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- Anneli Chow, Summer Intern 2021 Take these actions against plastic pollution to ensure your voice is heard at the City, State, Federal, and Global Levels PLASTIC FREE JULY - Take Our Pledge, Learn More, Do More! This summer, GreenTown is raising awareness about the global plastic pollution crisis and encouraging community members to take actions that support a plastic-free future. In Week #1, we shared resources that introduce and explain the multifaceted plastic problem. During Week #2, we shared steps everyone can take to refuse, reduce, and recycle plastic in our daily lives. Individual education and action are impactful and necessary in any movement, but not sufficient. Plastic production depends on fossil fuels, a major contributor to climate change. As oil and gas demand declines, fossil fuel producers turn to plastics to uphold the fossil fuel industry. The plastic pollution problem cannot be fixed without holding producers accountable and handing them waste management responsibility. To make plastic-free life the “new” norm, society needs progressive plastic policies, advocacy, and legislation. The world is waking up to the plastic problem. The Green New Deal, Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act, calls for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and climate strikes show how awareness has grown and spread to countries all around the world. This week, you will learn about plastic policies and ways you can make sure your voice is heard on the local, state, federal, and even international levels. We can influence the way our future plays out - and in the coming years, we will not allow plastic, microplastic, and plastic-derived chemicals to pollute our oceans and freshwater or harm our families and wildlife. Individual efforts can prompt change at the city level. When many cities implement similar policies, this drives change at the state level. Unanimity between states urges federal lawmakers to act. Every step along this legislative chain matters. This is where you can make the biggest impact. Let’s all do our part! Stay Involved Legislation can cause considerable change when pushed for consistently and passionately. GreenTown asks YOU to STAY INVOLVED in saving our planet from the plastic pollution crisis by SUBSCRIBING to the GreenTown Los Altos’ monthly newsletter. Act Now and Stay Involved for a cleaner and greener city, country, and planet! Local Actions State Actions Federal Actions Global Actions Local Actions Advocate for the reintroduction of a plastic food-ware ordinance: Last year, the City Council discussed a foodware ordinance to limit single-use plastics. This ordinance vote was postponed due to economic strain on restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the pandemic underscored the importance of city policy to reduce restaurant plastic use, given the increased reliance on takeout and the plastic containers and utensils that come with it. Let the Los Altos City Council know that you care about this issue and help ensure this ordinance is a priority on their agenda by emailing council@losaltosca.gov. Ask our council members to adopt an ordinance at least as stringent as the Santa Clara County model ordinance AND require reusables for dine-in eating. Take the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) Survey: Los Altos is developing a CAAP to address and lessen the impacts of climate change, focusing on greenhouse gasses. Because plastics are derived from fossil fuels – the primary driver of climate change – your input is valuable as the city develops appropriate measures to include in the CAAP. The deadline to fill out the Los Altos CAAP Survey is August 8, 2021. Speak out to local businesses: Let restaurants implementing sustainable practices (limiting plastic, filling personal reusable containers) know that you approve AND encourage those still using single-use plastics to work towards using compostables or reusables! State Actions Speak up for Assembly Bill 818 - Proper Disposal of Wipes: Believe it or not, most sanitary wipes contain plentiful amounts of plastic. When inappropriately flushed, they cause clogs and blockages in our waste disposal systems. AB818 will require single-use wipes to be clearly labelled to avoid flushing. Read a letter in support of AB818 or view the official bill. Speak up for Assembly Bill 1276 - Reducing Unnecessary Foodware: Source reduction of inessential plastics is a great way to protect our resources and health. AB1276 provides information you can use to tell our Sacramento representatives they should vote YES for this bill. Phone or email Assemblymember Marc Berman and State Senator Josh Becker (contact