Solana Center for Environmental Innovation

Specialties

The Solana Center is a nonprofit organization serving San Diego County and beyond. Our mission is to empower students and adults through education and action to become environmental stewards in their communities

Our program areas are broad in scope, addressing both regional and national issues, and include water protection, composting, gardening, and pollution prevention.

History

Established in 1983.

The Solana Center is a 501©(3) nonprofit organization located in Encinitas, California. Originally founded as the Solana Recyclers in 1983, we pioneered the first comprehensive curbside recycling program in San Diego County and one of the first community-​based recycling programs in the State of California. In 1996, we left the recycling collection business to focus our energies on community outreach, public education and creating new markets for recycled products. The word «Solana» has remained and is symbolic of our work in the broader community. In Spanish, Solana means «place where the light shines.» Carrying the torch of environmental awareness is something that we take very seriously, finding ways to illuminate problems, creating solutions and inspiring change.