Climate & Environment

Your guide to following California’s 'compost' law

We’re two years into a state law that requires us to keep food waste out of the trash. It’s anything but straightforward, but here is how to do it right.

An illustrated image of light-skinned hands holding a tin pail full of food scraps, and two people gardening. in the background are mounds of compost heaps and a person waving beside a garbage truck. In the foreground on the right brown-skinned hands hold dirt.

Plastic Bags? Really? LAist Readers React To California’s "Compost" Law

The majority of respondents who have been required to start separating their food waste reported that it's going just fine. But they also let us know what stinks about it, too.

An illustrated pie-chart showing audience sentiments towards composting, ranging from pretty easy to "I hate this." The pie-chart reveals about two thirds of respondents report that it's going well.

Earth Day 2024: 8 Ways To Live More Sustainably

These tips might not solve the climate crisis, but they can help garner momentum as we work toward a more sustainable future.

This illustration shows construction-paper created people interacting with a tree, a large wind fan and the sun. There's also a cloud in the upper right corner.

Millions Of California Trees Were Lost To Drought. Will Two Wet Winters Help Repair Our Forests?

The drought years were very, very hard on our trees. Conditions have improved a lot.

Startups Want To Geoengineer A Cooler Planet. With Few Rules, Experts See Big Risks

In a parking lot and on San Francisco Bay, NPR witnesses two different tests for solar geoengineering to tackle climate change. With much science unsettled, experts say regulations aren't keeping up.

Listen 6:46

Andrew Song and Luke Iseman of Make Sunsets ready for a launch. Iseman says they hope to someday cool the earth on a larger scale.

Sorry, LA! The Poppy Superbloom Is Not Happening This Year. Here's Why

"If I could tell people when the poppy peak is or what the season's going to be like, I would absolutely," said Callista Turner, state park interpreter. "Unfortunately, it is a natural reserve, which is subject to the climate that we have and the weather as it comes through."

A green field covered mostly in orange flowers.

Bald Eagle Family — Including Eaglets — Emerges In Santa Ana Mountains

The parents have been caring for a pair of healthy chicks, but Cleveland National Forest officials want to make sure others don’t get too close.

Two images placed side by side. On the left, an adult bald eagle is sitting on a nest of sticks and twigs high up in a tree. On the right, a close-up image of the nest, with a pair of fluffy chicks flapping their wings.

SoCal Steelhead Trout Listed Endangered By State Wildlife Officials

The species has been federally endangered for decades, but its population has struggled in Southern California.

The bottom of a creek-bed with nearly crystal clear water. Rocks, twigs, and other natural debris are resting on the ground as a medium silver fish swims by.

A Plan To Change Your Utility Rates Is Dividing California Environmentalists. Here’s Why

The California Public Utilities Commission will consider on May 9 a new proposal that would change how Californians pay for electricity.

A man with dark skin looks up at the solar panels on the roof of a house.

Why LA’s Iconic Palm Trees Keep Shedding And How You Can Dispose Of Those Giant Fronds

Getting rid of the bulky debris can be a journey. Nearly every city has different rules for how to handle the bulky items, but we’ve got some helpful tips.

A large pile of tangled, browned palm fronds that appears to be several feet tall. The fronds are collected on a grassy area between a city street and sidewalk, up against a wooden telephone pole.

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