below) regarding AB818 and AB1276. Assembly Member: Marc Berman Phone: (916) 319-2024 Contact by Email State Senator: Josh Becker Phone: (916) 651-4013 Contact by Email It’s Official! California Recycling and Plastic Pollution Reduction Act on November 2022 Ballot: In November 2022, California voters will have the chance to make our state the first in the nation to approve a law that could halt major sources of plastic pollution. This measure will: Prevent and clean up harmful plastic pollution in order to protect communities and preserve natural resources Reduce sources of plastic pollution Cut recycling, pollution prevention, and clean up costs for taxpayers and municipalities Require plastic producers to share those costs (Extended Producer Responsibility, EPR) We encourage you to look at this ballot measure and its value in California. Make sure to look for it on the November 2022 general election ballot! Federal Actions Support the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act (BFFPPA): The federal Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act contains provisions that would: Hold companies accountable for their wasteful products Strengthen regulations on plastic facilities to protect communities Prohibit the use of toxic chemicals in certain containers and packaging Push to increase reusables and refillables Improve recycling and composting infrastructure And more - sign the petition here! Advocate for the National Bottle Bill: Currently, nine US states have Bottle Bills which effectively reduce waste directed to landfills in those states. In the remaining 41 states, beverage containers constitute 40-60% of litter! Implementing a National Bottle Bill would: Allow customers in all states to return eligible bottles and containers to retailers and redemption centers Promote recycling rates of 58-95% (Northeast Recycling Council) and reduce litter Shift end-of-use handling costs from taxpayers and municipalities to producers (EPR) Set a $0.10 deposit standard, providing income for those who collect bottles at redemption centers Learn more about the bill and ensure your message in a bottle is noticed by our members of Congress using these guidelines! Global Actions Ratification of the Basel Convention: Where does your trash go when you throw it “away”? Unfortunately, the truth holds deafening injustice. Many wealthy nations ship their plastic trash to developing countries that lack adequate recycling infrastructure. Developing nations already struggle to handle their own waste – a plastic problem introduced by Western nations. Nearly all nations have signed on to the Basel Convention, which concerns the transport of hazardous waste between nations and developed to less developed countries. The US has not ratified this convention. However, California recently passed a resolution urging the US to do so! Read the letter that was sent to the Biden Administration and follow the progress on the implementation of this important international agreement here. Sign World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) Global Plastics Petition: Join millions of others to fight against marine plastic pollution by signing WWF's largest petition. This petition will urge governments to create legally binding agreements to stop the leakage of plastics into our oceans by 2030. Such agreements would likely have an even larger impact than the Basel Convention in pushing nations to reduce their plastic pollution!

- Michael M Luk, Summer Intern 2021 PLASTIC FREE JULY - Take Our Pledge, Learn More, Do More! Long-time GTLA volunteer Barbara O’Reilly writes: "Inspired by Greentown's Plastic Free July, I did an inventory of my collection of laundry-related products. Stain removers: Now that I have 2 spray bottles I will find a larger, non-spray bottle to refill them. I did recently buy the cardboard bottle on the left. Even with the plastic cap it seemed a better choice than the coated cardboard boxes and the plastic jugs. Then the GTLA Plastic Free July email arrived with the suggestion of laundry strips. Check out the website for Tru Earth." Single-use plastic packaging is one of the biggest contributors to the plastic pollution crisis. Did you know that the US produces more plastic waste per capita than any other country? Fortunately there are many easy swaps you can make that can greatly reduce your contribution to the problem. And keeping your food and beverages plastic-free is good for your health as well, as the chemicals added to plastic often leach into what you’re eating and drinking. Despite our efforts to recycle, 91% of our plastic waste is never recycled, meaning it ends up polluting our landfills, water, and air. As part of GreenTown’s Plastic Free July Campaign 