Message from the Sustainability Manager
Here in Boca Raton, we are thinking about the environment every day. Earth Month gives us an opportunity to shine a brighter spotlight on everything we do.
Did You Know? Some sustainability facts about Boca Raton:
- The City's Utility Services department runs a 100% reuse wastewater facility.
- The City has one of the oldest tree protection ordinances in the country.
- There are over 400 acres of natural areas and wetlands within City limits.
- Upcoming projects include living shorelines at Lake Wyman/Rutheford Parks and enhancements of natural areas including Rosemary Ridge and Gopher Tortoise Preserve. (Learn more about these projects on the City's website).
- And so much more!
This newsletter is full of activities throughout the month that provide opportunities for you and your families to learn and volunteer with us. Join us in April and beyond!
Lindsey Roland Nieratka
Sustainability Manager, City of Boca Raton
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Earth Day 2024 Theme: Planet vs Plastics
Making the most out of your reusable products.
For years we have understood that disposable plastics such as plastic bags, water bottles, and straws are large contributors to increases in plastic production and plastic pollution. The solution that many of us have identified is to replace those disposable items with reusable alternatives. Steele cups, metal straws, and cotton totes are not without their own environmental impact.
How can we use them and care for them to maximize environmental benefit?
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Use it a lot! The main benefit of reusable items is that they replace disposable ones. To maximize the environmental benefit, use it a lot! The longer you keep and use a tote bag or water bottle, the more plastic bags or bottles they replace, and the more environmentally beneficial they become.
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Only buy what you need. Stuff is still stuff, even if it is “eco” stuff. There are resources and energy that go into the production of these reusable items. It is easier to get to the environmental payback of a metal water cup, for example, if you have one that you use a lot rather than many, each of which you use occasionally. Buy one you really like and resist the urge to splurge on the trendy new model or limited-edition color.
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Wash them less. This one will depend on use and personal preference, but reducing washing can reduce the water and electricity associated with using reusable items. When the items are washed, do so efficiently. For dishwasher or washing machine safe items, make sure to only wash in full loads. For hand wash only items, make sure to use your water efficiently.
With all this in mind, reusable may not always be the best option. When faced with the option of taking the disposable option or buying a new reusable one you don’t need, go without or take the disposable option and try not to forget your cup or bag the next time!
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Ready to Go Beyond the Bag?
Have you already switched to reusable water bottles and tote bags? Are you ready to go beyond the basics in single use plastic production?
Check out the Beyond the Bag webinar from the Office of Sustainability and Gumbo Limbo Nature Center!
Note: This webinar was filmed in July of 2020.
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The City Nature Challenge is a world-wide citizen science event! Join the global bioblitz to document nature within urban areas.
April 26 - April 29
Download the iNaturalist app. Any observations made in the app during the challenge will be added automatically to the Boca Raton and South Florida projects.
Join the Red Reef Bioblitz!
Would you rather participate in the City Nature Challenge with experts and learn about the ecosystems on our barrier island? Join the City of Boca Raton and the Institute for Regional Conservation for a guided walk and then have the opportunity to participate in ecological restoration efforts by planting native dune species.
April 27 | 9am - 11am, Red Reef Park
Register at volunteermatch.org
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Red Reef and South Beach Ecological Restoration
If you have been to Red Reef or South Beach parks lately you may have noticed some changes. The Institute for Regional Conservation has had crews and volunteers out working hard to remove invasive exotic plant species and replace them with native dune plants. The result? A biologically diverse and resilient beach dune!
Learn more about the project on the City's Beach Sustainability page.
Why is the City working with the Institute for Regional Conservation?
Only the best of the best is good enough for the City of Boca Raton. We are proud to be partnering with the experts at the Institute for Regional Conservation (IRC) to guide our work.
What is IRC's level of expertise? George Gann, IRC's Executive Director, is a contributing author to the recently released "2024 Standards of Practice to Guide Ecosystem Restoration" for the United Nations.
Find the standards at FAO.org.
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Upcoming Events
Earth Month in Boca Raton is full of opportunities to learn and volunteer!
For a full list visit myboca.us/earth-month
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Tree Give Away!
April 6 | 9am
Hidden Lake Park
The Office of Sustainability and Community Greening will be giving away 150 FREE TREES. Boca Raton households can choose two trees while supplies last.
Tree species: Fiddlewood, Paradise Tree, Mango, Star Fruit
Hidden Lake Park
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Ecological Restoration Volunteer Day
Remove invasive exotic species and plant native. Be a part of the ongoing restoration efforts!
April 12 | 9am - 11am, Red Reef Park
To register for the events, visit: volunteermatch.org
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E-Waste Recycling Event
April 13 | 9am - 12pm, City Hall
Recycle your old electronics responsibly! Acceptable items include small appliances, desktop electronics, cords, batteries, lightbulbs, and more!
See a full list at escrapusa.com!
Can't make this date? The nearest SWA Home Chemical and Recycling Center is at 1901 SW 4th Ave, Delray Beach, FL 33444.
Email sustainability@myboca.us or call 561-393-7997 with questions.
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Don't miss the last event in the Sustainable Yard Series!
