July 2024

Header: Earth Matters, Environmental News, Pierce County PPW

It's Getting Hot Out Here

Youth holding a heat sensor and map next to a vehicle with the door open.

What's the problem with urban heat?

Concrete, roads, and buildings in our communities trap heat making hot days even hotter in areas that lack shade, trees, and other green spaces. These exceptionally hot areas are referred to as “urban heat islands” since they stay hotter than surrounding lands – the difference in temperature can be as much as 14 degrees F hotter. Urban heat islands are disproportionately home to low-income folks and people of color. This extreme heat can be deadly for our most vulnerable neighbors like those with underlying health conditions, the young, and the elderly.

Help us map the heat!

The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department is bringing together local cities, organizations, and volunteers for an Urban Heat Island Mapping Campaign. This study will map temperatures across Pierce County to help us identify opportunities for solutions like planting trees, opening cooling centers, and more. We are looking for volunteers to participate in this community-based science project! Visit TacomaTreeFoundation.org/Heat to learn more and volunteer.

Click HERE to learn about how communities can take action to reduce urban heat islands.

Pierce County's Vision Zero Action Plan Needs Your Help

Since 2013, 49% of fatalities on unincorporated Pierce County roads involved impaired drivers. This fact is just one of the many sobering statics that contributed to Pierce County launching the Vision Zero Action (VIZO) Plan which aims at attaining zero fatalities and serious injuries among all modes of transportation in unincorporated Pierce County by 2035. This data-driven effort that will identify strategies and actions to address the root causes of fatal and serious injury collisions.

The multi-faceted approach to improve traffic safety will include revisions to road design and operations, enforcement, education, and specific project recommendations.

This is where we need your help!

Individuals who travel on Pierce County roads are asked to share their opinions about traffic safety in Pierce County by taking a short survey. Public input on traffic safety will assist in plan development. Learn more about Vision Zero by visiting www.PierceCountyWa.gov/VisionZero and sign up for the Vision Zero newsletter.

School Water Bottle Filling Station Donation Program

Youth and teacher next to water bottle refilling station

While studying environmental science, 8th graders at Goodman Middle School in the Peninsula School District evaluated the size of their school's and personal ecological footprints. They conducted waste, energy and water audits and discovered opportunities to reduce their impact.

Motivated volunteers worked with science teacher, Jeremy Anhalt, to do action projects around the school including recycling education, improving access to recycling bins, and energy and water waste reduction. They identified the need for a water bottle filling station near the main entrance of the school. As they prepared to fundraise, they learned about Pierce County's water bottle filling station donation program. The students filled out the application, led a county recycling expert on a tour of their school to show off their reduction programs, and were awarded a water bottle filling station from Pierce County!

Kitchen Collection Bins

Do you have a recycling question? Send it to us at PCRECYCLE@PierceCountyWa.gov We’ll send you a direct response and your question may appear in a future newsletter!

The best system to get food waste from your kitchen to your yard waste cart is one that works for your household! There are lots of different kitchen collection bin options. You can purchase some from local businesses like McClendon Hardware and Wilco Farm Stores, but you don’t need to buy something new. Think about repurposing an existing container like a plastic ice cream tub into a simple kitchen collection bin.

To determine the best size bin think about how often you want to empty your container into your yard waste cart. Some kitchen compost collection buckets have lids and charcoal filters which allow food scraps to sit for a few days. To help with odor you can place your container in your fridge or freezer. If you already cook with a “garbage bowl” for scraps, simply empty the garbage bowl directly into your yard waste cart.

For answers to more Food/Yard Waste program FAQs, go HERE.