Your Earth Impact

Explore how to live more sustainably at home.

• What's your baseline?
  
  • Calculate your carbon footprint
    
    • Use this interactive calculator to find out the total amount of greenhouse gases that are generated by your actions. Take action now.
      
• Reduce your waste
  
  • Learn about what goes where
    
    • Recycling in Monterey County is changing. Learn if a material is recyclable and how and where to recycle it in Monterey County. For fun, test your recycling knowledge with the Recycling Challenge Game! Get started here.
      
  • Repurpose or rehome before landfilling it
    
    • Our landfill and recycling center operators are asking that we refrain from bringing unwanted items during shelter-in-place. Meanwhile, charity organizations are completely shut down for the safety of employees and the community. Instead consider ways in which you can upcycle or repurpose your items. If DIY-ing isn't your thing, post your items to your local Buy Nothing group on Facebook or Freecycle Network.
      
  • Learn more about less
    
    • The Monterey Regional Waste Management District is encouraging everyone to produce less waste. Read their 2020 Guide to Recycling and Waste Reduction.
      
• Fight food waste
  
  • Learn about closed-loop cooking
    
    • A closed-loop food system is a circular feedback loop in which little to no waste is created from gathering, preparing, or cooking food. Learn how you can reduce your food waste and single-use items through recipes, how to's, interviews, and stories. Explore how to fight food waste here.
      
  • Learn to compost
    
    • Did you know that keeping food waste out of landfills can help fight climate change? There's a solution to home food waste that doesn't involve landfills: composting! Here are five steps to help you get started. Is outdoor composting not your cup of tea? Check out the bodacious world of bokashi!
      
• Shrink your carbon footprint
  
  • Eat local
    
    • Produce is shipped approximately 1,500 miles before it's sold. Shrink the carbon foodprint of your meals by eating as local as possible. Whether it's supporting your local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) or planting a container garden, eating fresh-from-the-vine offers lots of cost and carbon saving benefits. Here's five reasons why you should start your own container garden. Can't contain your excitement to start a container garden? Check out these basics and beyond from the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources UCCE Master Gardener Program.
      
  • Find ways to conserve energy at home
    
    • Get no-cost and low-cost energy saving tips for reducing your home energy use and lowering your monthly bill from PG&E here.
      
    • Want to get rewarded for saving energy? Join OhmConnect to get notified about time of intense energy demands in your area. By reducing your energy usage during high peak hours, you'll be rewarded with a smaller electricity bill as well as cash payments or an entry into a bi-weekly prize draw.
      
• Apply for a library card online
  
  • During shelter-in-place you can still apply for a library card with Monterey County Free Libraries. Local library websites are teeming with online resources that could never be matched by a private company at no cost and no waste. Choose your next downloadable EBook or audiobook today!
    
• Get inspired
  
  • Join the Earth Optimism Digital Summitor Earth Day Live virtual events to gain inspiration and information.