The City of Kirkland Invites the Community to Celebrate Earth Month

Published on March 31, 2021

Trees, flowers with sunbeam at Watershed Park

Media Contact:                                                  
Joy Johnston
Interim Communications Program Manager
jjohnston@kirklandwa.gov
425-979-6562

 

Kirkland, Wash. – The City of Kirkland invites community members to celebrate Earth Month, an annual event inspiring environmental awareness, education and activism in communities across the nation. Throughout the month of April, community members will have opportunities to learn about recycling, natural yard care, and how to make their homes more “green.”  

Take the Green Home Challenge to make your home better for the planet 

This spring, community members can level up their household’s sustainability with the Green Home Challenge. Participants will get access to the Green Home Challenge website with themed weekly challenges to waste less, save water and energy, prevent pollution, and more.  

Each week participants will choose an activity to complete that will make their home better for the planet and healthier for them. Mini quests encourage participants to cross off quick wins around the house and explore the nature in their neighborhood. All are invited to participate, on their own or with their family – sign up now

Attend events to recycle better and restore our natural areas 

  • Saturday, April 3, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Kirkland City Hall, 123 5th Ave, Shredding Drop-off Event. Shred confidential materials for free at this drop-off recycling event. Please follow safety guidelines and material limits. 
  • Wednesday, April 14, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., Recycling 101 Webinar. Learn the latest on what goes in each cart, and where all that stuff goes once the driver takes it away at this webinar with your City of Kirkland Recycling Team. Register online. 
  • Thursday, April 22, 7:30 – 8:45 p.m., Alaska Suite Earth Day Livestream. The Alaska Suite features a five-piece chamber jazz ensemble performing along with images, spoken word, and poetry to connect audiences deeply and emotionally to the scientific realities of climate change. Sponsored by the City of Kirkland.
  • Wednesday, April 28, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m., Recycling Center Behind-the-Scenes Tour. Take a virtual behind-the-scenes tour to see where your recycling goes once it leaves the curb. Registration required.  
  • All month, Habitat Restoration with Green Kirkland Partnership. Your help is needed to rip out invasive weeds and care for newly planted areas in Kirkland’s parks. Pre-registration, wearing face coverings and other safety steps are required to participate at these small events. 
  • In addition to events hosted by the City, many more partner-led webinars are planned for Earth Month. See all opportunities at kirklandwa.gov/earthmonth.  

Plant a tree with a new rebate program

A new rebate program reimburses residents for planting trees on their property. Rebates of up to $150 per tree planted, with a maximum of $500 per property, are available for Kirkland residents. Learn about the program requirements to see if your property is eligible at kirklandwa.gov/treerebate.

Trees help prevent flooding in our neighborhoods, provide shade for our homes, and help filter pollutants to provide clean water for Lake Washington. Adding trees is an easy, affordable way for residents to help Kirkland’s environment.

Building a sustainable future in the City of Kirkland 

Every year, the City of Kirkland recognizes April as Earth Month to honor the value of our environment and natural spaces. In support of the City’s ongoing commitment to protecting the natural environment, the Kirkland City Council will formally proclaim April as Earth Month during its Council meeting at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 20.  

This year marks the first Earth Month since City Council adopted Kirkland’s first Sustainability Master Plan in December 2020.  The Sustainability Master Plan lays out actionable steps to help our community build a future that's sustainable for the environment, the economy, and equity. Goals identified in the plan will help the City develop a greener power supply, reduce community greenhouse gas emissions, increase the efficiency of buildings, make neighborhoods more walkable and bikeable, protect natural areas and ecosystems, use materials sustainably, foster a sustainable business community, and more.  

While the City has long taken action to protect the natural environment, the concept of sustainability in the Sustainability Master Plan takes a much broader view and recognizes that protecting the environment intersects with many decisions. Equity is integrated throughout the plan, from specific actions that will reduce barriers to the weighting of project priorities. A new sustainable decision-making matrix informs City decisions to bring new projects and services into alignment with the goals of the Sustainability Master Plan.

Numerous efforts that support sustainability have been ongoing for years, and the Sustainability Master Plan amplifies both staff and the community’s work. The plan includes a detailed implementation section identifying specific goals and timelines that augment current efforts while seeking to prioritize additional important actions to help achieve the Plan’s goals.   

For more information, contact Kirkland’s Recycling Hotline at recycle@kirklandwa.gov or 425-587-3812.

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