Long Beach will offer its seven-week Compost and Recycling Ambassador Program in English and Spanish beginning next month.
The free program, administered by the Energy and Environmental Services Department, combines lectures, hands-on experiences and collaboration to teach community members about waste-reduction strategies, recycling history, systems and practices, according to a press release.
Registration for the program courses will open for Long Beach residents on Monday, Jan. 12.
The program also provides training on two primary methods of home composting: vermicomposting and backyard composting, according to the press release. In addition, residents will learn about the city’s Organics Collection program, which helps households separate yard trimmings and food scraps that are not suitable for home composting.
Long Beach, with funding from a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant, is partnering with local nonprofit Puente Latino Association to offer the program in Spanish – supporting the city’s language access goals and expanding outreach to more residents, city officials said.
The CRA program will take place in person from 9 a.m. to noon at the Department of Energy and Environmental Services offices, 2929 E. Willow St. The English course will be held on Thursdays from Feb. 19 to March 26, with the graduation session set for Thursday, April 16. The Spanish course will take place on Saturdays from Feb. 21 to March 28, with the graduation session set for Saturday, April 18.
Community members who complete the program by attending at least six of the seven required in-person classes and completing 25 volunteer hours will be certified as Compost and Recycling Ambassadors, according to the press release.
As an ambassador, residents will bridge the gap between awareness and action, officials said, by motivating friends, families, coworkers, peers and community members; demonstrating sustainable behaviors; and enhancing the city’s ability to reach more people through a network of passionate community members and educators.
Registration for spring courses opens at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 12, and will close when the class and wait list are full. Residents ages 18 and older may register for the upcoming sessions at lbcity.info/CRA. All experience levels are welcome. Space is limited and preregistration is required.
Long Beach will also host sessions in the fall; the schedule will be announced at a later date. For more information, visit lbcity.info/CRA.