In Spanish, Solana means “place where the light shines.” The Solana Center for Environmental Innovation carries the torch of environmental awareness by finding ways to illuminate problems, create solutions and inspire change.
The Solana Center for Environmental Innovation offers a broad array of programs, which address both regional and national issues, including environmental education, pollution prevention, forest preservation, sustainable living, renewable technologies and recycled product procurement.
“One of our programs businesses can utilize involves learning how to place small worm bins in their offices for their food waste,” said Sandy Atkinson, executive director of the Solana Center. “We also can teach businesses sustainable practices in terms of their purchasing and recycling.”
The nonprofit organization has a staff of four, several interns and about 40 volunteers, as well as dozens of master composters who have completed its six-week certification program. The Carlsbad Business Journal sat down with Atkinson to learn more about the Solana Center and the services it offers.
CBJ: When and why was the Solana Center established?
Atkinson: The Solana Center pioneered curbside recycling in San Diego County in 1983, known then as Solana Recyclers. It began as a volunteer program, eventually contracting with several municipalities as a nonprofit organization, and receiving recognition from the state of California as a role model. In 1997, the collection services were discontinued. The name was changed to Solana Center for Environmental Innovation and we became a premier environmental education and outreach organization, primarily serving schools and community groups countywide.
CBJ: What is the organization's mission?
Atkinson: To create a better environment through innovation, leadership, education and participation. Our vision statement is: To be a leader in growing a green community through effective programs that engage the public in making it easy to be green.
CBJ: What services does the Solana Center offer?
Atkinson: We focus on ways to live a sustainable lifestyle, eliminate pollution in our environment and protect our natural resources and watersheds. We support the goal of attaining zero waste. Recycling, composting and knowledge of proper elimination of household hazardous and electronic waste are important aspects of that. We reach more than 10,000 individuals annually with our programs. In Carlsbad, we teach watershed protection to more than 56 third grade classes. Some of our other school programs include trash audits to find what is not being recycled, which can save the school tens of thousands of dollars in trash hauling fees. We then educate the children on how to recycle properly. One of the most rewarding programs includes setting up a school lunch compost project. The food scraps are separated and the students compost their excess food, which is then used to grow vegetables. We offer free composting workshops at various community gardens for adults, and group or scout troop presentations at our site for a small fee. We also teach recycling to condo and apartment dwellers. Every other month, we offer electronic waste collections at our site in Encinitas; Jan. 30 is the next one.
CBJ: What is unique about the Solana Center?
Atkinson: Carlsbad residents can buy discounted compost bins through a subsidy from the city of Carlsbad from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at our site in Encinitas. A bin worth $150 is only $50, or $40 for a vermicompost (worm) bin. Residents of other cities can check our Web site to see what discounts might be available to them. We offer a Master Composter Certification Program. This in-depth, six-week course trains adults in the science of composting, soil stewardship and reduction of toxic chemicals. After completing the course, the master composters commit to volunteering as stewards of our compost sites at our partnering schools and community gardens. They also help staff educational workshops and booths. We have trained more than 220 master composters.
CBJ: How did you become involved in the sustainability movement?
Atkinson: Growing up in the '50s in New Jersey, we recycled our papers and composted. We reused and recycled whatever we could. I'm disappointed the country became a throwaway society and that it has taken us so long to regain common sense. When I lived in Cardiff in the mid-1980s, I became a volunteer block captain for Solana Recyclers. Soon after, I joined the board of directors and served on it for more than 20 years before becoming the executive director.
CBJ: What green practices do you incorporate into your life?
Atkinson: I do the basics, including carrying reusable shopping bags and bottles, which we sell at the center. What I am most excited about is the worm farm on the patio of my Carlsbad home. Worms process all my food scraps in the vermicompost bin. I also have served on the Carlsbad Chamber's Sustainability Committee for more than a year and helped develop the Green Business Checklist (for green business certification). The monthly meetings are very informative and I encourage everyone to become involved.
