S. J. has a problem; recycling is the answer
San Jose has a litter problem. A big one.
A recent report by Save the Bay listed San Jose’s Coyote Creek as one of the worst hot spots for litter in the region. An article in the Mercury News also outlined the regional issue, saying San Jose needs to spend $ 1 million through June of next year to clean up litter around homeless encampments.
While it would be great if one single solution or entity could solve the problem, the reality is it will take all of us— friends, neighbors, businesses, nonprofits, faith organizations and elected officials— to make a difference.
That is why the San Jose Clean Community Coalition was created. With financial support from the private sector and time and energy provided by volunteers and nonprofit organizations, the coalition is working to prevent and remove all forms of litter. We sponsor and encourage clean ups and anti- litter public education activities that are having real positive effects on our communities.
Join with us to take back our streets, our creeks, and our community by picking up litter and recycling our trash.
Our mission is consistent with San Jose’s desire to partner with community organizations to reduce litter, reducing cost to the city. We are also partnering with government, business, and individuals to clean up bottles, cups and other litter that is a blight in our community.
Recently, Keep California Beautiful, one of the state’s oldest anti- litter organizations, joined our coalition, adding to our ability to spread recycling and anti- litter awareness and mobilize friends and families to get moving toward a more sustainable future.
It is our hope that programs like last week’s America Recycles Day, a Keep America Beautiful project, will motivate residents to increase recycling in their own
homes. Getting started is easy and will have a profound impact on San Jose if we all do our part:
Take advantage of the city’s recycling services. Be sure to put your boxes, cans, plastics, and cartons in the recycling bin while your other trash goes in the trash bin.
Look for opportunities to utilize the recycling bins in public places, and keep a bag in your car in case you don’t see any. You can bring recyclable materials home to put in your own recycling bin or take to local drop- off locations.
Get involved in organized cleanups. Because we are working together, 14 litter cleanup events have taken place since March 2012 with more than 30,000 pounds of litter removed from San Jose streets and the creek systems. These efforts are making a real difference.
That’s the key with recycling and addressing litter: it works when everyone is taking part. Together we can make San Jose a more beautiful, sustainable city.