Welcome, 2022! We’ve made it through another year with its ups and downs!
The New Year is an exciting time to reflect and set new goals, but this “fresh start” can also sometimes feel like a lot of pressure to make big changes. Big changes are great, but we also believe that small steps can be just as important.
For this New Year, we want to provide you with some simple and attainable ideas for fitting environmentally-friendly behaviors into traditional New Year’s resolutions.
1. Be tidy (in your neighborhood).
While we tidy up our homes for the New Year, we can also find ways to keep our neighborhoods clean of trash. Here are some simple ways you can resolve to reduce pollution in our waterways, the ocean, and the Bay:
- Pick up at least 5 pieces of trash every time you go for a walk.
- Attach a poop bag canister to your pet’s leash so that you’re never caught without a bag to pick up after your pet.
- Learn what items are Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) and make sure to always bring these to an HHW collection center rather than throwing them in the trash.
2. Save money (on water).
Are you making resolutions for your finances this year? One way that you can save money and help the environment at the same time is by reducing your water usage. With San Mateo County in a state of extreme drought, the following actions can help reduce stress on our potable water supply:
- Remove water-guzzling lawns and replace them with drought-friendly, native plant landscaping. You may even qualify for a Lawn Be Gone! Rebate.
- Replace your sprinkler system with a drip irrigation system.
- Invest in a rain barrel to capture water during the rainy season and save it for drier months. Save even more by taking advantage of our rain barrel rebates.
3. Meet new people (while helping the community).
After being socially distant for over a year, many of us may be eager to meet new people. While we still want to remain safe and wear masks when necessary, 2022 is a great time to start meeting new people while helping the community. You can get started by:
- Get involved with local community organizations that work to protect our beaches. Check out Sea Hugger, Surfrider San Mateo, and the Pacific Beach Coalition for beach cleanup events and other volunteer opportunities!
- Commit to organizing a self-guided cleanup for you and your friends once a season.
- Sign up for our E-Newsletter to stay updated on webinars, volunteer events, and other opportunities to get involved!
