HEADLINER

Food waste will no longer be allowed in gray trash bins starting April 1

Redlands residents to begin separating food waste for curbside collection in green bins to comply with state law

*The city of Redlands announces starting April 1 food waste needs to be disposed of directly into the green waste bin. (Photo: Community Forward Redlands and* *cyano66*)

REDLANDS, Calif. – The city's solid waste division announced this week that starting April 1, food waste should no longer be put in the gray trash bins. To comply with California state law, residents will be required to put all food scraps directly into the green curbside bin.

Why it matters: Organic waste, which includes food scraps, yard trimmings, paper, and cardboard, makes up half of what ends up in California landfills and emits 20% of the state's methane, according to CalRecycle.

In an effort to keep waste out of landfills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, state law (SB 1383) requires cities like Redlands to provide green waste collection services to residents and businesses.

Details: Since the curbside organic waste collection mandate took effect in January 2022, 75% of California communities have business and residential collection in place, according to CalRecycle.

The city of Redlands has been collecting residential organic waste since 2007 in the form of wood, green waste and sewage sludge. Food waste was not previously accepted in the green curbside bins. Instead, the city managed three food waste collection sites where residents could bag and drop food scraps.

Last year, the city took the necessary steps to address the limitation by approving permits to allow One Stop Landscape Supply to begin receiving food waste hauls at its facility.

Learn more about the new requirements and what can and cannot be thrown away in the green curbside bin below.

NEWS BRIEF

🚔 Arrests made in Community Center shooting: Three suspects were arrested Friday in connection with a shooting at the Redlands Community Center earlier in the week. The arrests come days after a man was shot following a chase through the Community Center. Read more here.

💵 Resolution on proposed changes to in-kind support: The much anticipated discussion on whether the Redlands City Council would consider changes to nonprofit in-kind requests was removed by Mayor Eddie Tejeda during their Tuesday, March 19 meeting following an exchange with a nonprofit leader from Stronger Together Now. The council originally planned to discuss possible changes to in-kind support requests, including limiting most nonprofits to one request per year. Read more about the exchange and what led to the item being pulled here.

🏘 Housing status report: Nearly a quarter of Redlands' 2029 housing goal has been met so far according to a report received by City Council on March 19. The City Council received reports on the status of the city's 2035 General Plan and 2021-2029 Housing Element. The housing report shows progress towards the overall housing goal remains disproportionately high within the above moderate income level. While no direct action comes from the filing of the annual report it is a valuable resource to measure the city’s progress to see both what has been achieved and what areas might need additional attention moving forward. Read more about the reports here.

Mother's Day Floral Workshop by Fern Cottage Florals

Join Fern Cottage Florals at Shop Suey in Redlands to learn how to create a bright and cheerful floral arrangement using an eco-friendly approach to floral design.

The Mother’s Day Floral Workshop on Tuesday, May 7th at 5pm includes beautiful blooms and greenery, a chic vase to arrange in and take home, and professional floral shears to use during the class.

Participants will also enjoy charcuterie, wine and dessert while creating their own unique design.

Space is limited. You can register for an upcoming workshop here.

In addition to floral workshops, Fern Cottage Florals provides seasonal bouquets and wreaths, arrangements for weddings and special events, and flower subscriptions. You can learn more about the Redlands-based floral studio below:

Community Forward Redlands is in part supported by community businesses and organizations with a shared love for Redlands and community engagement. We are grateful for their contributions and hope that our readers consider supporting their business or mission.

COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT

Community outreach for the Parks Master Plan project kicked off in March with the first set of residential input sessions.

Why it matters: The Parks Master Plan will serve as the city's blueprint for the renovation and development of Redlands parks for the next decade. There is still time to share your thoughts on the city's parks.

Details: About 40 residents came out over two evenings on March 13 and 14 to learn about the park planning process and share what matters most to them regarding the future of Redlands parks.

Read more about the workshops and how to provide feedback to the Redlands Parks and Recreation department here.

UPCOMING

🎬 AAUW Film Fest: The spotlight will shine on the creative works of women filmmakers at the upcoming FilmFest, a fundraising event organized by the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Redlands Branch. Scheduled for April 19, the event aims to celebrate and elevate the voices of women in cinema, offering a diverse selection of short films designed to captivate audiences of all backgrounds. Read more about the films and ticket information here.

🌎 Earth Day 2024: The 2nd annual Redlands Earth Day: A Day of Climate Action will take place Saturday, April 20. Hundreds of volunteers are expected to participate in projects that address climate change throughout town. Some projects will give participants hands-on experience while others will be more educational or informational, according to organizers. Projects will be followed by a celebration at the Redlands Bowl. Find more information about how to participate or host a project here.

🔵 Bingo charity night: The Bingo Night is back at the Royal Falconer to support local youth programs. The event, sponsored by Redlands Sunrise Rotary, will benefit YouthHope and Rotary Youth Programs. Ticket information for the April 27 event is available here.