So how are you doing on those New Year resolutions you made on January 1? If you’re like us, that resolution to lose five pounds or eat more veggies went flying out the window the minute you sat down to watch that playoff game with a bag of chips. Ugh!
We’ve all been there. New Year’s resolutions can be tough to keep. But we’ve got you covered with a few realistic goals that are easy to keep, will impress your friends and keep Mother Earth happy! Feel free to make this five for 2025 list your own and share it with your friends!
Recycle unused paint, pesticides and evict the electronics – If you’re like us, your garage could use a good clean out as we enter the new year. Those cans of leftover paint, bottles of pesticides and boxes of batteries and outdated electronics have lived in your garage or shed long enough. It’s time to evict them and recycle them at an LA SAFE Center. There are seven SAFE Centers located throughout LA and the best part is that LA Sanitation & Environment provides this service free of charge to Los Angeles residents. Pretty neat, right? Click here for a list of locations.
Pick up after your dog Every. Single. Time! – Leaving dog poop on the ground may not seem like a big deal – until you step in it. If left on lawns, dog waste will eventually make its way into our local waterways where its harmful bacteria can make marine animals and beachgoers sick and close down rivers and beaches. Remember, it IS everyone’s job to keep LA’s neighborhoods and waterways as pollution-free as possible. To help you start out 2025 on the right paw, we’ll even send you a free canister of dog waste bags. All you have to do is fill out our online form.
Plant more California natives and succulents – Planting more plants is a win-win resolution that’s easy to keep. More plants mean more flowers and more flowers mean a more fragrant yard, more bees, butterflies and hummingbirds and splashes of color which will improve your mood! When thinking about what to plant this coming year, consider native plants first. Native plants have evolved to survive LA’s dry climate without needing a ton of additional water and we all know how precious our water resources are in Southern California. Succulents, too, are a great way to make your yard water-wise while also giving it a touch of flair! If you need help and a source of inspiration, the folks at the Theodore Payne Foundation do a great job of educating and inspiring SoCal residents about the many benefits of native plants.
Use fewer fertilizers and pesticides – While we’re talking about plants, let’s address the use of pesticides and fertilizers. The mark of a good gardener isn’t just in the size of the bloom or the harvest. It’s about how you got there. If you’re using fertilizers to boost your plants in the spring and spraying down your foliage with over-the-counter pesticides every time you see an aphid, we recommend taking a second look at your use of these products. When fertilizer is applied in excess, plants can’t use it all and during a rainstorm, or in the event of overwatering, the fertilizer is washed into storm drains and our local waterways where it can cause harmful algae blooms. Pesticides work similarly, harming and killing fish and marine life. So, before continuing as you normally do, consider investing a little time in eco-friendly gardening resources, which can be found on the UC Master Garden Program’s website. Here you’ll find tips, workshops, and resources. You can even talk to a professional for free by emailing your questions to their master gardeners using this form.
Put trash in its place – We’ve left the easiest resolution for last. Always put your trash in a trash can – it’s that simple and easy! Every year LA Sanitation & Environment crews clean tons of trash and debris out of LA’s more than 30,000 catch basins. Imagine how much cleaner our local creeks, rivers, and beaches would be if everyone resolved to simply put trash in its place in 2025.
And there you have it – five easy-to-keep goals for 2025. Together these small actions will add up to more than the sum of their parts and can have a big impact on the health of our ocean and the life it supports.
From your friends at LA Stormwater, have a Happy New Year!