2021, Summer Intern Michael Luk put together this handy collection of swaps you can make to use less plastic. Thanks to all who sent in their suggestions! We hope the next time you’re shopping, you’ll pause and ask “Is what I’m buying available in glass, metal or cardboard?” These three types of packaging are VERY recyclable and there are profitable markets eager for these materials. Also, plain fiber packaging (thin cardboard, pulp, cotton cloth, paper) is biodegradable and therefore compostable. Best of all, try to shop in bulk using your own reusable containers, or buy unpackaged items when you can! Where can you go for sustainable and plastic-free shopping? Check out GTLA’s list of stores in our area plus online shopping sites Hear what GTLA volunteer Kim Jelfs has to say about bulk shopping—she’s been doing this for years! Watch on Youtube Author Michael Luk explains one plastic-free swap that he is doing in the kitchen. Watch on Youtube GTLA volunteer Donna Staton describes how to reduce laundry related plastic waste. Watch on Youtube Kim Jelfs, GTLA volunteer from Sunnyvale, shows how to make homemade deodorant, avoiding the plastic packaging and chemical additives all together. Watch on Youtube Egg Cartons come in plastic, styrofoam, and pulp/cardboard. Plastic and styrofoam are not recyclable. There are plastic egg cartons on the second shelf. There is a pulp egg carton that is unfortunately wrapped in unnecessary plastic in the bottom left.) The best option is to select the pulp egg cartons which are biodegradable. Ice Cream also comes in all sorts of containers. The most common materials, plastic and plastic-coated cardboard, are unfortunately NOT recyclable or hard to recycle. The best swap you can make is to buy ice cream that comes in glass or metal jars. If there aren’t any glass or metal containers, cardboard with plastic lining is the next best option. Beverages Most beverages come in a variety of containers such as plastic, cardboard, and glass. An easy swap is to buy cardboard or glass containers instead of plastic containers. This not only applies to the orange juice shown here, but to beverages such as milk, other juices and smoothies. Remember aluminum is virtually infinitely recyclable Plates and Utensils Plastic utensils and plates are commonly used, however, there are many plastic-free alternatives available. Instead of using plastic foodware, switch to using compostable paper plates and metal or bamboo utensils. An even better alternative is to bring your own reusable plates and utensils so that there is zero waste. Dental Supplies Think about the plastic waste from all the toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss you have gone through. All of this plastic can be swapped out for plastic-free alternatives. In the picture on the right, there is a bamboo toothbrush, toothpaste tablets in a glass jar, toothpaste in a glass jar and silk floss in a glass jar. Instead of using a plastic toothbrush, use a compostable bamboo toothbrush. Instead of using a plastic tube of toothpaste, use toothpaste tablets. Instead of using plastic floss in a plastic container, use silk floss in a glass container. Shampoo and Conditioner Instead of buying shampoo and conditioner that come in plastic bottles, use bar shampoo and conditioner in cardboard and paper packaging for a plastic-free swap. Antacids! Switching from tablets in a bulky plastic container to those wrapped in paper greatly reduces unnecessary packaging! Not to mention the latter is easy to carry in a pocket or purse. One GTLA member commented “…if you need a tablet in the middle of the night, it’s much quieter to take one from a roll, thereby not waking your spouse…” Plastic Bags ... Now that you shop with reusable bags and are reducing your “plastic footprint,” what to do with all those accumulated plastic bags and wrappings? Many can be recycled if you bring them to stores like our local Safeway. Safeway partners with Trex to collect and recycle this “low quality” thin, flexible plastic polyethylene material known as plastic “film.” Trex uses the material to make lumber substitute building material (it takes over 2000 plastic bags to make a 16-foot composite lumber board). In addition to recycling plastic bags, you can also recycle plastic wrapping from toilet paper bundles, paper towels, paper napkins, beverages, etc. Yes--lots of energy wasted to do this--and even the plastic board will eventually be plastic waste--but for now it may be a temporary solution. Of course, best not to make unnecessary plastic bags in the first place!! We welcome YOUR suggestions for reducing plastic around the house! Send your ideas to waste@greentownlosaltos.org, or post on IG and tag GTLA @greentownlosaltos.

