City of Kent – Scene eNewsletter
Thursday May 12, 2011Tune in to “Meet Your Council”
Comcast subscribers can tune in to Kent TV21 for “Meet Your Council,” a series of fun vignettes that give you an opportunity to get to know your city council members…on a more personal note! Find out who’s an avid water skier! Who’s the gardener! Who has a soft spot for troubled dogs? And how do they see Kent in the future? “Meet Your Council” airs daily at both 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. You can also watch the series online at KentTV21.com. May Community Volunteer Events
On May 14, volunteers will do a “spring cleaning” at the off-leash park, spreading chips and gravel, assembling benches, removing blackberry shoots and generally giving the park a good clean-up for dogs and their two-footed friends. On May 21, it’s National Trails Day at Morrill Meadows Park. We will refurbish two trails and plant some willows to absorb water that runs over part of the wooded trail. It’s our last event until the “After the 4th of July Clean-up,” so we hope to see you there. Both events are Saturday mornings, 9 a.m. till noon, rain or shine. To keep our events manageable and safe, registration is required at least three days before each one. Forms are at KentWAParks.com (click on Volunteer), or call 253-856-5110. Looking for more opportunities to get involved? Visit greenkent.org to check for Green Kent Steward work parties near you. Our trained volunteer Green Kent stewards have been busy since the weather has warmed up. They would appreciate your help.
Help Keep Kent’s Water Clean! Scoop It!Pet waste washes away when it rains, sending harmful bacteria into our streams, rivers, and lakes. It can even reach our supply of drinking water. Help keep our water clean, scoop your pet’s poop! Then put it in a baggie and toss it in the trash. For more information on how to keep Kent’s water clean, visit The Clean Water Project.
Care for Your Garden, the ‘Natural’ Way. Get the ‘Dirt’ at these Upcoming Workshops
We will have expert speakers to answer all of your horticultural questions, and you could win a free mulching lawn mower! Visit choosekent.com/naturalyardcare for more information. See you there! Kentridge High School Library To register send a note to naturalyardcare@ci.kent.wa.us. Talking Trash
Stop by the Senior Center on Tuesday, May 24, at 11:00 a.m. and talk with the friendly folks from Allied Waste. Check out the Mini-MRF to see how our recyclables are processed and pick up a convenient Recycling Bag. For more information, visit KentRecycles.com. Recycle More Stuff for No Additional Charge With the expanded list of items that you can recycle, your cart may overflow if you are a dedicated recycler! If you don’t already have the 96-gallon size cart, you may request the larger size by calling Allied Waste at (206) 682-9735, or visiting AlliedWasteKent.com. If you have occasional extra recyclables, you can place these at your curb in the following ways:
There is no charge for extra recyclables. Just make sure all extra containers weigh less than 60 pounds each and are clearly labeled “RECYCLING” so the driver can see it from the truck. Don’t have an extra can, or prefer not to use bags or boxes? You can choose to rent an additional recycling cart for $2.75 per month. Food Scrap Recycling Tips – How to Get Started
Many styles are available from ceramic, stainless, and plastic – some even offer carbon filters to eliminate odors. Line the container with a paper or compostable bag for easy carry-out. Collect food scraps and food-soiled paper during meal prep, after meal cleanup, and when cleaning out the fridge Peel those spuds right onto yesterday’s newspaper – a couple of pages will do to wrap it up. Add fruit and veggie trimmings, meat, fish, chicken (even the bones), bread, pasta and coffee grounds. After dinner, scrape the plates straight into the container. Paper towels, napkins, greasy pizza delivery boxes, uncoated (non-shiny) paper plates and cups can go in too, along with the fuzzy green stuff that’s been in the fridge too long. Empty the container into your Green Yard Waste Cart Reduce odors by dumping kitchen container contents into your Green Cart daily. Keep your cart clean by lining the bottom with newspaper and/or layer your food scraps in with your yard waste; using compostable or paper bags will also help keep the cart clean. Toss in a handful of shredded paper every time you add food waste to absorb moisture. If rinsing the cart out, be sure to do it on a strip of your lawn-NEVER DOWN A STORM DRAIN. Call Allied Waste at 206-682-9735 for one free cart cleaning per year; additional cleanings cost $8.24 each. Worried about odors? Designate a produce drawer or corner in your fridge or freezer to store those particularly “odorific” items, like raw meats. Most cooked foods generally don’t smell any more than yard waste. Recycle Those Plastic Nursery Pots
The Kent Stormwater Managment programThe City of Kent must manage stormwater runoff to reduce pollution and to meet the mandates of the Federal Clean Water Act. A Stormwater Management Program is in place to help guide these efforts, and to document our compliance, so is an annual report. If you’re interested, the 2011 Stormwater Management Program (SWMP) and the City of Kent 2010 NPDES Annual Report are available for review and comment. |
Do you want to know a little bit more about your city council members?
If you have never visited Morrill Meadows Park (10600 SE 248th St.) or its Off-leash Dog Park next door, you are in for a treat. There’s a playground, picnic shelter, parking and trails around a large open meadow. Take the path to the off-leash park and there are areas for both small or shy dogs and large dogs, too.
These workshops teach you how easy and rewarding natural yard care can be. They’re fun, informative, and FREE!
Still have questions about the new garbage contract or on what goes into each cart?
Make it convenient with a kitchen countertop container
With the planting season upon us, you may be wondering what to do with all those plastic nursery pots. They’re recyclable! Wipe them clean and add them to the Blue Cart.