April 24 | 6pm - 7:30pm
Downtown Library, Rain or Shine
Learn how to deal with an abundance of water in the rainy season and best irrigation practices for dry times.
This event is FREE and open to the public. Register by 5pm the day before the event to receive a FREE NATIVE PLANT!
Register at sustainability@myboca.us
or call 561-393-7997.
Participants who attended all four events in the series will get special recognition in April!
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Arbor Day Volunteer Tree Planting
April 26 | 3:30pm - 5:30pm Countess de Hoernle Park
Come celebrate Boca Raton's 44 years as a Tree City USA! The City and Community Greening will be planting trees along the lake path. Be a part of increasing the City's tree canopy.
Register at communitygreening.org.
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Attention Palm Beach County School Families!
Did you know that car exhaust contains toxins and pollutants that are harmful to human health, particularly for children?
Did you know that excessive idling puts wear on your vehicle, wastes gas, and contributes to greenhouse gas emissions?
Help your school become idle free! Let your student know that they can be a part of the solution. Create a poster to convince adults to shut their engines off while stopped on campus.
Submissions due May 9th. Submit here!
The competition is open to all students attending a School District of Palm Beach County school.
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Show Your Love . . . Sustainably!
Valentines Day is a holiday in which we show our loved ones how much we care. Often this demonstration of affection comes in the form of flowers, chocolates, and balloons! Each of these items can sometimes have unintended consequences. For example, the red heart balloon pictured here, spotted on a bike ride through Everglades National Park in late February, was probably let go many miles from where it ended up.
Remember, in the City of Boca Raton balloons are not allowed outside on any City property, including beaches and parks. Find fun alternatives at myboca.us/sustainability.
Also of note, the Florida Legislature voted this year to ban all intentional releases of balloons in the State. Read more.
For ideas on how to celebrate sustainably next Valentine's Day, check out these tips from Yale Sustainability.
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Are You a Green Business?
The City's Sustainability Goals are much easier to achieve if we all work together! The business community is vital to achieving success, so get recognized for what you are doing!
Let us know if you have one of the above (or any other) green certification! We will highlight your business here in our newsletter!
Email sustainability@myboca.us
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Pick Up & Grow with Community Greening
Community Greening’s newest tree planting program, Pick Up & Grow, is officially accepting applications!
Community organizations can apply to receive up to 25 FREE trees, shovels, mulch, watering buckets, and planting/maintenance guides to run a tree planting event with their members on their own property!
Community organizations include nonprofits, religious institutions, schools, HOAs and more! Groups must own the property where the trees will be planted or have written permission from the property owner to plant the trees. Groups must be able to pick up the trees and tools from the Community Greening Tree Nursery (In unincorporated Boca Raton just South of Palmetto Park Rd on Boca Rio Rd).
Although not a City of Boca Raton program, Pick Up & Grow is available to City organizations! The program is a partnership with Florida Forest Service & USDA and Community Greening.
Full details and applications available here: https://communitygreening.org/program/pick-up-grow.
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What Have We Learned from Recycle Coach This Quarter?
Thanks to everyone who has downloaded the Recycle Coach app, used the What Goes Where tool and taken the quizzes. Having these quiz responses and seeing what users are searching helps the City to know where we may need to do a better job communicating.
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E-Waste
Did you fill in the blank correctly in this poem?
Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Manage your e-waste correctly,
So battery fires don't ensue.
Knowing that ewaste such as batteries, computers, phones, and small appliances need to be disposed of properly is well known, but what might not be as well understood is exactly HOW.
Start by bringing all your old electronics, batteries, cords, and bulbs to the City's e-waste collection event on April 13th!
If you cannot make this event or have something to recycle in the future, the nearest SWA Home Chemical and Recycling Center is at 1901 SW 4th Ave, Delray Beach, FL 33444.
Recycling right can be difficult and sometimes confusing. Take out the uncertainty by downloading the app and using the What Goes Where tool or SWA's Is It Recyclable page.
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Read, Watch, and Listen with the Office of Sustainability | |
Read
A City on Mars: Can we settle space, should we settle space, and have we really thought this through?
Kelly and Zach Weinersmith
Have you ever wondered if it might be easier to colonize another planet than fix things here on Earth? This funny and fact-filled book provides more than you ever wanted to know about space travel and what it will actually take to live on Mars.
Find it at the Boca Library!
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Watch
We're All Plastic People Now | PBS
This year's global Earth Day theme is Planet vs Plastics. Goal #1 of this theme is to raise awareness of the damage done by plastic to human, animal, and all biodiversity's health. Learn more about the human impact of plastic through local filmmaker Rory Fielding's Emmy award winning documentary.
Watch it on PBS.org
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Listen
Slough Progress | Bright Lit Place
This new podcast from NPR explores the work to save the Everglades. Start with the episode Slough Progress and learn about how mangroves protect the coast.
Bright Lit Place
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Your Quarterly Call to Action
Join the EARTHDAY.ORG #PlasticDetox Challenge!
FACT: People are more likely to pick up a sustainable new habit or behavior if they see others doing it. Apply a little peer pressure to your followers by committing to reducing your single-use plastic use in your daily life and then sharing your progress!
Learn more at earthday.org/plastic-detox-challenge.
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