PLASTIC FREE JULY - Take Our Pledge, Learn More, Do More! The GTLA Zero Waste Team has collected these resources to help spread the word about the plastic pollution crisis AND share ways we can all pitch in to help. Learn from experts tackling the problem and see how to make meaningful changes at home, school and work to reduce the plastic we use locally. Equally if not more importantly, help us advocate at the city, state and federal level in support of policies that will reduce plastic production (especially single-use) and protect our environment and health. Lastly, let’s speak out directly to companies that offer us only single use packaging! If you watch just one thing to get you started… check out this Oceania Tedx Talk: Unbreakable: The One True Solution to Plastic Pollution 13 minutes well spent! See below for more resources: Documentaries Short videos Organizations working to reduce plastic pollution Podcasts Books Health Effects of Plastics Please contact us if you have suggestions to add to our list! waste@greentownlosaltos.org 1. Documentaries The Story of Plastic (1.5 hour documentary from The Story of Stuff Project) Rent from Amazon, or stream from Apple, DiscoveryGo, Xfinity video-on-demand Describes how we came to be a single-use plastic society, and points out how the relationship to the petroleum and gas industry connects plastic to climate change and environmental injustices Short on time? Watch the 4 minute CONDENSED VERSION here. Is Recycling Worth It Anymore? The Truth Is Complicated (16 minutes; National Public Radio NPR) Plastic Wars (1 hour, Frontline & NPR) Looks at how the plastics industry has used recycling to help sell more plastic Links to many additional stories and resources on plastics and recycling in general The Plastic Problem: A PBS NewsHour Documentary (54 minutes, with Amna Nawaz reporting) Examines how we got to this crisis Offers a look at potential solutions Bag It (2 minute trailer, full length 1hour 19 minutes) One average citizens realization that plastic just doesn’t “go away” motivates him to learn more A “lighter” film, suitable for all ages, that still shares an important message Available on Amazon, iTunes and at many libraries Curriculum guide available Microfiber Madness (trailer available, full length is 1 hour 19 minutes) 56 fifth-graders in Brooklyn take on the fight against plastic pollution Charming, educational and moving film that traces their growth from naïve students to active advocates Excellent for teachers or those working with kids Check the website for free screenings or to request to host a screening 2. Short Videos The Story of Plastic (4 minute condensed version; from The Story of Stuff) 5 Things Plastic Polluters Don’t Want You to Know about Chemical Recycling (2 minutes) From GAIA, the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives How to Eat Less Plastic (4 min, Consumer Reports) The Story of Microfibers (3 minutes, from The Story of Stuff) Is Your Fleece Jacket Polluting the Oceans? (6 minutes, part of KQED’s Above the Noise Series) By kids and for kids, but adults will like this too Entertainingly explains the microplastic problem with our textiles Preventing Plastic Pollution (5 minutes, California Academy of Sciences’ Flipside Science Series) Hosted by teens, reviews the problem of ocean pollution from plastics Offers practical tips for reducing plastic use On the lighter side, but still with a message: The Majestic Plastic Bag (4 minutes, a “mockumentary”-- recommended!) Night of the Living Plastics (2.5 minutes, be sure to turn up volume; Californians Against Waste) Bring Back the Milk Man! (2.5 minutes, be sure to turn up volume; Californians Against Waste) 3. Organizations Working to Reduce Plastic Pollution Plastic Pollution Coalition Terrific background articles on plastic pollution. EXCELLENT health guides for pregnancy, babies and many other practical guides to avoid plastic. Consider signing up for “Above the Fold – Plastics”--a terrific free newsletter from this group. Monthly Webinar Series (sign up for live webinars, or listen to recordings of past webinars) Beyond Plastics Provides fabulous background and resources on the problems of plastics and how to advocate for legislation to reduce plastic Become a plastic pollution expert! Take Beyond Plastics fun and highly educational 7-week online class, Beyond Plastic Pollution, offered by Bennington College’s Center for the Advancement of Public Action (more info available from Donna Staton, donna@greentownlosaltos.org ) Break Free from Plastic #breakfreefromplastic is a global movement of organizations and individuals working to build a future free from plastic pollution by tackling the plastic problem from extraction to disposal. Excellent toolkits and resources for making change. Oceana Through a variety of campaigns, Oceana protects and restores the world’s oceans. The inspirational 13-minute Tedx Talk mentioned above is on their website. Californians Against Waste Dive deeper into the issues facing us here in California. Many tips on how to advocate for local plastic reducing policy. CalRecycle California's Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle). Provides helpful “how to” information for proper recycling and waste reduction in general. Updates businesses on how to comply with recent changes to recycling requirements. Upstream Upstream provides practical solutions that help businesses and communities shift from single-use to reuse. EXCELLENT resources for restaurants considering the switch to reusables, and for those who want to persuade them to do so! California Stewardship Action Council Network of governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), businesses and individuals supporting projects and policy where producers share in the responsibility for managing problem products at their end of life. Advocates for EPR (extended producer responsibility) and the circular economy. The Story of Stuff Project From a movie to a movement, The Story of Stuff address the current culture of consumerism to excess. The Story of Plastic (1.5 hour documentary) is a must-see! Available on Amazon, Apple TV, etc. Or, view the 4-minute condensed version here. As You Sow Empowers shareholders and investors to change corporations for good. Plastic pollution is one of their six initiatives. 