Category: Activities

June 7, 2026 NCRA Summer Family Hiking Adventure: Waste Less, Wander More!

Join the Northern CA Recycling Association’s (NCRA) Membership Engagement and Activities Committee (MEAC) for a day of fresh air, scenic views, and community connection. We’re heading to the beautiful Berkeley Hills for a kid-friendly, stroller-accessible trek that’s perfect for recyclers and Zero Wasters of all ages! 

Ready to temporarily swap the blue bin for the green hills of Tilden Regional Park? We can’t wait to see you there!

Learn more and RSVP here.

️ ️Event Details

  • Sunday, June 7, 2026
  • Start Time: 10:00 AM. We’re kicking off at 10:00 AM to beat the summer heat and secure parking before the crowds arrive! 
  • Total Duration: Approximately 3–4 hours (includes a leisurely lunch at Wildcat Peak, a.k.a. the stone circle). 
  • The Hike: Nimitz Way Trail—a wide, paved, and stroller-friendly trail offering 360-degree views of the San Francisco Bay Area, Berkeley Hills, Oakland Hills, Tilden Regional Park, San Pablo Reservoir, and Briones Regional Park Hills. 

Location & Parking

The Game Plan

We will hike roughly 1.5 hours out to a scenic overlook (Wildcat Peak, a.k.a. Stone Circle), enjoy a zero-waste picnic lunch, and then head 1.5 hours back. The hike is about 4-5 miles round trip. 

2026 Calendar

COMMITTEE MEETING SCHEDULE, APRIL 2026

  • Zero Waste Advocacy (ZWAC): Legislative Committee: Second Thursday, 6:30pm, Legislative Tracker
  • ZWAC Show: ON HOLD, Second Tuesday of most months, 5:30pm, web page Membership, Engagement & Activities: (MEAC) First Tuesday, 4pm
  • Communications and Social Media: Fourth Tuesdays, 5pm
  • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI): 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, 4-4:30pm, web-page
  • Zero Food Waste Committee: Second Friday of the month, 1-2pm, web-page
  • Zero Waste Schools Committee: Quarterly, 4th Thursday, 4:30pm – 5:30pm, web-page

For more details including Zoom links, contact the office.

Newsletter: Great way to learn about NCRA, meet other members and get your feet wet!! Meets via phone or Zoom – usually one-on-one. Open assignments include writers, researchers, photographers and photo editors. Also, short book reviews and interviews.  Suggestions welcome!

Meetings are free and held via Zoom unless the newsletter and social media announcements say otherwise. Please RSVP if you would like to attend and the office will send you the link. 

Board Meetings:  The third Thursday of most months, 6:30pm – 8:30pm. All interested parties are welcome, but may have to limit comments to introductions or specific agenda items. Agenda items are due the first week of the month. Contact the office for details. 

2026 NOTEABLE DATES

  • Alameda Volunteer Coastal Cleanup: Every second Saturday of the Month, Learn more
  • Introduction To Recycling:  Two days – Monday, January 27, in San Francisco, and Tuesday, January 28, Online                   
  • Green Love Crafting & Networking: January 31, San Francisco Presidio – Sports Basement
  • Board Retreat:  February, Oakland
  • DEI Committee Salon: March 17, Zoom
  • Recycling Update: March 25, San Francisco State University
  • International Day of Zero Waste: March 30
  • Zero Food Waste Forum Webinar: April 10, Zoom
  • Members Meeting: May 21, East Bay TBD
  • Advocacy Day: June 17, State Capitol in Sacramento, RSVP
  • Beach Clean-up and Annual Picnic: September 19, Alameda
  • Call for Recycling Update Speaker presentations: October 2026
  • International Repair Day: October 19, Find a Fixit Clinic near you
  • Board Director Candidate Election Statements Due: September 2026, Learn more
  • Board Director Elections Commence: November 2026
  • America Recycles Day: November 15

The 30th Annual Recycling Update Call for Speakers is now live!

The 30th Annual Recycling Update Call for Speakers is now live!

How to Apply: Submit your proposal by COBD – Monday, December 5, 2025.

Apply here!

For additional questions, feel free to contact the office.

The Northern California Recycling Association (NCRA) is seeking dynamic speakers for its annual Recycling Update (RU), our fast-paced, high-energy event that showcases what’s new and innovative in the world of waste reduction and Zero Waste. We welcome proposals from those who haven’t yet presented at RU, as well as from experienced speakers eager to share their cutting-edge ideas and insights.

With over 500 attendees, including local government recycling staff, policy makers, consultants, haulers, and processors from across Northern California, RU is an ideal platform to showcase your work in front of a highly engaged audience. This is your chance to highlight the latest programs, policies, and projects shaping the future of our industry.

Presentation Format:

Each speaker is allotted 10 minutes for their presentation, followed by a 2-minute Q&A session.

The event features a single-track format, ensuring that all attendees hear your presentation—no breakouts, no missed opportunities.

Timeliness is crucial. Speakers must be well-prepared and adhere to their time limits.

Key Focus Areas: We encourage proposals that reflect NCRA’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, incorporating these values in both the content and design of presentations. Additionally, the selection committee is especially interested in presentations that explore reuse, repair, state and local policies, edible food recovery programs/ enforcement, extender producer responsibility, and recycling markets.