Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

March/April News

Celebrate Earth Month and Discover Ways to Protect Water Quality

This April as communities globally celebrate Earth Day, there is plenty to do locally. We enjoy the city’s streams, lakes and wetlands for their beauty and for recreation. These waterways are also home to salmon and many other types of fish and wildlife. As water from rainfall flows over rooftops, streets and yards, it picks up and carries pollutants such as fertilizers, soap, oil, antifreeze, dirt, pet waste, metals and solvents. This pollution flows directly into Bellevue’s storm drains and harms our streams, lakes, wetlands, and the wildlife living there.

What can you do?

There are easy ways to help keep our waterways free of pollution. Here is a good rule to remember: If you wouldn't drink it or swim in it, don't put it down the storm drain.

Actions you can take to prevent water pollution:

• Use fertilizers and pesticides sparingly or just use compost.
• Use a commercial car wash instead of your driveway.
• Fix car oil leaks and don’t overfill your gas tank to prevent runoff.
• Scoop pet poop, bag it, and throw it in the trash.
• Dispose of Household Hazardous Waste properly at the Factoria Transfer Station.
• Keep grass clippings, leaves, soil, and other debris away from storm drains
• Maintain septic systems properly. Drain swimming pools and spas properly.
• Volunteer! Learn more about the Stream Team volunteer group at BellevueWa.gov/stream-team.

Greener Living Community Classes

We are once again offering free community classes to help you make sustainable choices at home this spring. The popular “Greener Living” workshops are updated regularly based on need and interest. This spring includes a mix of virtual and in-person workshops to help you make sustainable choices year-round.

Spring 2025 workshop topics include the following:

• Choose to Reuse: Craft with Upcycled Materials
• Easy Repair: 3D Print Replacement Parts
• How To Get Rid of Anything: Recycling, Composting, Hazardous Materials and Unusual Items
• Make and Take Home Your Own Natural Cleaners
• Effective Strategies to Reorganize and Declutter at Home

For complete workshop listings, dates and times, visit BellevueWA.gov/greener-living-classes. Registration is required to attend. To register, email recycle@bellevuewa.gov or call 206-949-1787.

Curious about installing rooftop solar panels this year?

The City of Bellevue’s sustainability team wants all Bellevue homeowners to know about Solarize Eastside’s benefits and discounts, and that enrollment starts March 1. Installing solar on your home has numerous economic and environmental benefits but, we understand that it can also feel like a daunting process, from perceived costs to technical details and figuring out which installers to choose. To address these challenges and support homeowners, the City of Bellevue is sponsoring Solarize Eastside, a solar group purchasing program used throughout the country to reduce costs and simplify the installation process. Solarize installers provide discounted prices, made-in-Washington equipment, and free public workshops to help answer all of your questions.

Workshops Dates: Wednesday, April 2 and Monday, May 19 at Bellevue City Hall from 6-8 p.m.

Solarize programs have accelerated residential solar adoption across Washington. The City of Bellevue’s sustainability team is encouraged by the opportunity to bring this program to Bellevue homeowners.

Sign up for a workshop and learn more at SolarizeEastside.org.

Bellevue Utilities News is available online and in other languages at BellevueWA.gov/utilities-news.

可在以下网站用中文查看《贝尔维尤市公用事业新闻》(Bellevue Utilities News):BellevueWA.gov/utilities-news.

벨뷰 유틸리티 뉴스 (Bellevue Utilities News)는BellevueWA.gov/utilities-news 웹사이트에서 한국어로 이용하실 수 있습니다

«Коммунальные новости Бельвью» (Bellevue Utilities News) имеется нарусском языке по адресу BellevueWA.gov/utilities-news.

Novedades de Bellevue Utilities (Bellevue Utilities News) está disponible enespañol en BellevueWA.gov/utilities-news.

Tin Tức Về Tiện Ích của Bellevue (Bellevue Utilities News) có bằng tiếng Việttrong BellevueWA.gov/utilities.