4. Podcasts How To Save A Planet (hosts journalist Alex Blumberg and policy scientist Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson) Each week a topic related to climate change, plastics, recycling, energy etc. is covered Despite the occasional goofy humor, each episodes provides up-to-date information in a relaxed conversational style Each episode ends with practical action items we can all take to make a difference The Indisposable Podcast (by Upstream, host Brooking Gatewood) Highly rated and popular podcast that guides and inspires businesses and communities to shift from single-use to reusable. These podcasts are solution-focused and present guests who have made the change to reusable successfully 5. Books My Plastic Free Life, Beth Terry The book’s website has links to other posts, and be sure to watch her TEDx talk there! Learn how she kicked the plastic habit, and how you can too. Available from Amazon. Life Without Plastic: The Practical Step-by-Step Guide to Avoiding Plastic to Keep Your Family and the Planet Healthy Great reference veteran plastic-reducers or for those new to the challenge. Available at the Life Without Plastic website. 6. Health Effects of Plastics How to Eat Less Plastic (4 minute video, Consumer Reports) Will Humanity Survive Plastic Pollution? Toxic Impact of Plastics’ Chemicals on Fertility (webinar) Part of the Plastic Pollution Coalition’s series of monthly webinars (recordings available) With Dr. Shanna Swan, PhD, author of Count Down (see books below) Global Human Health and Ocean Pollution: A Conversation With Dr. Phil Landrigan Part of the Plastic Pollution Coalition’s series of monthly webinars (recordings available) Dr. Landrigan is a highly respected pediatrician epidemiologist from Boston College Children and Environmental Toxins: What Everyone Needs to Know Book by Pediatrician Researcher Philip J. Landrigan and Mary M. Landrigan Covers toxins from plastic as well as other environmental sources Protecting Your Child’s Health: Expert Answers to Urgent Environmental Questions Book by pediatricians Ruth Etzel and Sophie Balk Published by the American Academy of Pediatrics Count Down Book by Shanna H. Swan, PhD How our exposure to environmental toxins, many from plastic, is affecting our reproductive health and neurodevelopment (children and adults). Please contact us if you have suggestions to add to our list! waste@greentownlosaltos.org

We are excited to introduce our 2021 summer interns! Despite the unusual nature of this year, we’ve continued our intern program (now in its 4th year) and are delighted to welcome our interns — working on an array of projects ranging from social media, to the website, to zero waste and 500 trees — to the team. Find out more about this wonderful team below. SOCIAL MEDIA/MARKETING/WEBSITE Kaley, Anika and Taylor will be working on various aspects of marketing and communications for GreenTown Los Altos. Kaley Kwan I grew up in an environmentally conscious family, whether using water from washing vegetables to water the garden, recycling, or walking and biking to school. I am also a California native, which means I have an existential crisis over the water crisis about once a month. Now, as a rising senior at Los Altos High School, I want to get more involved in environmental activism, specifically intersecting environmentalism and technology. I’m also a swimmer, which a lot of people might not know about me, since I am incapable at every other activity involving physical coordination. If I could wave a magic wand and help the planet, I’d force world governments to actually regulate major corporations that are ruining the planet in the name of profit. Anika Sikka I am a rising junior at Los Altos High School and this is my second year interning with GreenTown Los Altos. I’ve always been in love with the environment; whether it was going on hikes with my family or spending time at the beach, my love for immersing myself in nature has stayed constant as I’ve grown older. I advanced my interest and love for the environment through my middle school’s environmental club, culminating in representing the nation at the annual United Nations global climate change conference. During my freshman year at Los Altos, I got involved with GreenTown, and have continued to explore my environmental interests while working with an amazing group of people. Outside of school, I write for my school’s newspaper, play water polo, and play the guitar! My favorite plants are probably succulents because my gardening skills succ(ulent). One of my biggest passions is education, because I think that youth are capable of making a huge difference when equipped with the education and resources to do so. Taylor Nguyen Hello! I’m Taylor, a rising senior at Los Altos High. I am thrilled to have this opportunity at GreenTown in order to further my passions. I aim to study urban planning or environmental business in college which GreenTown bridges with focuses on sustainability and environmental education. In a perfect world, I’d wave a magic wand and enable environmentally-friendly practices to be more affordable worldwide along with education for implementing