Water Wisdoms | April 2021 Newsletter
Spring Cleaning the Right Way
Spring is officially here, a season many utilize to declutter and do some deep cleaning. Just remember to dispose of chemicals and expired or unwanted prescriptions properly! These items contain hazardous ingredients that can be dangerous to children, pets, and others. They can also be harmful to the wastewater system and environment if poured down the drain or flushed in the toilet.

Products like paints, motor oil, auto fluids, pesticides, fertilizers, household cleaners, and pool/spa chemicals should be disposed of at the Lane County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Center. To learn more and schedule an appointment, click here. Lane County provides this service to households for free and to businesses for a nominal cost.

Expired or unwanted prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and pet medications should be disposed of in one of several MedReturn Boxes located throughout the community. For more information and a list of locations where MedReturn Boxes are available, visit our Pollution Prevention webpage. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's next National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is coming up on Saturday, April 24 and is a great time to take advantage of this free resource. However, the MedReturn Boxes are also available year-round to community members.
MWMC Sponsors McKenzie River Trust Living River Exploration Days
We're excited to be a sponsor of the McKenzie River Trusts' Living River Exploration Day series for 2021! On the second Saturday of each month from March through December, the McKenzie River Trust is opening Green Island to the public, free of charge. Take a walk near the place the Willamette and McKenzie Rivers meet, connect with nature, and explore 15 years of tree-planting work on this privately-owned conservation site. The next Living River Exploration Day will be held on Saturday, May 8 from 9am to 3pm. For more details and things to know before you go, click here.
Poplar Harvest Invitation to Bid & Request for Quotations Now Posted
The MWMC is now accepting bids and quotations related to the harvest of approximately 24,000 poplar trees on our Biocycle Farm this summer. The Biocycle Farm is an important part of our sustainability efforts, as biosolids and recycled water, recovered resources of the wastewater treatment process, promote the rapid growth of the trees. After a growth period of up to 12 years, the trees are harvested, providing a renewable resource for our community.

Interested in learning more about our upcoming harvest or know someone who may be interested in submitting a bid or quote? Visit mwmcpartners.org/poplarharvest for details on the project and links to our Invitation to Bid and Request for Quotation. A Request for Information will also soon be posted to solicit partnerships, pilot projects, and innovations related to poplar wood use, poplar biomass use, and poplar materials research and development.
Did You Know?
Every year, we put out an Annual Report to share statistics, project updates, and other accomplishments. In case you missed it in last month's issue, our 2020 Annual Report was recently published! It's available on our website, and along with Annual Reports from previous years, can now be viewed at mwmcpartners.org/about-the-mwmc/annual-report. This new webpage is a great resource for learning more about the MWMC, our growth as an organization, and the progress made on projects over the past several years. Check it out to learn more about how we clean water for the Eugene-Springfield area.
Love receiving water news and tips for protecting the Willamette River directly in your inbox each month? Forward this newsletter to a friend or colleague to share and encourage them to subscribe to our newsletter at this link. Thanks for partnering with us in our mission to protect the community's health and environment.