal government
is offering up to two
coupons, worth $40
each, to offset the cost of
purchasing these converter
boxes. (To request your
coupons, go to www.
dtv2009.gov/ or call 1-888-388-2009.)
◆ Buy a new TV with a digital tuner.
You do not have to purchase a highdefinition television (HDTV). You can
purchase a standard definition DTV, but
be sure that it has a digital tuner built-in.
Remember—you do NOT have to
purchase a new television! However, if you
do choose to buy a new TV to replace an
older one, be sure to recycle your old TV
at one of the Orange County Household
Hazardous Waste Collection Centers.
The conversion to DTV frees up the
analog broadcast spectrum for emergency
and wireless communication systems.
a front and a back. Use them both!
Whenever possible, select two-sided
publishing. Save paper with printing on
only one side to print drafts or jot notes.
3. Reuse paper and paper products. Share
magazines and catalogs with friends and
family members. Borrow books from
the library. Save and reuse boxes.
4. Recycle more paper and paper products.
Recycling paper reduces the demands
on our forests and tree farms. In
addition, making new paper products
from recaptured paper uses less energy
and less water, requires less bleach,
and results in fewer toxic releases of
air and water pollutants. Residents and
businesses can collect paper materials
and recycle them at the Orange Coast
Recycling Center. The Orange Coast
Recycling Center collects all types
of paper materials for recycling,
including office paper, computer paper,
newspaper, magazines, phone books,
books, junk mail, cardboard, shopping
bags, and more! The Center is located
at 2701 Fairview Road in Costa Mesa.
For more information, contact 714-4325131.
5. Buy recycled-content paper and paper
products. Look for recycled-content
products, such as printer paper,
stationery, notebooks and notebook
paper, boxes, tissue products, and more.
El 33.9% de la basura municipal que se junta cada año es papel. Esa basura pesa
aproximadamente unos 97 millones de toneladas. Afortunadamente el 56% de ese papel,
o sea unas 360 libras por persona al año, está siendo reciclado.
Cuando reciclamos el papel reducimos la demanda de árboles para fabricar papel.
Además, al fabricar productos nuevos con papel reciclado usamos menos energía y
menos agua, utilizamos menos blanqueadores y por lo tanto reducimos la cantidad de
substancias tóxicas en el ambiente y en el agua. Los residentes y comercios pueden
juntar sus papeles reciclables y llevarlos al Centro de Reciclaje del Condado Orange.
Se aceptan todo tipo de papeles, tales como papeles de la oficina, de computadora,
periódicos, revistas, directorios telefónicos, libros, publicidad del correo, cartones,
bolsas de compras y mucho más. La dirección del centro es 2701 Fairview Road en
Costa Mesa. Para más información, favor de llamar al 714-432-5131.
A partir del 17 de febrero del 2009,
las estaciones de televisión dejaran de
transmitir usando señales análogas.
En su lugar, las estaciones estarán
transmitiendo sus señales con tecnología
digital, ofreciendo más opciones en su
programación con señales de calidad
superior. Así que, ¿cómo le afectará todo
esto a usted?
Si usted está inscrito a un servicio
de cable o de satélite no necesitará hacer
nada. Todas sus televisiones conectadas
a ese servicio continuarán recibiendo la
señal de las estaciones de televisiones
locales. No importa si sus televisiones
son análogas o digitales.
Si usted cuenta con una “antena de
conejo” o una antena de techo, entonces
el tipo de televisión que posee sí va a
importar. En ese caso, usted tiene tres
opciones:
◆ Verifique si su televisión actual tiene
un adaptador para el sistema digital.
Las televisiones que cuentan con
el adaptador recibirán las señales
apropiadamente después del 17 de
febrero, así que no tiene que hacer
nada más.
◆ Si sus televisiones son análogas y
no cuentan con el adaptador digital
usted tendrá que adquirir un juego
convertidor a digital para cada
televisión análoga que tenga. Estos
juegos tienen un costo de $50 a $70
y los puede conseguir en cualquier
tienda de aparatos electrónicos
y enseres del hogar. El gobierno
federal ofrece hasta dos cupones, de
$40 cada uno, para solventar el gasto.
(Visite la página de Internet www.
dtv2009.gov/ ó llame al 1-888-3882009 para solicitar sus cupones.)
◆ Compre una televisión nueva con
convertidor digital.
Recuerde, ¡NO tiene que comprar
una televisión nueva! Sin embargo, si
decide reemplazar su televisión vieja y
comprar una nueva, asegúrese de reciclar
su televisión vieja llevándola a nuestro
próximo evento para reciclar basura
electrónica.
Learn more
about the
transition
to DTV
www.dtv.gov
www.dtvtransition.org
www.dtv2009.gov
www.epa.gov/ecycling/
tv-convert.htm
www.mygreenelectronics.
com
www.takebackmytv.com
Or call: 1-888-DTV-2009
(1-888-388-2009)
Aprenda más sobre el
cambio de transmisión
digital, visitando la página
www.dtv.gov, o si prefiere
llame al
1-888-388-2009.
A Quarterly Newsletter of
City of Costa Mesa
714-754-5323
www.ci.costa-mesa.ca.us
Winter 2009
Be “sharps” smart
Holiday schedules
Beginning September 1, 2008, California
law (Section 118286 of the California
Health and Safety Code) makes it illegal to
dispose of home-generated sharps waste in
the trash or in recycling containers. This
law also requires that all sharps
waste be transported to
a collection center
in an approved
sharps
The Costa Mesa Sanitary District’s
Christmas Tree Recycling Project
begins on December 29, 2008, and
runs through January 16, 2009.
