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Long Beach Hosts New Year Recycling Drive at El Dorado Nature Center
By Staff Writer
Published on Mon, Jan 5, 2026
The City of Long Beach brought the community together to kick off the new year sustainably during their New Year, New Use Recycling Drive, held Friday, Jan. 2, at El Dorado Nature Center. The event, held in partnership with Retail Marketing Services Inc. (RMS), encouraged residents to turn recyclables into meaningful local support.
Participants dropped off eligible California Redemption Value (CRV) items—including aluminum, glass, plastic and bi-metal bottles, cans, boxes and pouches—which were later recycled at a CalRecycle facility.
Thanks to the generosity of the Long Beach community, the recycling drive collected 267 pounds of recyclable materials, filling 53 bags and totaling an estimated 3,884 cans and bottles. The collected items generated $216.74 in CRV value, which will be donated to Food Finders Inc., to provide more than 2,384 meals to support food distribution sites throughout Long Beach.
Beyond recycling, the event offered hands-on learning opportunities for participants. RMS Recycling Ambassadors were on site to share tips on proper recycling habits and improving compliance.
The New Year, New Use Recycling Drive supports PRM’s environmental sustainability goals outlined in its Parks Make Long Beach Strategic Plan.
El Dorado Nature Center, located at 7550 E. Spring St., is a 105-acre wildlife habitat featuring two lakes, a stream, miles of walking trails, interactive museum exhibits, educational programs, special events and volunteer opportunities. The site served as a fitting backdrop for the event, reinforcing the connection between environmental care and community well-being.
