LYNNWOOD—Last week’s annual Earth Day shredding event in Lynnwood was a huge success with 3,000 pounds of documents shredded, 15 yards of compost generously donated by Northwest Landscape Supply, and approximately 120 participating vehicles.
This was the City’s fourth annual shredding event, an idea stemming from a collaboration between the Public Works Environmental team and the Parks Healthy Communities Team.
Each year the City of Lynnwood pays for a shred truck service from a particular vendor, which is parked outside the Lynnwood Operations and Maintenance Center from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. on April 19, where residents can bring their unwanted documents to be shredded and pick up compost donations for their gardens.
In honor of Earth Day, which is an event observed globally on April 22 to raise awareness surrounding environmental issues while promoting environmental protection, the shredding event reduces the need for paper production and emissions from manufacturing by reducing landfill and, in turn, recycles the shredded documents people bring in.
The compost donations, on the other hand, help residents enrich and build healthy soil while conserving water by aiding moisture retention in the soil, explained Golden Damron, Surface Water Engineering Technician with the City of Lynnwood.
“Composting also helps prevent soil erosion by reducing soil compaction and runoff and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides,” said Damron.
Other ways Lynnwood residents can reduce waste in the days that follow Earth Day, and continue until next year’s observation, is to reduce consumption of single-use products such as shopping bags, coffee cups, plastic waters bottles, and so on, as well as utilize a compost bin for food and yard waste, and starting an at-home garden to reduce food waste and help save money on groceries.
Learn about ways you can participate in recycling at home on our website at https://www.lynnwoodwa.gov/Government/Departments/Public-Works/Waste- Reduction/Recycling-Organics and join our quarterly Lynnwood Recycling Newsletter!
“Thank you to our amazing partners at Northwest Landscape Supply who generously supply the compost materials,” said Damron. “Thank you to all residents who participated in this event. We hope to see you all next year at this event and at our upcoming recycling events.”
Speaking of upcoming recycling events, the City of Lynnwood features many of these on its Events Calendar, where residents can keep up to date on how to be more proactive in protecting the environment.
The next upcoming recycling event will be on June 28 where residents can bring Styrofoam or electronic waste to be disposed of.
Damren also encouraged Lynnwood residents to visit the Public Works tables at the City’s upcoming Community Open House on May 6 and the City’s Fair on 44th Street on September 6 for additional information on what the Department does to keep beautifying the City and reduce waste.
The Lynnwood Environmental and Surface Water Division will be at both events, answering questions and educating residents bout stormwater pollution prevention. They will also hold a rain barrel and have free giveaways.
We also encourage Lynnwood residents to visit our Public Works tables at our upcoming Community Open House on May 6th and our Fair on 44th on Sept. 6.
The Environmental and Surface Water Division will be at both events, answering questions and educating residents about stormwater pollution prevention, and also holding rain barrel and tree giveaways!
Author: Kienan Briscoe