Trees need to be cut in half
and should not exceed 4-foot
lengths. When disposing of
the tree, please be sure that
all of the tree decorations
(ornaments, lights, and
garland/tinsel) and the tree
stand are removed.
Then, simply
place your bare
Christmas tree out
for collection on your
regular trash collection
day, next to your green containers.
container.
In Costa
Mesa, Steven’s
Pharmacy, Rite Aide,
Ramsey Rexall, and White
Front Pharmacy now collect
sharps containers and distribute new
containers to residents of Costa Mesa. Proof
of residency is required. This program is
made possible through the cooperative
effort of the Costa Mesa Sanitary District.
To expand options for residents, the City
of Costa Mesa has partnered with Orange
County Waste & Recycling to provide a
regional sharps program for Costa Mesa
residents. In September, Orange County
began accepting home-generated syringes
and lancets at the County’s four
Household Hazardous Waste
Collection Centers. Residents
simply deliver their home-generated
syringes and lancets contained in a heavyduty, puncture-resistant container with a
tight-fitting lid. Container examples include
plastic detergent bottles, liquid fabric
softener bottles, empty bleach bottles, and
BD Sharps containers (available at local
pharmacies for a small fee).
Household Hazardous Waste Collection
Centers are located in Anaheim, Huntington
Beach, Irvine, and San Juan Capistrano.
More information about household
hazardous waste disposal is available at
www.oclandfills.com or by calling 714-8346752.
A partir del 1ero. de septiembre del 2008 queda prohibido por ley en California
desechar las agujas medicinales usadas en el hogar en los botes de la basura o de
reciclaje. La misma ley requiere que este tipo de basura se lleve a un centro de
colecta autorizado en el envase autorizado para agujas usadas.
En Costa Mesa, las farmacias Steven’s, Rite Aide, Ramsey Rexall y White Front
Pharmacy reciben agujas usadas en envases autorizados y también distribuyen nuevos
envases. Es necesario presentar comprobante de residencia en Costa Mesa.
A partir de septiembre el Condado Orange ha estado aceptando jeringas y lancetas
usadas en el hogar en cualquiera de los cuatro centros de colecta de basura tóxica del
hogar. Los residentes simplemente llevan sus jeringas y lancetas usadas en un envase
apropiado, resistente a agujas y que esté perfectamente cerrado con tapa. Entre los
envases aceptables usted puede usar las botellas de plástico para detergentes, botellas
vacías de blanqueador y envases BD para agujas (disponibles en las farmacias locales
por un moderado precio.) Los centros de colecta de la basura tóxica del hogar se
encuentran en Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Irvine y San Juan Capistrano. Visite la
página www.oclandfills.com ó llame al 714-834-67542 para obtener más información
sobre el desecho apropiado de este tipo de basura.
During the fall, two Oil
Filter Exchange events
were held in Costa Mesa
at the Kragen Auto Parts
Store. A total of 117 used
oil filters were collected for
recycling. At the events,
residents who delivered
used oil filters were able
to exchange them for new
ones at no charge.
This year, the City of
Costa Mesa is administering
the Used Oil Grant Program
in partnership with Orange
County.
Durante el verano se llevaron a cabo en la tienda de Kragen Auto Parts de Costa
Mesa dos eventos para intercambiar filtros. Se recogieron un total de 117 filtros
de aceite usados para reciclarlos. Durante estos eventos a los residentes que
entregaron un filtro usado se les entrego uno nuevo gratis.
A separate trash truck collects the trees
for recycling.
Trash collection is delayed
one day during the holiday week,
with no collection on New Year’s
Day, January 1, 2009. This
means that Thursday and
Friday collections will be
scheduled for Friday and
Saturday.
For additional
information, please
contact the Costa
Mesa Sanitary
District at 949-6458400.
© iStockphoto.com/Achim Prill
El proyecto de reciclaje de arbolitos de Navidad del Distrito Sanitario de Costa Mesa
empieza el 29 de diciembre del 2008 y continúa hasta el 16 de enero del 2009. Los
arbolitos deben de ser cortados a la mitad y medir menos de 4 pies de largo. Cuando
deseche el arbolito, por favor asegúrese de quitar todas las decoraciones (esferas,
adornos, luces, listones, e incluso el mismo pie del arbolito.) Entonces puede sacar
el arbolito el día que le recogen la basura y colocarlo al lado de su bote verde. Otro
camión de basura pasará a recogerlo para llevarlo a reciclar.
El servicio de basura se retrasa un día durante la semana de las festividades. No
habrá servicio el 1ero. de enero del 2009, Día de Año Nuevo. Esto quiere decir que esa
semana, el servicio del jueves, se dará el viernes y el servicio del viernes, se dará el
sábado.
Para más información, comuníquese con el Distrito Sanitario de Costa Mesa al 949645-8400.
Recycling Reminders
Household Batteries
Many local businesses offer battery
recycling drop-off locations. Some of the
Costa Mesa locations include Office Depot,
Kragen Auto Parts and Best Buy.
Residents can also take their batteries
to an Orange County Household Hazardous
Waste Center. The closest one to Costa
Mesa is in Huntington Beach at 17121
Nichols Street. For more information, you
can call 714-847-3581.
Bottles and Cans
Most beverages packaged in aluminum,
glass, and plastic containers are part of the
California Refund Value program (marked
with “CRV” or “CA Cash Refund”). You
can redeem empty CRV containers and get
a refund of the deposit that you paid when
you purchased the drinks. In Costa Mesa,
redeem your containers at the Orange Coast
College Recycling Center, which is located
at 2701 Fairview Road in Costa Mesa.