such practices. I want to work on urban planning or environmental business because I want to change at least one person’s life, my dearest passion. I developed this passion because of my Grandma who has continuously worked to better the lives of her children and the people in her life. She has my greatest admiration because of the sacrifices she has made and yet has been able to maintain her glowing, heartfelt charisma. ZERO WASTE Anneli and Michael will be supporting GreenTown’s Zero Waste project, identifying waste-related options for Los Altos’ developing Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, and providing education and resources for helping our community members reduce plastic waste. Anneli Chow I grew up in Portland, Oregon and moved to Los Altos about four years ago. I have always been passionate about sustainability and environmental protection, and am considering majoring in environmental science in college. If I had to choose three words words that best describe, they would be: “conscientious”, “caring”, and “dedicated”. I am very invested in my family and friends, and love to give back to the community in any way I can. Outside of school, I am very passionate about dancing, which I consider my art and my sport. I have trained as a ballet dancer for thirteen years, and I love that it allows me to express myself and communicate a story solely through movement and music. If I could wave a magic wand to help the planet, I would wish that the government and major industries would promote and adopt more sustainable practices in order to preserve natural resources, minimize the production of single-use plastics and halt devastating effects on the planet, such as deforestation. Michael Luk I was born, and currently live, in Palo Alto, California. I am a rising senior at Los Altos High. I am thankful that I have the opportunity to work with GreenTown, and I am excited to work on zero waste projects. I enjoy nature and outdoor activities like hiking and camping and hope to create a more sustainable and healthy environment. Although I don’t know many plants, my favorite plant is the California Goldenrod which has been the most interesting and best performing plant in my native garden. And if I could wave a magic wand to help the planet I would have everyone educated about sustainability so that we can take action to improve our world. 500 TREES Naomi will be supporting GreenTown’s 500 Trees project, GreenTown’s effort to increase the amount of beauty and carbon sequestered in our community. Naomi Schulze Hi! My name is Naomi Schulze and I’m a rising Junior at Los Altos High School. I’ve always loved the outdoors, yet growing up in California has given me acute anxiety about the places I love — each year, the fires get a little closer to home and the grass where I hike gets drier. Being a part of my school’s Green Team has given me a way to channel this fear, and also to get involved in my local community. In addition to Green Team, I’m also a part of my school’s water polo team and student newspaper. In the future, I hope to study some combination of biology and environmental science! A few facts about me: my favorite book of all time is A Tree Grows In Brooklyn. If I could be anywhere other than here, I’d be in the Chesapeake Bay because I’m passionate about the restoration efforts taking place there, and also just admire its natural beauty. Lastly, if I could wave a magic wand and help the planet I’d force billionaires to redistribute their wealth. CERTIFIED GREEN BUSINESSES Keira, Kaya and Sadie are helping GreenTown understand the nuances of the Green Business Program and working to support Los Altos History Museum in its application for Green Business certification. Keira Chatwin I’m a rising junior at Los Altos High School and this is my first year interning for GreenTown. Preserving our environment and being climate conscious are two things I’ve always supported and GreenTown gave me the opportunity to do so. I started learning about the climate from a young age at my elementary school and in middle school I led an environmental club to write blogs and participate in conferences to address climate change. This continued into high school where I joined Green Team and continued to support new climate initiatives. My favorite plant is probably the blue-eyed grass indigenous to California because it has really nice flowers that are one of my favorite colors and the petal formation is so pretty. If I could be anywhere but here I would be in rural Australia near the ocean because the wildlife there around the beaches and at the reefs is so diverse and amazing. If I could wave a magic wand and help the planet I would love to reverse a lot of the environmental damage that already exists, restore natural habitats, and implement overhauling climate reforms in regards to corporations and the government. Kayali Rammohan My name is Kaya Rammohan and I am a rising sophomore at LAHS. I’ve grown up in Los Altos, and I hike and explore throughout California with my family often. I’ve always been passionate about the environment, especially growing up in such a beautiful area. This passion of mine grew especially in 8th grade when I participated in my middle school’s environmental club), and I’ve been able to contribute a lot more to our community and the environment by participating in Los Altos High School’s Green Team this past year. A few facts about me: my favorite plant is the split leaf philodendron - I've been taking care of one for a few months now (the plant's name is Jeffrey). And if I could be anywhere other than here, I would be visiting all my cousins and grandparents in Chicago, because I haven’t been able to visit all of them during the pandemic!

