EnviroTips

EnviroKids is brought to you by

City of Tacoma
Environmental Services

EnviroTips

What can you do to help? Read more about things you can do daily to help the environment.

RECYCLE

Start a compost/worm bin to reduce food waste.
Ask your parents not to throw away your old stove or couch! Sell large household goods on 2good2toss.com.
Donate your old clothes, appliances and toys to charities like Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity, Salvation Army, and local shelters.
RECYCLE! Many of the items that we normally throw away can actually be recycled. Used products like paper, plastics, glass, metal cans, pop cans, yard waste and even shoes can be made into new products instead of piling up in our landfills. You can even recycle your old electronics.

BUY AND USE LESS

Buy and use less “stuff.” Buy products that don’t have a lot of packaging or wrappers.
Buy in bulk – individual containers create more waste. For example, instead of buying juice boxes, make your own juice and pour it into a reusable container.
Reuse things over and over. Buy things you can reuse in the first place! When you go to buy something, check out used items at secondhand stores before you buy new.
Use both sides of paper before you recycle it.
Say no to junk mail. Call 253-591-5543 for a free junk mail reduction kit.
Use cloth napkins instead of paper ones.

WATER USE

Take shorter showers.
Turn the water off when brushing your teeth.
Reduce the amount of wastewater you create by running full loads of laundry, filling the bathtub halfway and not letting the sink water run unnecessarily.
Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator for a cold drink instead of running the faucet until its cool.

POLLUTION PREVENTION

Ride your bike, walk, carpool or take the bus to get around town.
Pick up dog poop and throw it away.
Don’t litter.
Use safer alternatives like vinegar and lemon juice for household cleaning. Many cleaners and products you buy in the store are hazardous to human and animal health.
Reduce the amount of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides you use. Try natural alternatives in their places. Ladybugs gobble up aphids in your rose bed, TAGRO nourishes your plants and you build muscles when you pull the weeds yourself!
Wash your car on the grass or take it to a car wash instead of washing it in your driveway.

Get involved and volunteer

In Tacoma, there are a variety of ways to get involved in the community. Take a look at some local organizations and projects.

Citizens for a Healthy Bay: CHB gets people involved in cleaning up and protecting Commencement Bay. Check out their Web site for activities to get involved in such as Junior BayRanger, storm drain stenciling or tree planting.
Clean Bay Car Wash Kits: If you are doing a car wash fundraiser, be sure to use one of the City's Clean Bay Car Wash Kits. The kits help treat the wash water so it doesn't harm the environment.
Storm Drain Stenciling: Check out this Web site to find scheduled storm drain stenciling events and learn how to set up your own.
Puget Creek Restoration Society: Help out with cleaning, restoring and protecting our local streams. Check out their Web site to see how you can get involved.