The redemption center is open Monday
through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more
information about the Orange Coast College
Recycling Center, call 714-432-5131 or
visit www.orangecoastcollege.edu/about_
occ/facilities/recycling_center/.
Baterías del Hogar: Muchos comercios locales, tales como, Office Depot, Kragen Auto
Parts y Best Buy aceptan las baterías usadas para que sean recicladas. Los residentes
pueden también llevar sus baterías del hogar a uno de los centros de colecta de basura
tóxica del hogar del Condado Orange. El centro más cercano a Costa Mesa se encuentra
en Huntington Beach en 17121 Nichols Street. Para mayor información favor de llamar
al (714) 847-3581.
Botellas y Latas: La mayoría de las bebidas se empacan en envases de aluminio, vidrio
o plástico que participan en el programa de California Refund Value (marcados con las
letras “CRV” ó “CA Cash Refund”.) Usted puede canjear sus envases CRV vacíos y
obtener el reembolso por el depósito que pagó cuando los compró. En Costa Mesa usted
puede llevar sus envases al centro de reciclaje de Orange Coast College, localizado en
2701 Fairview Road. El centro abre de lunes a sábado de 9 a.m. a 5 p.m. Para mayor
información acerca de este centro de reciclaje, llame al 714-432-5131 o visite la página
www.orangecoastcollege.edu/about_occ/facilities/recycling_center.
Winter 2009
FOR A
Page 2
BETTER
10 tips New Year
It’s the time of year when we’re thinking
about making things better—ourselves,
our families, our homes, and our budgets.
As you’re making your resolutions, consider these 10 tips:
1. Before you buy, ask yourself these
questions: Do I need this? Do I
already have something like this? Do
I need something new right now?
Does it have too much packaging?
What will I do with this when I no
longer need it?
2. Stop making “wish lists.” Whether
you make them online, write them
on a scrap of paper, or keep them in
your head, wish lists keep you thinking about what you want but don’t
yet have.
your shelf that you haven’t read?
by” dates and donate unexpired
3. Start your exercise, weight-loss, or
Don’t buy a new book—read one you
items to a local food pantry or other
other self-improvement program on
already own.
non-profit organization.
borrowed or
The same goes
9. Give more of your time and talent. If
shared equipfor movies—
you are feeling that you can’t afford
ment. If you
have you
to donate as much money to your
stick with the
watched all of
favorite causes, commit more of
program or
the DVDs you
your time and energy.
hobby, you can
have at home?
10. Start thinking now about planting a
purchase your
If not, start
garden this year. A garden can be a
own supplies
now.
relaxing hobby and also a good
and equipment
7. Find your
source of food for your family. Even
later, if you
library card.
if you just have a small patio, conneed them.
The library is
sider planting tomatoes or peppers,
4. Precycle. You
a great
which can grow in a pot.
do this by shopresource for
ping for groFor more information, visit
no-cost enterceries and other
www.newdream.org/marketplace/econom
tainment.
products with
y.php for The Center for a New American
Look for
recycling in
Dream’s “Economy Survival Guide: Give
books, magamind. Know
Your Life a Make-Under,” or call 877zines, CDs,
what you can
68-DREAM.
movies, and
recycle and
(c) Monkey Business Images/SnapVillage.com
more.
choose products
8. Scan your pantry shelves for food
packaged in those materials. Better
that your family won’t eat. We all
yet, try to buy items with no packaghave canned and boxed goods that
ing whenever possible. For example,
we purchased but never got around
if you need a bunch of bananas or
to using. Check the “use by” or “best
two apples, you don’t need a plastic
Every dollar I spend is
produce bag.
a statement about the
5. Commit to recycled-content prodkind
of world I want
ucts. Successful recycling programs
and
the
quality of life I
depend on having manufacturers use
value.
your recyclables. If you need a new
New American Dream
fleece vest or jacket, look for fleece
www.newdream.org
made from recycled soft drink botEs la época del año en que pensamos cómo mejotles. Did the dog ruin your carpet?
rar las cosas. Cuando haga sus propósitos de Año
Cada dólar que gasto
Select recycled-content carpet.
Nuevo, considere estos diez consejos:
delata la clase de
6. Take an inventory at home. Do you
1. Antes de comprar, hágase estas preguntas:
mundo que quiero y la
have supplies for a hobby that you
¿Necesito esto? ¿Tengo algo parecido?
calidad de vida que
never started? Now would be a good
¿Necesito realmente algo nuevo ahora? ¿Tiene
valoro.
time to begin. Do you have books on
mucho empaque? ¿Qué voy a hacer con esto
Nuevo Sueño Americano
cuando ya no lo necesite?
www.newdream.org
2. Deje de soñar en lo que le gustaría comprar.
(c) Louoates/SnapVillage.com
▼
QUOTES
REQUOTED
Use it up, wear it
out, make it do, or
do without.
Early American Saying
Úsalo, aprovéchalo,
acábatelo, o vive
sin ello.
Dicho americano
Source: U.S. National Archives and
Records Administration
10 Consejos para un
MejorAño Nuevo
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Ya sea que haga una lista de esas cosas por
Internet, o las escriba en un papel, o haga anotaciones mentales, esas listas sólo
lo orillan a comprar cosas que desea pero que en realidad no necesita.
