The Coastal North San Diego County region has always been at the cutting edge of all things “green”.  From initiating the Cottonwood Creek Environmental Film Festival to being home of the newly renamed San Diego Botanical Garden, the northern part of San Diego County seems to attract those protective of our environment and inspire conservation among those who enjoy living here.   One of our local beach communities, Solana Beach CA, has found another way to make life cleaner and better for all of us that live and play here. 

Since 2008, the City of Solana Beach has been recycling plastic shopping bags. Working with EDCO, their contract solid waste hauler, and Trex Co Inc. of Virginia, the country’s leading manufacturer of wood-alternative decking made from recycled materials, the city has kept an estimated 160,000 plastic bags out of area landfills and off the streets.

Residents can now drop off clean plastic bags or plastic wrappings at nine convenient drop-off points.
• City Hall, 635 S. Hwy 101
• La Colonia Community Center, 715 Valley Ave.
• Fire Station, 500 Lomas Santa Fe
• Premiere Cleaners, 154 S Solana Hills Dr.
• One Hour Martinizing, 661 Lomas Santa Fe Cleaners, 917 Lomas Santa Fe
• Lomas Santa Fe Cleaners, 917 Lomas Santa Fe
• Park Place Cleaners, 437 S. Hwy 101
• Liberty Cleaners, 124 Lomas Santa Fe
• Marshalls, 915 Lomas Santa Fe

Yet Another Plastic Bag on Beach, courtesy gretchichi

EDCO transports the plastic bags from the drop-off points to the city public works yard at no cost to the city.  There, the bags are “baled” using a machine provided by Trex and paid for by proceeds from the recycled bags.  The bales are then picked up by Trex Co. and the plastic is reused.

The City spends less than $3,000 annually on wages supporting this program. Once the $3,000 cost of the baling machine is met, the city will begin receiving $0.15 per pound by Trex.  City administrators are proud of this program for its significant environmental and financial benefits to the residents of Solana Beach.

State officials believe that the successful plastic bag recycling program in Solana Beach may become a model for other cities throughout the state.

Plastic pollution has become a severe worldwide environmental issue, but those here in Solana Beach CA are doing their part to clean up the planet.