SACRAMENTO, Calif. — CalRecycle is partnering with the 40 Acre Conservation League to launch Black Conservation Week 2026 with a youth-focused land tour and hands-on composting experience designed to connect Sacramento-area students with California’s natural spaces and the everyday actions that help protect them.
During the tour, middle and high school students will explore the 40 Acre Conservation League’s 650-acre conservation property in Emigrant Gap. They will learn how simple habits, such as putting food scraps in the green bin, choosing reusable items, and cashing in California Redemption Value (CRV) beverage containers at approved recycling sites, can reduce waste, conserve resources, and help keep California’s landscapes clean and healthy for future generations.
The event will also feature an interactive compost demonstration led by the Association of Compost Producers, where students can examine compost at different stages, sort out contamination from finished compost, and take home the clean compost.
“Partnerships like this help young people see how recycling and composting can strengthen communities and protect the environment,” said Sue Vang, Senior Environmental Scientist at CalRecycle. “We’re proud to support opportunities that empower youth to build sustainable habits and an appreciation for California’s natural resources.”
The 40 Acre Conservation League is a Black-led nonprofit organization dedicated to reconnecting Black communities with land ownership, conservation, and outdoor education. By combining environmental stewardship with cultural connection, the organization is helping create new pathways for youth to engage with California’s natural resources and conservation efforts.
“Black communities have always been stewards of the land, even when that history hasn’t been fully recognized,” said Jade Stevens, Executive Director of the 40 Acre Conservation League. “When youth see how their everyday choices can protect the environment, they begin to understand their own power to shape the future.”
Black Conservation Week runs June 14 – 21, celebrating Black environmental leadership and expanding access to nature for all Californians.
About Recycling Reimagined
Recycling Reimagined is a CalRecycle outreach effort promoting simple actions, like redeeming CRV containers and putting food scraps in the green bin, that help create a cleaner, healthier Californian. Visit RecyclingReimaginedCA.com to learn more.
About 40 Acre Conservation League
40 Acre Conservation League is a Black-led nonprofit stewarding a 650-acre property in Emigrant Gap and working to reconnect Black communities to land ownership, conservation, and outdoor education. For more information, visit and follow 40 Acre on Instagram 40 Acre League.