Haga ejercicio, pierda peso o inicie un programa de superación personal compartiendo o pidiendo prestado el equipo o materiales necesarios. Si realmente se
mantiene con el programa o el pasatiempo, entonces puede considerar comprar
su propio equipo, pero sólo si lo necesita.
Recicle antes de comprar. Puede hacer esto teniendo en mente el reciclaje
durante sus compras de abarrotes y artículos. Esté enterado de lo que puede reciclar y seleccione productos empacados con esos materiales. Mejor aún, procure
comprar artículos sin empaque cada vez que le sea posible. Por ejemplo, cuando
compre plátanos evite embolsarlos.
Comprométase a comprar artículos con materiales reciclados. Muchos de los programas de reciclaje que han tenido éxito dependen de que los fabricantes usen
materiales reciclados. Si necesita un chaleco o chamarra nueva de felpa, busque
una que haya sido de felpa hecha con botellas de bebidas recicladas.
Tome inventario de sus pertenencias. ¿Tiene libros que no ha leído? No compre
uno nuevo, lea el que ya tiene.
Visite la biblioteca. La biblioteca es un gran lugar para entretenerse sin gastar un
centavo. Ahí encontrará libros, revistas, CDs, películas, música y mucho más.
Limpie su alacena sacando la comida que su familia no consumirá. Verifique la
fecha de caducidad y done la comida vigente a una organización o iglesia donde
puedan pasarla a quien la necesite.
Considere donar su tiempo y su talento. Si siente que no puede donar dinero a su
organización favorita, comprométase a donar de su tiempo y de sus habilidades.
Considere empezar una hortaliza este año. Este puede ser un pasatiempo relajante
y un buen recurso de comida para su familia. No necesita mucho espacio para
plantar jitomates y chiles pues estos se dan bien en macetas.
Para mayor información y para obtener la guía para la sobre vivencia económica:
“Give Your Life a Make-Under” del Center for a New American Dream’s visite la
página www.newdream.org/marketplace/economy.php ó llame al 877-68-DREAM.
Page 3
Winter 2009
Are you looking for some indoor fun? Test your “green score”
by playing the interactive trivia game at www.greenmy
brain.com. Each question addresses an environmental problem,
a solution, or an action that you can take. Answers are multiple
choice. There are two levels, with level two questions being
more challenging.
Even at level one, you’ll find some tricky questions, such
as: “Between 1980 and 1999, the Environmental Protection
Agency’s regulations on lead usage reduced lead emissions by
what percent?” (The answer is 95%!) Other questions may
cover more familiar territory, like this one: “Instead of buying
containers for leftovers at the store, you can....” (We’ll let you
figure that one out yourself!)
Whether you are a novice or an
expert, you’ll have fun playing this
game and will learn a lot along the
way.
¿Buscas algo divertido que hacer en casa? Toma la prueba “green score”
Players can even submit quescontestando el juego interactivo en www.greenmybrain.com. Cada pregunta
tions. Of course, the game masters
tiene que ver con un problema del ambiente, una solución o una acción que
do thorough fact-checking before
puedes tomar. Tienes opciones para contestar cada pregunta y hay dos niveposting submitted questions and
les de juego, siendo el nivel dos el más retador.
answers.
¡Piensa verde!
Paper, paper everywhere
(c) iStockphoto.com/Marcus Clackson
Each year, we preserve only 10% of the paper that we receive and handle. This preserved paper includes books,
magazines, photographs, and filed documents. The rest of the paper is recycled or disposed. As much as 81% of
this paper could be recycled, while the remainder is destroyed during use or contaminated, such as tissues.
However, at present, 56% of paper is being recycled, which means we can do better.
Our paper recycling in the U.S. affects the supply of recyclable paper around the globe. America has been
referred to as “the Saudi Arabia of recovered paper.” On average, Americans recycle 360 pounds of paper and
paper products (such as corrugated cardboard) each year. In 2007, 54.3 million tons of paper were recovered for
recycling in the U.S. This paper becomes the feedstock for paper recycling mills around the world.
Just as the Middle East provides much of the
world with oil, the U.S. supplies much of the
world with recyclable paper.
In a time when U.S. paper consumption has
leveled off, paper consumption around the world
is increasing rapidly. At present, worldwide consumption is about 440 million tons per year.
However, by 2015, that number may be as high as
550 million tons, with the largest growth in China
and India, the world’s most populous nations. If
the U.S. were to recycle all of the paper that is
currently recyclable, we could meet nearly onequarter of that additional demand, supplying
about 25 million tons more paper to the recovery
system.
But what about the non-recyclable paper—those papers that are destroyed or contaminated during use? The
best option is to purchase 100% recycled-content alternatives. For instance, if every household in the U.S. purchased a single roll of 100% recycled-content toilet paper, we could save 330,000 trees.
To learn more about paper manufacturing, use, and recycling, go to INFORM’s Secret Life Series at
www.secret-life.org/paper/. You’ll find a helpful video, as well as a great deal of useful information.
For more information about paper recycling, visit www.paperrecycles.org or contact our office.
Papel, papel… por todas partes
Cada año cada persona solo conserva el 10% del papel que
llega a sus manos. Entre ese 10% tenemos libros, revistas,
fotografías y documentos. El resto del papel es reciclado
(81%) o destruido durante su uso o incluso contaminado. Sin
embargo, actualmente sólo el 56% de papel está siendo reciclado lo que quiere decir que tenemos mucho que mejorar.
