South Bay Sustainable Communities Network
501 (c)(3) Nonprofit
Be part of the solution, not the problem.
Our Mission:
The mission of South Bay Sustainable Communities Network is to build healthy and sustainable communities by encouraging people to create lasting change in their daily lives through education and community engagement in environmental conservation, neighborhood composting, and sustainable urban farming.
California Resource Recovery Association Conference, Anaheim 2024
This month, our founders, Tina Matthias and Eric Bonney, joined Y4SF students at the California Resource Recovery Association (CRRA) conference, where they were honored with the "Outstanding School Recycling Program Award." They also had the incredible opportunity to meet renowned environmentalist Paul Hawken, author of acclaimed books such as Regeneration: Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation and Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming. We’re incredibly proud of this achievement and excited for what the future holds!
CACC Youth 4 a Sustainable Future award.movFirst Annual Seeds4Support Fundraiser at the South Bay Sustainable Farms!
Here are some highlights from our first fundraiser event at the farm! A big thank you to everyone who attended, as well as our sponsors!
Y4SF Totals For the 2023/24 Year!
This school year, all Y4SF schools combined have accomplished diverting 117,270 lbs of food waste, rescued foods, and liquids from the landfill, of which 78,230 lbs were edible foods that were rescued and redistributed to food-insecure families and 25,350 lbs were composted on site.
This prevented the production of 79,300 lbs of CO2e greenhouse emissions!
Way to go Y4SF!
Hilltop Hiigh School's Y4SF Team
What we Accomplished In 2023 !
16 community neighborhoods composted 40,000 pounds of food waste, creating 2,000 pounds of compost for the community!
SBSC rescued 7,500 pounds of edible food which was distributed into the community.
Our Youth 4 a Sustainable Future (Y4SF), a student-led program consisting of 15 High, Middle, and elementary schools throughout the South Bay diverted 68,050 pounds of food waste from the landfill in 2023!
In total, SBSC diverted 115,550 pounds of food waste, which prevented 78,112 pounds of Carbon Dioxide greenhouse gas emissions!
Neighborhood composting creates a community out of kitchen scraps - The San Diego Union-Tribune.pdfIn the San Diego Union-Tribune!
South Bay Sustainable Communities was featured in The San Diego Union-Tribune! Scroll to read the article, or click here to see the article on The San Diego Union-Tribune website!
Thank you to everyone who attended this year's Beautify Chula Vista!
This year, 125 people have volunteered 416 hours of their time to help clean up 1,000 lbs of trash! Thank you to everyone who came out to help keep Chula Vista clean!
Copy of Revised version of Beautify Chula Vista Video 2023Beautify Chula Vista Video
Here is a video of this year's Beautify Chula Vista Clean-up that showcases the amazing work our volunteers are doing for the well-being of their community!
Tina Mattias Sustainable Journey Article 042023.pdfTina Matthias' Story Published in the Local Newspaper!
We would like to give a shout out on an amazing article written about Tina Matthias' sustainable Journey! We are so happy to not only see her story told but for it to be published in a local newspaper for the south bay community. Please take the time to read and learn about our founder's story that inspired her to start this non profit, create sustainable neighborhoods and the youth led program implemented in both middle and high schools within the Sweetwater Union School District.
Youth 4 A Sustainable Future
Local youths taking charge of their future at school!
Community outreaches
Contact us for participation and volunteering, or if you would like us to participate as a vendor at your event!
Covid-19 has created a plastic disaster! Single-use plastic bans that have been passed are not being enforced and it is taking a toll on the environment. Supporting restaurants with take-home food options has brought on a surge of single-use plastic utensils, straws, bags, and condiment packages. Though useful when eating in a non-home environment, taking these items just to eat at home becomes unnecessary and wasteful! Let's be conscious of the environment and practice sustainability when placing take-out or delivery orders and not include these single-use plastics in our orders. Join us in our "Opt Out Takeout Plastics Campaign" to help reduce single-use plastics in our landfill and cut restaurant expenses by not having to provide these plastics!
"The Earth will not continue to offer its harvest, except with faithful stewardship. We cannot say we love the land and then take steps to destroy it for use by future generations."
- John Paul II