March 2025

Shining a Light on Solar Outreach and Engagement

Many thanks to those who participated in our solar outreach and engagement efforts over the last few months. Your feedback helped us understand our community members’ priorities as well as interest in and need for renewable energy education.


Across all engagement methods, we learned that our community prioritizes County solar installations that have the potential to reduce electricity bills, leaving more dollars for other operational costs. Solar panels paired with on-site battery storage, which would provide resilience in the event of a power outage, was the second priority for most respondents.


Common themes among commenters included concerns regarding return on investment and feasibility of solar in our region. Each of these concerns would be addressed in a formal technical analysis for any County facility being considered for a solar installation.

Many commenters also expressed the opinion that solar is the right thing to do and that by installing successful solar projects the County is leading the way for others to implement similar endeavors. Community members were excited about the prospect of solar bringing green jobs to our region, increasing local self-sufficiency by lessening our reliance on fossil fuels and energy assistance programs, and reducing pollution.

We know that clean, renewable energy is a community priority, so you can count on us to keep you informed and ask your opinions about solar projects at County facilities. In the meantime, don’t forget to check out our Solar Energy webpage.
Sustainable Pierce Header with trees

We Track When the Weather Changes!

Have you noticed you need your sunglasses one minute and an umbrella the next? That’s because our weather in Pierce County is always changing. 


To be prepared, the Surface Water Management Division maintains a network of 26 weather stations across the county! Each station has a data-logger and sensors to measure rainfall, wind speed, temperature, humidity, and more. The data is transmitted via a cellular network and can be viewed remotely. 



This data helps us prepare for storms and flooding, address pollution, and track changes in our climate. For example, high rainfall triggers emergency response inspections of river levees, and in shellfish growing areas, harvesting can be paused when heavy rains wash pollutants into the water. Find weather station locations and view the data online. 

Community Workshops on Reducing Climate Pollution

Join the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency for Community Workshops on Reducing Climate Pollution. Your input will help inform how actions to reduce climate pollution within our neighborhoods can best be designed and implemented. Each workshop will be a guided conversation focused on hearing directly from you. Previous knowledge of climate pollution is not a requirement to participate.


Participants may be eligible to receive a $50 payment for their contribution after the workshop and free, local food will be provided. Children are welcome. Doors will open at 5 p.m., with conversations starting at 5:30 p.m. Workshops will be two hours long. Interpretation provided upon request.


The Pierce County workshop runs from 5:30-7:30 p.m. April 15 at Clover Park Technical College.

Register Here
Recycle Right with Recycle graphic

Once paper is shredded, it is too small to be sorted properly at the MRF (materials recovery facility) for recycling. Since it cannot be sorted properly, it does not end up in paper bales to be made into new products.

 

Pierce County does offer free paper shredding events throughout the county. Attendees can shred up to three shopping bags of paper at each event. Please bring intact paper only (no pre-shredded paper) and only shred portions of documents that contain sensitive information like account numbers, passwords, signatures, Social Security numbers, or credit card numbers.


Paper shredded at these events IS recycled because it is collected separately. Paper from the shred truck is baled and taken directly to a paper mill and turned into paper, toilet paper, or paper towels. 


The list of shred event locations from now until June is on our website, including a new location in Browns Point at the end of March. Additional events will run August-October and will be added to our website once dates and locations are finalized.


Do you have a recycling question? Send it to us at PCRECYCLE@PierceCountyWa.gov. We’ll send you a direct response and your question may appear in a future newsletter!
Ride Together Pierce header with Ride Together Pierce logo and rainbow in the corner

Thank you for Making "Your Work, Your Way" a Success

Thank you to everyone who took part in the “Your Work, Your Way” campaign. Did you telework for at least five days or have two compressed days off Feb. 1-28?


Be sure to log your telework days or compressed days off on the Ride Together Pierce trip calendar by Friday, March 7 to enter the $50, $20, and $10 prize drawings.

Save the Date for the 14th Annual Bike Swap

Time for a new bike? Are the kids outgrowing their bikes? Need some bike gear and/or accessories, or got some to sell? Want to meet other cyclists? Attend the 14th Annual Pierce County Bike Swap!


Sign Up as a Vendor: Got too much to sell, have a variety of items, or want to join inventory with friends/neighbors? Join us as a vendor; it’s free!



Volunteer with Us: Want to scope out inventory, enjoy food/drinks from the food trucks and be a part of a large community event? Join us as a volunteer! Shifts are 2-3 hours long, every volunteer gets a $10 food voucher, and the first 20 to sign up receive a beanie hat!


Tell us you're coming on Facebook to receive up-to-date information and add the event to your calendar.
Learn More About the Bike Swap

Tired of Traffic? Pierce to King County Carpools Offer Less Stress and More Sustainability

Do you find yourself watching carpoolers breeze by in the high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane while you’re stuck inching forward? You deserve a faster, less stressful commute, and carpooling can help.


This March, Ride Together Pierce is launching a new program to help people who commute from Pierce to King County find carpool and vanpool partners for a smoother, faster ride to King County. Program participants will also be able to earn rewards like a guaranteed $10 coffee gift card and a chance to win one of three $300 gift cards. This limited-time program will help get a bigger pool of carpools and vanpools into the ridematching system, making it easier to find a match among your neighbors.


If you’re ready to start 2025 with less traffic and more time, sign up at Commute2King.org.


Graphics of commute options: bus, train, bike, walk, work from home, carpool, vanpool

Learn about Climate Action, Composting in March

Learn with us in March as we continue our Taking Climate Action series and begin our Dig into Composting series!


View the full schedule and register at PierceCountyWa.gov/EarthMattersSeries.

Climate Change in Pierce County

6-7:30 p.m.

Virtual: Zoom

How to Have a "Climate Conversation"

6-7:30 p.m.

Virtual: Zoom

Overview of Composting Methods

10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Hybrid: Sehmel Homestead Park and Zoom

March Brings New Edible Gardens Workshops

Explore the basics of successful vegetable gardening with free workshops by Pierce County and Harvest Pierce County educators. 


In March, our offerings include:

  • Garden Soil - March 8
  • Growing in Outdoor Containers - March 15


Hybrid and in-person classes are offered through October. View the schedule and register.
Banner: read, watch. listen, do with calendar icon

Read with us:


Watch with us:


Do with us:


Civic engagement opportunities:

  • The Washington Climate Partnership (WCP) is hosting a series of virtual meetings to request public input on a new Washington State Comprehensive Climate Action Plan (CCAP). Seven meetings, from February through April, will cover each "sector" of the state economy. All meetings are open to the public and will be held via Zoom. This is an opportunity to learn more about the current landscape of state climate policy and give input on the future of climate action in Washington. 

Register for upcoming sector meetings: 

We welcome your feedback on this newsletter! Share your thoughts via email HERE.

Pierce County PPW | 9850 64th St W | University Place, WA 98467 US

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