A pesar de que el nivel de consumo de papel en los
Estados Unidos se ha nivelado, el consumo de papel alrededor del mundo ha crecido rápidamente. Actualmente, ese
consumo mundial es de aproximadamente unos 440 millones
de toneladas al año. Sin embargo, para el año 2015, esa cifra
puede alcanzar hasta 550 millones de toneladas, con la
demanda mayor procediendo de China e India, las dos
naciones más pobladas del mundo. Si en los Estados Unidos
se reciclara todo el papel que es reciclable, podríamos llegar
a satisfacer hasta un cuarto de la demanda adicional, ofreciendo hasta unos 25 millones de toneladas de papel al sistema de recuperación.
Aprenda más sobre el reciclaje de papel visitando las
páginas www.secret-life.org/paper/ ó www.paperrecycles.
org, ó llame a nuestra oficina.
Last summer, Dr. Marcus Eriksen and Joel Paschal set sail from
Long Beach, California and headed for Honolulu, Hawaii.
However, they weren’t traveling on a traditional and comfortable craft. Instead, they were aboard a raft floating on pontoons
made from 15,000 plastic water bottles, sitting atop a deck
made from salvaged sailboat masts, and enjoying only the shelter of an old Cessna private plane’s body. The raft had four sails
and was able to travel about 50 miles each day. The 2,600 mile
journey took nearly three months.
The raft was made from junk and christened “Junk” to
shed light on an urgent marine problem—the accumulation of
plastic debris, especially bottles and
bags, in our oceans.
Plastic debris in the
oceans can harm
aquatic life, choking
birds, killing plankton, and releasing
toxins into the
water. In an area
north of Hawaii,
known as the North
Pacific Gyre, a large whirlpool of plastic trash spins. The area
is home to more plastic, by weight, than plankton, which are
small drifting organisms that form the bottom of the marine
food chain.
Thanks to modern technology, the mariners were able to
stay on course and in touch with Anna Cummins, who provided
ground support. During the voyage, they took video and blogged
their journey, posting the results regularly on the Internet.
To learn more about making the Junk raft and the trip
across the eastern Pacific, visit www.junkraft.blogspot.com or
http://junkraft.com. To watch video about the voyage, go to
www.YouTube.com and search for “junk raft.”
Photo courtesy of YachtPals.com
Green your brain!
“Junk” highlights plastic
problem in oceans
“La Basura” encabeza el problema de
plásticos en los océanos
El verano pasado el Dr. Marcus Eriksen y Joel Paschal navegaron en un bote de vela desde Long Beach, California hasta
Honolulu, Hawaii. Su bote con flotadores fue fabricado con unas
15,000 botellas de plástico para agua, una cubierta hecha con
mástiles viejos de botes de vela y con una cabina construída con
materiales de un avión Cessna viejo. La jornada de casi unas
2,600 millas les tomo casi tres meses.
El bote fue fabricado con basura y le dieron el nombre de
“Basura” precisamente para llamar la atención a ese problema
marino urgente, la acumulación de basura de plástico, especialmente botellas y bolsas que existe en nuestros océanos. La
basura de plástico en los océanos causa mucho daño a la vida
marina, ahorcando aves, matando vegetación marítima flotante y
soltando toxinas en el agua.
Aprenda cómo hacer un bote como Basura y obtenga
detalles del viaje a través del océano Pacífico superior, visitando
la página www.junkraft.blogspot.com, ó la página
http://junkraft.com. Si desea ver el video sobre la jornada entre a
www.YouTube.com y busque “junk raft.”
What is the Forest Stewardship Council?
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an independent, international organization which certifies forests and forest-based products. The FSC standards focus on environmentally responsible, socially beneficial, and economically
viable forestry management practices. The goal of the FSC is forests that conserve biological diversity, minimize
logging-related pollution, improve the lives of forest workers and surrounding communities, and encourage longterm health and usefulness of the forest stock.
However, FSC certification doesn’t stop at the
¿A qué se dedica la organización Forest
edge of the forest. Through a rigorous, chain of
Stewardship Council?
custody certification program, FSC follows the
tree to sawmill, manufacturing plant, and distribuEl grupo The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) es una organition center. When a paper or building product
zación internacional independiente que se dedica a certificar
bears the FSC logo, you’ll know that the trees used bosques y productos del bosque. Los estándares del consejo se
to make the product were harvested in the most
enfocan en prácticas para el manejo forestal que sean ambiensustainable way possible.
talmente responsables, de beneficio para la sociedad y
In 2008, 254 million acres of forest worldeconómicamente viables. En el 2008, 254 millones de acres de
wide, representing about 7% of all forests, had
bosques alrededor del mundo, o sea un 7% de todos los
received FSC certification. More than 10,000 prod- bosques, recibieron la certificación de este consejo. Más de
ucts are FSC certified. When you shop for building 10,000 productos fueron también certificados por el FSC.
products, paper, and paper products, look for the
Cuando compre productos para la construcción, papel y productos de papel, asegúrese que tengan el logotipo de FSC.
FSC logo.
Obtenga más información visitando la página www.fscus.org.
For more information, visit www.fscus.org.
Page 4
Winter 2009
Here it comes!
Build Green
Incentive Program
The City of Costa Mesa is offering the
Build Green Program for a second,
nine-month window, which began on
September 17, 2008 and runs through
June 30, 2009. The Build Green
Incentive Program was created to
encourage and assist all City residents
and businesses to build green.
The Build Green Incentive Program,
created by the City Council, provides
a waiver of all building permit fees for
residents and businesses installing solar
panels; domestic tankless water heaters;
high-efficiency heating, ventilation, and
air conditioning systems; and/or Energy
Star windows and doors.
