Eco - Local Eco News

POSTED: Sunday, Sep. 21, 2008

ECO Resources

ON THE WEB

Whatcom County: www.whatcomcounty.us/index.jsp

Click on the "Environment and Water Resources" category for links to information on recycling, composting, dis-posal and brochures about everything from reducing junk mail to proper disposal of automotive waste.

Click on Parks and Recreation category for links to county parks, trails, facilities, outdoor classes and trips and more.

City of Bellingham: www.cob.org/services

Click on "Environment" for links to information on climate protection, education, green resolutions and activities, habitat and restoration, low-impace development, recycling and waste reduction, water conservation, and water quality.

Click on "Recreation" for links to parks, trails, facilities, classes and parks volunteer program.

RECYCLING, COMPOSTING, DISPOSAL

Recycling Hotline: 676-5723
Answers to your questions about waste reduction, recycling, composting and household hazardous waste.

Disposal of Toxics Facility: 380-4640
Location: 3505 Airport Drive.
Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday and the first Saturday of every month.
Accepts: Used oil and fuels, oil-based paint and paint products, fluorescent lamps, cleaners, medications, lawn and garden chemicals, solvents, automotive products, mercury thermometers
Residents: Free (55 gallons or less)
Businesses: Call for authorization and pricing

Clean Green Transfer Station: www.cob.org/services/environment/recycling
Location: near the corner of Lakeway and Woburn streets.
Hours: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Closed in December, January, and February.
The transfer station accepts the following materials only: grass clippings, garden trimmings, limbs (eight inches or less in diameter and less than seven feet in length), vines, leaves, other natural vegetation
The transfer station does not accept the following materials: rocks, garbage, roots, root balls, lumber, construction debris, land clearing debris, hazardous waste

Garbage and curbside recycling collection service providers:
• Sanitary Service Co., F and Roeder streets, 734-3490, www.ssc-inc.com. Service area includes Bellingham, Fern-dale, Birch Bay and the majority of unincorporated Whatcom County.
• Blaine Bay Refuse, 332-5443, www.blainebay.com. Service area includes Blaine, Birch Bay and Semiahmoo.
• Nooksack Valley Disposal and Recycling Inc., 250 Birch Bay-Lynden Road, Lynden, 354-JUNK, www.nvd-inc.com. Service area includes the cities of Lynden, Everson, Nooksack and Sumas and a portion of unincorporated northern Whatcom County.

HOME AND GARDEN RESOURCES

Backyard Habitat Mentor Program: 778-7105, redwards@cob.org
Arrange for a mentor to visit your yard and offer advice on creating a wildlife-friendly habitat.

Master Composter/Recycler Program: 676-6736, whatcom.wsu.edu, then click on "Composting."
Volunteers speak at garden clubs, teach at schools, run informational booths at many events as well as spearhead composting and recycling projects for neighborhoods and schools.

Master Gardener Program: 676-6736, www.whatcom.wsu.edu/mastergardener
Master Gardeners are available to lend helpful gardening advice.

Sustainable Connections: 647-7093, www.sconnect.org
Resource on green building and smart growth, sustainable business development, food and farming, and think local program.

The RE Store: 2309 Meridian St., 647-5921, www.re-store.org
Purchase reuseable materials for building and remodeling projects or recycle reusable materials otherwise destined for demolotion.

STEWARDSHIP

The following organizations offer opportunities to get involved in work parties to protect and restore local habitats.

Beach Naturalist Program: 733-8307, www.re-sources.org, then click on programs, then "Beach Naturalist."
Trains local citizens to act as informal naturalists on beaches in Whatcom County and helps host special events to help people learn and care for our shoreline.

Bellingham Parks Volunteer Program: 778-7105, www.cob.org/parks/index.asp, then click on Volunteer Op-portunities.
Organizes volunteer habitat restoration and trail maintenance work parties.

Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association: 715-0283, www.n-sea.org

Parks Volunteer Program: 676-6801 ext. 24, www.cob.org/government/public/volunteer/parks/index.aspx
Organizes volunteer habitat restoration and trail maintenance work parties.

Pacific Northwest Trail Association: (877) 854-9415, www.pnt.org
Hosts hikes and work parties on the Pacific Northwest Trail.

Watershed Master/Beach Watchers: 676-6736, whatcom.wsu.edu.
Provides education, local connections and support to volunteers who want to preserve and enhance water quality and aquatic resources in Whatcom County. Annual spring training is $50 and includes numerous field trips

EDUCATION

Koma Kulshan Chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society: Mark Turner at 671-6851, Annie Prevost at 714-8629 or www.wnps.org, click on "Local Chapters."
Club meetings include presentations on areas of interest. The club also hosts regular field trips and excursions.

North Cascades Audubon Society: Joe Meche at 738-0641, Paul Woodcock at 380-3356 or www.northcascadesaudubon.org.
Club meetings include presentations on areas of interest. The club also hosts regular field trips and excursions.

North Cascades Institute: (360) 856-5700, ext. 209, www.ncascades.org
Offers seminars and retreats, school programs and summer youth adventures, teacher education and internships, volunteer stewardship programs, a graduate degree program in environmental education, and custom programs for groups.

People for Puget Sound: (206) 382-7007, www.pugetsound.org
Programs on education, habitat restoration, kids, policy, pollution and toxics.

Whatcom Land Trust: 650-9470, www.whatcomlandtrust.orgPreserves and protects wildlife habitat, scenic, agricultural and open space lands in Whatcom County. Provides educational tours of land trust properties.

Kulshan Land Trust: 671-5600, www.kclt.org.
Works to create healthy communities through permanently affordable homeownership.

CLUBS

Mount Baker Rock and Gem Club, Candi Gerard at 384-3187 or mtbakerrockclub.org
The Mount Baker Rock and Gem Club is a member of the Northwest Federation of Mineralogi-cal Societies and the Washington State Mineral Council.The organization promotes education and interest in the earth sciences, lapidary and related arts.Club meetings are generally held the third Monday of each month (except August and December), at 7 p.m., at Bloedel Donovan Park, 2214 Electric Ave.
The annual show is held the second full weekend in April in the Bloedel Donovan Park Multipurpose Room. Field trips are scheduled on a regular basis throughout the year, including bus trips to local shows, museums, and special exhibits.

Bellingham Mountaineeers, Mark Springer at 647-4768 or www.bellinghammountaineers.org
The Bellingham Mountaineers is one of six regional branches of The Mountaineers, an outdoor and conservation club based in Seattle.
The Bellingham branch offers programs in climbing, hiking, snowshoeing and backcountry skiing. The branch is run entirely by volunteer members who lead trips, teach courses and provide trail maintenance. Membership provides a variety of benefits, including activities across Washington state, publication discounts and conservation advocacy.
Club meetings are generally held at 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday, September through May at the Belling-ham Public Library, 210 Central Ave., with presentations on areas of interest.

Mount Baker Chapter of the Sierra Club, Stan Parker at 738-0770 or washington.sierraclub.org/mtbakerThe Sierra Club tagline is: "Enjoy, explore, and protect the planet." Thousands of people in Washington State every year participate in Cascade Chapter events dedicated to the "enjoy" and "explore" parts of that mission. Check the "Events" section of the Web site for listings of upcoming outings and meetings.
The priorities of the Cascade Chapter also encompass the crucial third part of the Sierra Club mission: Protect the planet that we love to explore and enjoy. Our volunteers work hard to achieve a broad range of well-defined conser-vation goals in ways ranging from hands-on habitat restoration to active lobbying for better legislation. Club meets at member homes to discuss specific issues or hikes.