The Solana Center for Environmental Innovation:
137 El Camino Real, Encinitas
(760) 436-7986
www.solanacenter.org
The Solana Center for Environmental Innovation offers a broad array of programs, which address both regional and national issues, including environmental education, pollution prevention, forest preservation, sustainable living, renewable technologies and recycled product procurement.
“One of our programs businesses can utilize involves learning how to place small worm bins in their offices for their food waste,” said Sandy Atkinson, executive director of the Solana Center. “We also can teach businesses sustainable practices in terms of their purchasing and recycling.”
The nonprofit organization has a staff of four, several interns and about 40 volunteers, as well as dozens of master composters who have completed its six-week certification program. The Carlsbad Business Journal sat down with Atkinson to learn more about the Solana Center and the services it offers.
CBJ: When and why was the Solana Center established?
Atkinson: The Solana Center pioneered curbside recycling in San Diego County in 1983, known then as Solana Recyclers. It began as a volunteer program, eventually contracting with several municipalities as a nonprofit organization, and receiving recognition from the state of California as a role model. In 1997, the collection services were discontinued. The name was changed to Solana Center for Environmental Innovation and we became a premier environmental education and outreach organization, primarily serving schools and community groups countywide.
CBJ: What is the organization's mission?
Atkinson: To create a better environment through innovation, leadership, education and participation. Our vision statement is: To be a leader in growing a green community through effective programs that engage the public in making it easy to be green.
CBJ: What services does the Solana Center offer?
Atkinson: We focus on ways to live a sustainable lifestyle, eliminate pollution in our environment and protect our natural resources and watersheds. We support the goal of attaining zero waste. Recycling, composting and knowledge of proper elimination of household hazardous and electronic waste are important aspects of that. We reach more than 10,000 individuals annually with our programs. In Carlsbad, we teach watershed protection to more than 56 third grade classes. Some of our other school programs include trash audits to find what is not being recycled, which can save the school tens of thousands of dollars in trash hauling fees. We then educate the children on how to recycle properly. One of the most rewarding programs includes setting up a school lunch compost project. The food scraps are separated and the students compost their excess food, which is then used to grow vegetables. We offer free composting workshops at various community gardens for adults, and group or scout troop presentations at our site for a small fee. We also teach recycling to condo and apartment dwellers. Every other month, we offer electronic waste collections at our site in Encinitas; Jan. 30 is the next one.
CBJ: What is unique about the Solana Center?
Atkinson: Carlsbad residents can buy discounted compost bins through a subsidy from the city of Carlsbad from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at our site in Encinitas. A bin worth $150 is only $50, or $40 for a vermicompost (worm) bin. Residents of other cities can check our Web site to see what discounts might be available to them. We offer a Master Composter Certification Program. This in-depth, six-week course trains adults in the science of composting, soil stewardship and reduction of toxic chemicals. After completing the course, the master composters commit to volunteering as stewards of our compost sites at our partnering schools and community gardens. They also help staff educational workshops and booths. We have trained more than 220 master composters.
CBJ: How did you become involved in the sustainability movement?
Atkinson: Growing up in the '50s in New Jersey, we recycled our papers and composted. We reused and recycled whatever we could. I'm disappointed the country became a throwaway society and that it has taken us so long to regain common sense. When I lived in Cardiff in the mid-1980s, I became a volunteer block captain for Solana Recyclers. Soon after, I joined the board of directors and served on it for more than 20 years before becoming the executive director.
CBJ: What green practices do you incorporate into your life?
Atkinson: I do the basics, including carrying reusable shopping bags and bottles, which we sell at the center. What I am most excited about is the worm farm on the patio of my Carlsbad home. Worms process all my food scraps in the vermicompost bin. I also have served on the Carlsbad Chamber's Sustainability Committee for more than a year and helped develop the Green Business Checklist (for green business certification). The monthly meetings are very informative and I encourage everyone to become involved.
The Solana Center for Environmental Innovation:
137 El Camino Real, Encinitas
(760) 436-7986
www.solanacenter.org