Detailed information is available
under the topic “Build Green” on the
City’s Website at www.ci.costa-mesa.
ca.us/departments/green-building/greenbldg.htm.
The information may also be obtained
at the Building Safety Division counter
in the Development Services Department
located on the second floor of City Hall
in Costa Mesa. Or, call the Building
Safety Division at 714-754-5273.
La ciudad de Costa Mesa está
nuevamente ofreciendo el programa
incentivo “Build Green”, por nueve
meses más que corren del 17 de
septiembre del 2008 hasta el 30 de junio
del 2009. Este programa elimina las
cuotas de los permisos de construcción
para los residentes y comercios que
instalen en sus facilidades tableros
solares, calentadores de agua domésticos
sin tanque, sistemas de alta eficiencia
de calefacción, ventilación y aire
acondicionado y/o ventanas y puertas
certificadas por Energy Star. Entérese
de todos los detalles visitando la página
www.ci.costa-mesa.ca.us/departments/
green-building/green-bldg.htm; o vaya
al aparador de Building Safety Division
que se encuentra en el Departamento de
Servicios de Desarrollo, localizado en
el segundo piso del City Hall de Costa
Mesa; o si prefiere llame al 714-7545273.
ZeroWaste
You Make It Happen!
We want your suggestions,
questions, and comments!
City of Costa Mesa
77 Fair Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
714-754-5323
[email protected]
www.ci.costa-mesa.ca.us
Funded by a grant from the California
Department of Conservation.
Copyright© 2009
City of Costa Mesa and Eco Partners, Inc.
All rights reserved.
PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
70% POST-CONSUMER NEWS
CONTENT, USING SOY INKS
Please recycle this publication
after you have read it!
Unless you’ve been out
of the country for several
months, you’ve probably
heard about the
transition from analog
to digital television
(DTV) transmission.
As of February 17,
2009, local television
stations will no longer
be broadcasting
with analog signals.
Instead, these free,
full-power, overthe-air stations will
be broadcasting with
digital technology,
supplying more
programming options and
higher quality signals. So
what does this mean for you?
If you subscribe to a pay service,
such as cable or satellite, you don’t need
to do anything. All of your TVs that are
connected to this service will continue to
receive local television signals. It doesn’t
matter whether your TVs are analog or
digital. If all of your TVs are connected to
the pay service, you are all set and don’t
need to do anything else.
If you rely on “rabbit ears” or a rooftop
antenna, the type of TV that you are using
will matter. You have three options:
◆ Check to see if your current TVs have
built-in digital tuners. You can look for
labels such as “Integrated Digital Tuner”
or “Digital Receiver.” If you can access
the “extra” local channels now, your TV
Take 5
Have you ever tried to go an entire day
without handling any paper? Can you
imagine a day with no morning newspaper,
no receipt for your cup of coffee, no printed
reports at work, no junk mail, no bills paid,
and no book or magazine at bedtime?
Paper is the medium of our lives. It is
also the single largest discard in the U.S.,
comprising 33.9% of all municipal waste
and weighing in at nearly 97 million tons
per year. Fortunately, 56% of that paper, or
about 360 pounds per person each year, is
being recycled.
There won’t be days without paper
anytime soon. However, you can use
paper more wisely. Rather than aim to be
“paperless,” plan to be “paper smart.” Start
with these five steps:
1. Use less paper. Rely more on electronic
communications and online forms,
both in your personal life and at work.
Organize email messages that you
need to keep in electronic folders. Add
websites to your favorites list. Archive
documents on your computer hard drive
and on a backup medium, such as a flash
drive or CD.
2. Get more use from your paper. As
you’ve probably noticed, paper has
has a digital tuner. Any TVs that have
digital tuners will receive the signals
properly after February
17, so you don’t need
to do anything more.
◆ Purchase a set-top
digital-to-analog
converter box for
each analog TV.
These boxes cost
from $50 to $70
and are available at
home electronics and
appliance stores. The
federal government
is offering up to two
coupons, worth $40
each, to offset the cost of
purchasing these converter
boxes. (To request your
coupons, go to www.
dtv2009.gov/ or call 1-888-388-2009.)
◆ Buy a new TV with a digital tuner.
You do not have to purchase a highdefinition television (HDTV). You can
purchase a standard definition DTV, but
be sure that it has a digital tuner built-in.
Remember—you do NOT have to
purchase a new television! However, if you
do choose to buy a new TV to replace an
older one, be sure to recycle your old TV
at one of the Orange County Household
Hazardous Waste Collection Centers.
The conversion to DTV frees up the
analog broadcast spectrum for emergency
and wireless communication systems.
a front and a back. Use them both!
Whenever possible, select two-sided
publishing. Save paper with printing on
only one side to print drafts or jot notes.
3. Reuse paper and paper products. Share
magazines and catalogs with friends and
family members. Borrow books from
the library. Save and reuse boxes.
4. Recycle more paper and paper products.
Recycling paper reduces the demands
on our forests and tree farms. In
addition, making new paper products
from recaptured paper uses less energy
and less water, requires less bleach,
and results in fewer toxic releases of
air and water pollutants. Residents and
businesses can collect paper materials
and recycle them at the Orange Coast
Recycling Center. The Orange Coast
Recycling Center collects all types
of paper materials for recycling,
including office paper, computer paper,
newspaper, magazines, phone books,
books, junk mail, cardboard, shopping
bags, and more! The Center is located
at 2701 Fairview Road in Costa Mesa.
For more information, contact 714-4325131.
