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January 2024
Building a more sustainable, resilient and equitable Waco.
Happy New Year!
Welcome to all the new subscribers! The City of Waco switched to a new platform for newsletters and in the process made it much easier for the general public to sign up for any of the city newsletters. As a result, we now have quite a few more subscribers than we did last month.
I'm looking forward to an exciting year ahead for environmental sustainability initiatives in the Waco area. We're waiting to hear about two large grant applications (both around $4 million) that would fund public EV charging and rooftop solar for income qualified homes. I'm also working on several more grants with a particular focus on Environmental Justice.
We're in the planning stages of our two big events of the year- Earth Week in April and the Green Communities Conference in September. If you're interested in helping out with either of those events please reach out and let me know. I'm also always looking to publicize other sustainably-minded events and resources so let me know if you have something you want me to promote in this newsletter.
Cheers,
Eric Coffman
Sustainability Programs Manager
ericc@wacotx.gov
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Bring your friends to the Green Champion Lunch at Cameron Park Zoo on Saturday, January 13th at noon
Free zoo admission, free lunch, and free childcare! Come hear about the latest city sustainability initiatives and fill out our Sustainable Action Survey. If you bring four friends with you we have some great Green Champion swag for you to take home. Be sure both you and your friends sign up through the link below so we have a proper count for lunch.
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Join Sol Bautista's "Design Thinking" Workshop focused on Sustainability in February
Are you interested in working with a group of fellow Wacoans on a grassroots project to make our city more sustainable? Come participate in an Air Collaborative "Design Thinking" Workshop led by Creative Waco’s Sol Bautista. This workshop is free to attend but will require your attendance over a 3 day period.
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If you didn't know, I'm sure you could have probably guessed that 2023 was the hottest year on record. While it's only through 2022, this is a pretty strong visual of the increasing global temperatures. It's from https://showyourstripes.info/
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 Join us from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, January 6 for the Chipping of the Green event! Bring your live Christmas tree to be mulched for FREE by the Keep Waco Beautiful team in Heritage Square in Downtown Waco! This Christmas tree mulch can be utilized in your yard and garden, and it helps keep trees from ending up in the landfill. This event is open to the public, and no reservation is needed.
 Remember, storm drains connect directly to creeks, streams, rivers, and lakes. Blowing leaves and grass into the streets leads to serious issues like clogs and flooding.
What To Do with Your Leaves
- Mow your leaves and leave a light layer on your lawn.
- Bag your leaves in paper bags and leave them on the curb during your green waste collection day.
- Mulch your leaves with a lawn mower, and use the shredded leaves for composting, gardens, or flower beds.
District 5 Clean-Up Day is Saturday, January 20
 Solid Waste District Clean-Ups provide the opportunity for Waco Residential Customers to place unwanted bulky waste and brush at the curb during their district's Saturday clean-up date. You must register ahead of time to participate.
SAVE THE DATE:
March 23 is Household Hazardous Waste Day
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 Six super students will win an iPad or laptop! The tenacious teacher who sends in the most entries will win an iPad or a gift card. All entries will consist of a unique piece of artwork portraying the theme of this year's contest: the positive ways people can Take Care of Texas by recycling.
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Waco Downtown Farmers Market
SATURDAY MORNINGS, 9am-1pm, 500 Washington Ave.
Support our local farmers and artisans by buying locally grown and produced goods. The McLennan County Master Gardeners will be there January 13 with a focus on indoor gardening.
Hiking with Friends of Cameron Park Waco
JANUARY 6, 7:30am, Rock Shelter in Cameron Park
Friends of Cameron Park Waco will meet at Sunrise, 7:30 am, on Saturday, January 6, 2024, to hike the trails in Cameron Park. Wear appropriate footwear for rocky trails and bring water for this 1.5 to 2-hour hike. Hike time is flexible with longer and shorter options offered. Gather at the Rock Shelter, next to the bottom of Jacob's Ladder. Please email friendsofcameronparkwaco@gmail.com with any questions or for further information.
Green Champion Lunch at Cameron Park Zoo
JANUARY 13, Noon, Cameron Park Zoo
This is the last of three Green Champion events at the Cameron Park Zoo sponsored by the City of Waco's Office of Sustainability and Resiliency and funded through a grant from the Urban Sustainability Directors Network. Come and enjoy free entrance to the zoo, a free lunch, and free childcare during the event. Be sure to register here.
Sustainable Resource Practices Advisory Board Meeting
JANUARY 18, 3pm, Waco Central Library Conference Room
The general public is welcome to attend this monthly meeting of the citizen board that makes policy recommendations to the Waco City Council. Consider becoming a member of the board. More information can be found here.
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Have Something to Share?
Submit your announcements and ideas to Eric Coffman by FEB 1 to be included in next month's newsletter.
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