There was no rain and it wasn’t too cold as twenty riders enjoyed another colorful Winter Solstice Night Bike Ride. We decorated our bikes with festive lights and rode from Los Altos to Palo Alto to see Christmas Tree Lane. Beautiful lights as always, and this year a really nice lady saw our group, said you need a treat, and handed us platters of still warm-from-the-oven sugar cookies shaped like snowmen. Mmm, mmm, good. We’ll be back next year! We also had our stop at Starbucks for hot chocolate, another nice treat. Riders at Peets The nice lady with sugar cookies Hot cocoa break at Starbucks

Memorial weekend brought the second year of our 500 Trees campaign to a close. We planted five more trees, bringing our total for this planting season to 57. That is quite a drop from the 162 we planted in round one, but the pandemic slowed us down. We planted two Valley Oaks in Redwood Grove, one in honor of a mother who passed away recently. Memorial weekend is a sadly appropriate time, but the family was very positive, and her two young children helped with the planting. They, and family friends, laid red roses at the base of the tree in a quiet moment of respect. The AAUW helped with the planting of the other oak. They worked with us to get a tree planted in Los Altos, and they are working with Canopy to get a tree planted in Mountain View. The AAUW recognizes the value that trees bring us, and we thank them for their support. We also planted two Valley Oaks in Lincoln Park. A group of residents led by Dana Tosic contacted GreenTown and asked for our help getting more trees planted. We worked with the City and made it happen. We will be back next Fall, although the drought may very well delay our start. We already have a lot of folks interested in getting a tree, but please let us know if you would like to be added to the list!

Thinking of an all-electric home? We're spreading the word about the environmental benefits of going all electric in your home through our newly launched Electric Home Ambassador program. Whether you are just getting started converting your gas appliances to electric and need some guidance, or if you are well along in the process and willing to share your experience with those getting started, there is a place for you in the program which you can read about here. GreenTown Los Altos, in partnership with Fossil Free Buildings, is starting a Yard Sign program and an Ambassador program. We're looking for people willing to participate in either or both. The Electric Home Ambassador program is like a buddy system. It matches those who are just starting to electrify their home with people who have already gone through the process. This program was created with the goal of making the home electrification transition easier and more affordable by sharing tips and tricks. There are three ways that you can participate: If you are interested in being matched with an experienced electric home-owner to learn more about it, you can fill out this Talk to an Ambassador form. If you are interested in becoming an Electric Home Ambassador, please fill out this Potential Ambassador form. If you have replaced any gas appliances with electric, and would like to show your support and help spread the word, please sign up to receive a Yard Sign with this form. Use of gas appliances represents a significant part of a home’s CO2 emissions, and we know use of gas appliances can be harmful to your health. Reducing CO2 emissions from your home’s energy use by switching any gas appliance to a new efficient electric one can make a huge, and wide, impact. In other words, everyone wins! If you have more questions about the electrification process or would like to know more about possible rebates and local contractors, visit The Switch Is On for more information or email Connie Miller at cmiller1119@gmai.com .

Would you like to never go to a gas station again? Drive electric. We'll show you how! REGISTER HERE Investment, production, and adoption of electric vehicles is soaring, and nowhere faster than in the Bay Area. Join us for a presentation covering all the basics of EV ownership. Topics to be covered: The benefits of EVs Government rebates (up to $11,000) for "going EV" Battery range and charging basics Leasing versus buying Current makes/models, and what's in store for the future! Local EV experts will provide real-time answers to your questions (via chat) during the presentation. Afterwards, you can join interactive breakout rooms in which current owners will answer questions about specific models. Never go to a gas station again. We'll show you how.