5. Buy recycled-content paper and paper
products. Look for recycled-content
products, such as printer paper,
stationery, notebooks and notebook
paper, boxes, tissue products, and more.
El 33.9% de la basura municipal que se junta cada año es papel. Esa basura pesa
aproximadamente unos 97 millones de toneladas. Afortunadamente el 56% de ese papel,
o sea unas 360 libras por persona al año, está siendo reciclado.
Cuando reciclamos el papel reducimos la demanda de árboles para fabricar papel.
Además, al fabricar productos nuevos con papel reciclado usamos menos energía y
menos agua, utilizamos menos blanqueadores y por lo tanto reducimos la cantidad de
substancias tóxicas en el ambiente y en el agua. Los residentes y comercios pueden
juntar sus papeles reciclables y llevarlos al Centro de Reciclaje del Condado Orange.
Se aceptan todo tipo de papeles, tales como papeles de la oficina, de computadora,
periódicos, revistas, directorios telefónicos, libros, publicidad del correo, cartones,
bolsas de compras y mucho más. La dirección del centro es 2701 Fairview Road en
Costa Mesa. Para más información, favor de llamar al 714-432-5131.
A partir del 17 de febrero del 2009,
las estaciones de televisión dejaran de
transmitir usando señales análogas.
En su lugar, las estaciones estarán
transmitiendo sus señales con tecnología
digital, ofreciendo más opciones en su
programación con señales de calidad
superior. Así que, ¿cómo le afectará todo
esto a usted?
Si usted está inscrito a un servicio
de cable o de satélite no necesitará hacer
nada. Todas sus televisiones conectadas
a ese servicio continuarán recibiendo la
señal de las estaciones de televisiones
locales. No importa si sus televisiones
son análogas o digitales.
Si usted cuenta con una “antena de
conejo” o una antena de techo, entonces
el tipo de televisión que posee sí va a
importar. En ese caso, usted tiene tres
opciones:
◆ Verifique si su televisión actual tiene
un adaptador para el sistema digital.
Las televisiones que cuentan con
el adaptador recibirán las señales
apropiadamente después del 17 de
febrero, así que no tiene que hacer
nada más.
◆ Si sus televisiones son análogas y
no cuentan con el adaptador digital
usted tendrá que adquirir un juego
convertidor a digital para cada
televisión análoga que tenga. Estos
juegos tienen un costo de $50 a $70
y los puede conseguir en cualquier
tienda de aparatos electrónicos
y enseres del hogar. El gobierno
federal ofrece hasta dos cupones, de
$40 cada uno, para solventar el gasto.
(Visite la página de Internet www.
dtv2009.gov/ ó llame al 1-888-3882009 para solicitar sus cupones.)
◆ Compre una televisión nueva con
convertidor digital.
Recuerde, ¡NO tiene que comprar
una televisión nueva! Sin embargo, si
decide reemplazar su televisión vieja y
comprar una nueva, asegúrese de reciclar
su televisión vieja llevándola a nuestro
próximo evento para reciclar basura
electrónica.
Learn more
about the
transition
to DTV
www.dtv.gov
www.dtvtransition.org
www.dtv2009.gov
www.epa.gov/ecycling/
tv-convert.htm
www.mygreenelectronics.
com
www.takebackmytv.com
Or call: 1-888-DTV-2009
(1-888-388-2009)
Aprenda más sobre el
cambio de transmisión
digital, visitando la página
www.dtv.gov, o si prefiere
llame al
1-888-388-2009.
A Quarterly Newsletter of
City of Costa Mesa
714-754-5323
www.ci.costa-mesa.ca.us
Winter 2009
Be “sharps” smart
Holiday schedules
Beginning September 1, 2008, California
law (Section 118286 of the California
Health and Safety Code) makes it illegal to
dispose of home-generated sharps waste in
the trash or in recycling containers. This
law also requires that all sharps
waste be transported to
a collection center
in an approved
sharps
The Costa Mesa Sanitary District’s
Christmas Tree Recycling Project
begins on December 29, 2008, and
runs through January 16, 2009.
Trees need to be cut in half
and should not exceed 4-foot
lengths. When disposing of
the tree, please be sure that
all of the tree decorations
(ornaments, lights, and
garland/tinsel) and the tree
stand are removed.
Then, simply
place your bare
Christmas tree out
for collection on your
regular trash collection
day, next to your green containers.
container.
In Costa
Mesa, Steven’s
Pharmacy, Rite Aide,
Ramsey Rexall, and White
Front Pharmacy now collect
sharps containers and distribute new
containers to residents of Costa Mesa. Proof
of residency is required. This program is
made possible through the cooperative
effort of the Costa Mesa Sanitary District.
To expand options for residents, the City
of Costa Mesa has partnered with Orange
County Waste & Recycling to provide a
regional sharps program for Costa Mesa
residents. In September, Orange County
began accepting home-generated syringes
and lancets at the County’s four
Household Hazardous Waste
Collection Centers. Residents
simply deliver their home-generated
syringes and lancets contained in a heavyduty, puncture-resistant container with a
tight-fitting lid. Container examples include
plastic detergent bottles, liquid fabric
softener bottles, empty bleach bottles, and
BD Sharps containers (available at local
pharmacies for a small fee).
Household Hazardous Waste Collection
Centers are located in Anaheim, Huntington
Beach, Irvine, and San Juan Capistrano.
More information about household
hazardous waste disposal is available at
www.oclandfills.com or by calling 714-8346752.
