Mark your calendar for Saturday, April 26 as Vallejo celebrates its tenth annual Earth Day. Local and national organizations will staff informational booths in the 200 block of Georgia Street adjacent to the Certified Farmers’ Market from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Vallejo’s first E-Waste (Electronic Waste) Recycling event will take place behind City Hall from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on April 26. More details are below.

Vallejo Sanitation and Flood Control District (VSFCD) is celebrating Earth Day early with two workshops for Vallejo gardeners. Their Environmental Education Coordinator, Fern Wilson, has invited Annie Joseph and this writer to participate. Annie Joseph, a California Certified Nursery Professional, will teach participants how to garden with less-toxic pesticides and other Integrated Pest Management techniques. Samples of less-toxic garden products will be given out.

I’ll be there teaching backyard composting. One lucky gardener will win a compost bin each day. The workshops will be at held at YardBirds located at 66 Admiral Callaghan Lane from 10:00 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, April 22, and Thursday, April 26.

Vallejo’s Recycling Coordinator, Derek Crutchfield, has arranged for Timothy Wenk, the Recycling Magician, and The Caterpillar Puppets to perform at elementary schools. The Caterpillar Puppets’ show includes information on used motor oil recycling.

EARTH DAY HIGHLIGHTS
Mayor Intintoli and Councilperson Donahue will dedicate the event at10:30 a.m. Congressman George Miller is planning to attend the celebration between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Six Flags Marine World trainers will bring animals at 10:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., and the Recycled Generation will perform at 11:00 a.m.

City agencies will have displays featuring their efforts to become more sustainable which includes their solar energy project, water conservation, tree maintenance, neighborhood cleanups, and the city’s hybrid cars.

This year, everyone can pick up an “Earth Passport” and get it stamped at each booth. Completed passports can be entered into a drawing for prizes including a wheel barrel filled with environmentally friendly garden products, a biostack composting bin, Earth Day T-shirts, shopping bags, recycled paper, posters, and more.

Annie Joseph will be at the VSFCD booth with less-toxic pest control flyers. Children can transplant a marigold to take home to help keep bad bugs out of their gardens. Adults can fill out a survey to qualify for a container of lady bugs. The public can also purchase California Native plants at the event.

VALCORE will have a composting expert ready to answer your questions and information about our community-run recycling center. Vallejo Garbage will have information on commercial recycling, yardwaste, motor oil and oil filter recycling.

Vallejo Recycles will bring Cycler the recycling robot. Cycler is made from cans, bottles and other recyclable materials and will be moving around the event.

The Scrap to Art booth will invite children to make Rubbish Assisted Percussion or RAP instruments along with map hats and scrap sculptures.

Other Earth Day participants include Solano Commuters, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, USDA Forest Service, The Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum, and Pacific Gas and Electric.

Our thanks to all the sponsors listed above and the following: Farmers’ Market, Times-Herald, Sierra Club, Turn Around Products, Vallejo Community Arts Foundation, and Mel Orpilla.

E-WASTE RECYCLING
On Earth Day, April 26, Vallejo residents can bring their E-Waste to the parking lot behind city hall from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Recyclers will accept old computers, monitors, televisions, phones, stereos, toaster ovens, tools, hair dryers, razors, fans, and microwaves. Any small electronic devices that one can carry in will be accepted. Large items such as refrigerators, washers and dryers will not be accepted.

This free event is an important way to keep hazardous electronic items out of the landfill, our alleys, and waterways.

Derek Crutchfield is working with Vallejo Garbage Service General Manager Peter Friesen and Recycling Manager Sarah Gallegos-Ascencio on this event. Vallejo residents must show valid id’s and fill out a short questionnaire before proceeding through the drive-through drop off. For more information please call Derek at 648-5346.