NEWS UPDATES
Youngsters donate work, gifts, funds to orphanage
Michael McNair, 10, and his friend Nico Rios travelled to Tecate, Mexico to volunteer at the Nazareth orphanage on Jan. 10. They both attend St. Gregory the Great Catholic School in Scripps Ranch.
They ran a few lemonade stands over the summer and raised more than $100, which they planned to donate to the orphans. They also did work to help with cleaning and repairs at the orphanage, and they met a child their age who submitted a wish list for Christmas gifts. They delivered the gifts and met the children.
Both of the boys started learning Spanish at school this year, so they hoped to talk to the kids at the orphanage.
Next SIR meeting set
The local Sons In Retirement (SIR) group invites interested men to attend the upcoming luncheon meeting on Thursday, Jan. 22, to be held at Filippi’s Pizza on Mira Mesa Boulevard.
Rich Carlston, the outgoing president of SIR in Northern California, will be the guest speaker. He will present an informative and engaging talk about the many benefits of SIR and what the organization offers its members. His presentation will highlight why SIR continues to attract men from all walks of life who share a wide range of interests and enjoy fellowship and activities.
This luncheon meeting promises to be informative for anyone curious about learning more about SIR and what it has to offer. New members and guests are welcome to attend. Those interested in attending the luncheon may contact Larry Maibaum, Larpegmai@gmail.com.
City of San Diego is flipping trash lids
Noticed an “oops” tag on your waste bin on collection day? It’s just feedback from the City of San Diego to help everyone recycle right. As part of the City’s ongoing efforts to monitor and reduce contamination in trash, recycling and organic waste bins, code enforcement officers from the Environmental Services Department (ESD) have been conducting citywide container checks, which are required under state law through Senate Bill 1383. Also known as “lid flips,” these container checks help spot items that don’t belong in the trash, recycling and organic waste collection bins. Fires and equipment damage caused by contaminants can lead to costly repairs and a dangerous environment for everyone.
Batteries and other household hazardous waste should never go in any bin because of their potential to spark a fire. In 2025, the City saw 25 waste collection truck fires.
Container checks have been conducted on collection days, as early as 6 a.m., at residential properties serviced by ESD. Containers are inspected while they are at the curb for collection. Code officers check bins by lifting the lid and taking a scan of what is visible at the top; they do not dig through trash or open bags.
If code officers find contamination, they leave behind an “oops” tag that provides information about proper waste sorting practices. If food or plastic bags are found in a blue recycling bin, for example, a “Recyclables Only” tag would be placed on the bin’s handle, indicating that the blue bin is for glass, metal, paper, cardboard and rigid plastic.
Receiving an “oops” tag doesn’t result in immediate penalties but rather indicates that there is a need for improvement. Each tag left on a bin identifies the issue and how to correct it. Plastic bags are the most common contamination seen in blue and green bins. Even if labeled compostable, they don’t break down at the City’s composting facility, and they can get tangled in and jam the recycling sorting equipment.
Food scraps can be placed in paper bags before going in the green bin, but recyclable items such as cans and bottles should be placed in the blue bin loose (not in a bag). All tagged bins will still be collected, except in cases where household hazardous waste, a dangerous obstruction or overweight materials are found. In those situations, a “Do Not Collect” sticker is placed on the bin with instructions on how to properly dispose of the items.
ESD is available by calling (858) 694-7000 or emailing trash@sandiego.gov.