A partir del 1ero. de septiembre del 2008 queda prohibido por ley en California
desechar las agujas medicinales usadas en el hogar en los botes de la basura o de
reciclaje. La misma ley requiere que este tipo de basura se lleve a un centro de
colecta autorizado en el envase autorizado para agujas usadas.
En Costa Mesa, las farmacias Steven’s, Rite Aide, Ramsey Rexall y White Front
Pharmacy reciben agujas usadas en envases autorizados y también distribuyen nuevos
envases. Es necesario presentar comprobante de residencia en Costa Mesa.
A partir de septiembre el Condado Orange ha estado aceptando jeringas y lancetas
usadas en el hogar en cualquiera de los cuatro centros de colecta de basura tóxica del
hogar. Los residentes simplemente llevan sus jeringas y lancetas usadas en un envase
apropiado, resistente a agujas y que esté perfectamente cerrado con tapa. Entre los
envases aceptables usted puede usar las botellas de plástico para detergentes, botellas
vacías de blanqueador y envases BD para agujas (disponibles en las farmacias locales
por un moderado precio.) Los centros de colecta de la basura tóxica del hogar se
encuentran en Anaheim, Huntington Beach, Irvine y San Juan Capistrano. Visite la
página www.oclandfills.com ó llame al 714-834-67542 para obtener más información
sobre el desecho apropiado de este tipo de basura.
During the fall, two Oil
Filter Exchange events
were held in Costa Mesa
at the Kragen Auto Parts
Store. A total of 117 used
oil filters were collected for
recycling. At the events,
residents who delivered
used oil filters were able
to exchange them for new
ones at no charge.
This year, the City of
Costa Mesa is administering
the Used Oil Grant Program
in partnership with Orange
County.
Durante el verano se llevaron a cabo en la tienda de Kragen Auto Parts de Costa
Mesa dos eventos para intercambiar filtros. Se recogieron un total de 117 filtros
de aceite usados para reciclarlos. Durante estos eventos a los residentes que
entregaron un filtro usado se les entrego uno nuevo gratis.
A separate trash truck collects the trees
for recycling.
Trash collection is delayed
one day during the holiday week,
with no collection on New Year’s
Day, January 1, 2009. This
means that Thursday and
Friday collections will be
scheduled for Friday and
Saturday.
For additional
information, please
contact the Costa
Mesa Sanitary
District at 949-6458400.
© iStockphoto.com/Achim Prill
El proyecto de reciclaje de arbolitos de Navidad del Distrito Sanitario de Costa Mesa
empieza el 29 de diciembre del 2008 y continúa hasta el 16 de enero del 2009. Los
arbolitos deben de ser cortados a la mitad y medir menos de 4 pies de largo. Cuando
deseche el arbolito, por favor asegúrese de quitar todas las decoraciones (esferas,
adornos, luces, listones, e incluso el mismo pie del arbolito.) Entonces puede sacar
el arbolito el día que le recogen la basura y colocarlo al lado de su bote verde. Otro
camión de basura pasará a recogerlo para llevarlo a reciclar.
El servicio de basura se retrasa un día durante la semana de las festividades. No
habrá servicio el 1ero. de enero del 2009, Día de Año Nuevo. Esto quiere decir que esa
semana, el servicio del jueves, se dará el viernes y el servicio del viernes, se dará el
sábado.
Para más información, comuníquese con el Distrito Sanitario de Costa Mesa al 949645-8400.
Recycling Reminders
Household Batteries
Many local businesses offer battery
recycling drop-off locations. Some of the
Costa Mesa locations include Office Depot,
Kragen Auto Parts and Best Buy.
Residents can also take their batteries
to an Orange County Household Hazardous
Waste Center. The closest one to Costa
Mesa is in Huntington Beach at 17121
Nichols Street. For more information, you
can call 714-847-3581.
Bottles and Cans
Most beverages packaged in aluminum,
glass, and plastic containers are part of the
California Refund Value program (marked
with “CRV” or “CA Cash Refund”). You
can redeem empty CRV containers and get
a refund of the deposit that you paid when
you purchased the drinks. In Costa Mesa,
redeem your containers at the Orange Coast
College Recycling Center, which is located
at 2701 Fairview Road in Costa Mesa.
The redemption center is open Monday
through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more
information about the Orange Coast College
Recycling Center, call 714-432-5131 or
visit www.orangecoastcollege.edu/about_
occ/facilities/recycling_center/.
Baterías del Hogar: Muchos comercios locales, tales como, Office Depot, Kragen Auto
Parts y Best Buy aceptan las baterías usadas para que sean recicladas. Los residentes
pueden también llevar sus baterías del hogar a uno de los centros de colecta de basura
tóxica del hogar del Condado Orange. El centro más cercano a Costa Mesa se encuentra
en Huntington Beach en 17121 Nichols Street. Para mayor información favor de llamar
al (714) 847-3581.
Botellas y Latas: La mayoría de las bebidas se empacan en envases de aluminio, vidrio
o plástico que participan en el programa de California Refund Value (marcados con las
letras “CRV” ó “CA Cash Refund”.) Usted puede canjear sus envases CRV vacíos y
obtener el reembolso por el depósito que pagó cuando los compró. En Costa Mesa usted
puede llevar sus envases al centro de reciclaje de Orange Coast College, localizado en
2701 Fairview Road. El centro abre de lunes a sábado de 9 a.m. a 5 p.m. Para mayor
información acerca de este centro de reciclaje, llame al 714-432-5131 o visite la página
www.orangecoastcollege.edu/about_occ/facilities/recycling_center.