Berkeley Ecology Center

Founded in 1969, the Ecology Center is a nonprofit organization located in Berkeley, California that focuses on improving the health and the environmental impacts of urban residents. We address critical issues through a model of education, demonstration, replication, and advocacy. We envision a world where human activity nurtures the ecosystems that we all depend on — a world of sustainable cities; empowered, resilient communities; zero waste and zero toxics; equal access to healthy food; sustainable resource use; and a safe and stable climate.

The Ecology Center’s mission is to inspire and build a sustainable, healthy, and just future for the East Bay, California, and beyond. We transform the ideals of sustainability into everyday practice. We deliver information you can act on, infrastructure you can count on, and leadership for lasting change.

Our services include farmers’ markets, residential curbside recycling, classes and workshops, Youth Environmental Academy, help desk and hotline, book & DVD library and seed library, store for sustainable living, and a demonstration house and garden. We convene the Berkeley Food Policy Council, the Berkeley Climate Action Coalition, and the California Alliance of Farmers’ Markets. We also lead Market Match, an innovative nutrition incentive program that doubles the value of customers’ CalFresh nutrition assistance benefits at farmers’ markets and other farm-direct sites across California, and serve as the fiscal sponsor for a wide range of projects that align with our mission.