Like everyone, GreenTown has struggled with the pandemic. Our activities have been curtailed, but we have not been inactive. During the pandemic, when it was safe to do so, we continued to plant trees for our 500 Trees Campaign, we launched the Lunch with GreenTown series of zoom talks and posted them on our YouTube channel, and we will soon work with a new batch of summer interns, starting June 14 to enhance our programs from the perspective of our youth. We also instituted term limits to keep our leadership and our Board fresh with new people and new ideas. I will be stepping down as President at the end of June, and Suresh Venkatramen will take charge. We are looking forward to his leadership. Two Board members, Linda Ziff and Cheryl Weiden, will leave the Board. We thank Linda for her many years of leading creek clean ups, helping with waste reduction and recycling and leading the effort to stop the use of gas leaf blowers. We thank Cheryl for her help with the anti-idling campaign, getting reach codes adopted and keeping us connected to other important environmental groups. Two new Board members will join us, Glenda Chang and Kim Jelfs. Glenda has worked with other nonprofits, the Boy Scouts and helped us plant trees. Kim has worked with the Zero Waste team, wants to reduce wasteful consumption and recently kicked off a sustainability challenge in her own neighborhood. We welcome both, and we all look forward to a better next year!

In this edition of featuring local green business, we feature Enchante Boutique Hotel. An award-wining destination hotel in our own backyard, Enchante is a friendly, reasonably priced and sophisticated hotel. Today we celebrate Enchante’s many efforts for being the first in many sustainability categories. The first hotel in our region we know of that uses 100% organically made beds with no petroleum ingredients. They do all their own laundry in-house, so they can control the laundering products used do not contain harmful chemicals. All cleaning products are organic and void of harmful chemicals. One of the first businesses in town to use paper straws. During Covid with take-out items, one of the first businesses to include compostable ‘plastic’ utensils only upon request. All produce in their restaurant, Campagne Bistro, is locally sourced and organic where possible. Limited vegetarian items are available.

Every few years, California public agencies are required to update their Climate Action Plan (CAP) to show how each agency will bring their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in compliance with California’s 2006 Global Warming Solutions Act. Los Altos’ last CAP was done in July of 2013. Read it here. This CAP shows that the majority of our city’s GHG emissions come from buildings and transportation. While much of the state-mandated guidelines have helped us get closer to where we want to be, there is an understanding we need to do much more. Similar to other Bay Area cities, Los Altos, with the assistance of a third-party consultant, is preparing an update to the City’s 2013 CAP. The update will include estimating the impacts of the changing climate on our community and proposed adaptation strategies. Hence the CAP update will become our Climate Action and Adaption Plan (CAAP). Over the next few months, the City’s staff, consultant and Environmental Commission, along with residents will be assessing GHG emissions, setting action goals and establishing strategies to achieve our goals. Your time for giving feedback on the CAAP starts now and lasts for only the next few months. See the timeline for activities and public comment opportunities on page 10 of this Environmental Commission document here. Public input into the CAAP development is being received via focused working sessions (GreenTown Los Altos has representatives participating) together with general, public events. The first opportunity for public comment is the survey that just opened. This survey is meant to gauge the public’s concern about climate change and gives the survey taker an opportunity to opt-in for updates. It took me five minutes to take, with nearly two of those minutes looking for my password. You can take the survey here. Over the next few months, we expect a public workshop and a second survey with greater specificity and an opportunity to comment on specific climate action strategies. But for now, we encourage everyone to take the survey and to offer specific comments at any Environmental Commission meeting or by emailing Emiko Ancheta, the City’s Sustainability Manager at eancheta@losaltosca.gov.

Greetings Carbon Free Silicon Valley and Carbon Free Mountain View Members, Last month, in honor of this being Earth Month and 5 years since the first board meeting after Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) formed on March 31, 2016, the SVCE Board of Directors passed resolutions commending Bruce Karney and James Tuleya. Bruce and James were also virtually presented Community Energy Hero awards, see attached images. Read the full text here. Over the past 5 years, Bruce and James attended a majority of SVCE board and committee meetings, and during our startup phase, they both volunteered their time to assist our small staff with outreach. Their great work continues to today with providing valuable input to our organization. We also know that many of you work alongside Bruce and James to continue supporting important initiatives, such as Reach Codes, that help advance decarbonization regionally. Thank you all for your great work, and please join me in also saying thank you and congrats to Bruce and James.