Long Beach Recycles & Puente Latino
Compost & Recycling Ambassador (CRA) en Español
Presented by Long Beach Recycles in partnership with Puente Latino.
Environmental leadership begins in our neighborhoods.
“People often think sustainability begins when someone teaches it.
We discovered something different.
Our community has been practicing it for generations.”
The Program
Not a translated class.
A redesigned one.
Puente did not simply translate the City's English CRA curriculum into Spanish.
The curriculum stayed faithful to the City's educational goals.
Three ways to take part
Built Through Partnership
Two organizations. One shared goal.
Long Beach Recycles
The official program
- Official CRA Program
- Curriculum
- Registration
- Ambassador certification
- Citywide volunteer opportunities
Puente Latino
The community partner
- Community outreach
- Spanish-language instruction
- Community-centered facilitation
- Cultural adaptation
- Hands-on education
- Interactive learning tools
- Ongoing community engagement
Registration for the CRA program is managed exclusively by Long Beach Recycles. Puente Latino does not process registrations.
The Redesign
Not a translation. A redesign.
Traditional translation
- Translate slides
- Keep lecture format
- Same assumptions
- Same examples
Community redesign
- Start with community knowledge
- Conversation first
- Facilitator second
- Hands-on learning
- Peer teaching
- Cultural relevance
Where the traditional curriculum devoted roughly fifteen minutes to hands-on activity, the redesigned model expanded those experiences into an hour or more of demonstration, discussion, and peer learning.
Our Educational Approach
A model built on conversation, not lecture.
01
Ask
Facilitators open with questions, not slides.
02
Listen
Participants share what they already know.
03
Build Together
The group builds new understanding collectively.
04
Practice
Hands-on demonstration and experimentation.
05
Teach Others
Graduates carry the knowledge home and beyond.
Community Knowledge
Many families were already practicing sustainability.
The class begins by recognizing what participants already bring into the room — then builds new concepts on top of it.
Repair culture
Food preservation
Reusing containers
Creative cooking
Sharing resources
Home composting
Gardening
Upcycling
Interactive Learning
Learning continues before, during, and after class.
Long Beach Environmental Resources
What can I do today?
Start with what you want to do. We’ll connect you with the right Long Beach resource.
I WANT TO COMPOST
Turn food scraps and yard trimmings into healthy soil.
I HAVE A GREEN CART
Learn what belongs in Long Beach green carts — and what stays out.
I’M WASTING TOO MUCH FOOD
Save food, save money and reduce what goes into the trash.
I DON’T KNOW IF IT’S RECYCLABLE
Practice with Puente, then check the official Long Beach recycling guidance.
I HAVE SOMETHING BROKEN
Repair instead of replacing. Long Beach Fixit Clinics help residents keep useful items out of the waste stream.
I WANT TO USE LESS DISPOSABLE STUFF
Find Long Beach businesses participating in reuse programs and learn ways to reduce waste.
More from Long Beach Recycles
Explore official City of Long Beach information about composting, recycling, waste reduction, workshops and environmental programs.
Official services and municipal resources are provided by the City of Long Beach / Long Beach Recycles.
Student Stories
In their own words.
What did you like about the class?
What did you like about the class?
What did you like about the class?
What did you like about the class?
Photo Essay
The seven weeks, in pictures.
Impact
A first in the City's CRA history.
0%
Graduation Rate
First in City history
0
Weeks
Of hands-on instruction
0+
Volunteer Hours
Contributed by graduates
0
Graduates
Spring cohort
Support the Work
Keep this work growing.
Puente Latino works with community partners to make environmental education accessible, practical and culturally relevant.
Your contribution helps us continue developing Spanish-language educational resources, hands-on workshops, interactive learning tools and community outreach around composting, recycling, food waste and sustainable living.
- $10Educational materials
- $25Hands-on workshop supplies
- $50Community outreach
- $100Supports environmental education programming
- CustomChoose your amount
Examples illustrate ways contributions can support Puente’s community environmental education work.
Support PuentePuente Latino Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. EIN: 47-4746486.
Spring 2027
Spring 2027 registration opens soon.
Registration is managed by Long Beach Recycles.
Register Through Long Beach Recycles