Green Ideas
Dispose of Unused Medications Properly During National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
October 24, 2024Do you have old medication or unused prescriptions in your medicine cabinet? Clean them out this Saturday, Oct. 26, and dispose of them safely from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Here in Pennsylvania, an average of 14 people die of an overdose every day. That’s almost double the…
Today, Imagine a Day Without Water
October 17, 2024Can you imagine waking up and not being able to flush your toilets, take a shower, make a cup of coffee, or fill the pets’ water bowls? Now imagine that it’s not just your home, but your entire community: no water for manufacturing; no water for fire crews to keep you safe; no water for…
Source Water Protection Week: Every Drop Matters
September 29, 2024A new report shows source water protection is the top concern among water professionals this year. Healthy watersheds are vital to ensuring a supply of clean, high-quality drinking water. That’s why we’re asking you to join us as we observe Source Water Protection Week (Sept. 29-Oct. 5). Launched in 2021 by the American Water Works Association, Source Water Protection Week…
August is National Water Quality Month
August 13, 2024Join us this August as we celebrate National Water Quality Month. This annual event is the perfect time to think about the vital role that clean, high-quality water plays in all of our lives. For instance, did you know that according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the average American family uses about 300 gallons of…
Anglers, Boaters: Help Stop the Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species
August 9, 2024Aquatic invasive species threaten our waterways, but you can help slow their spread with one simple act: cleaning your gear. What are invasive species? Any non-native plants and animals that live in areas where they do not naturally exist. In Pennsylvania waterways, that includes certain species of crayfish; the New Zealand Mudsnail; Northern Snakehead (seen…
Spruce Up Your Sprinklers to $ave!
June 20, 2024Maintaining green lawns and lush gardens in searing heat can be a challenge. Many folks rely on an automatic irrigation system to keep everything well-watered. But before you switch on those sprinklers or drip-irrigation systems, take a few minutes to ensure they’re working properly. You’ll save a lot of water (and money) in the…
Properly Dispose of Medications on National Prescription Drug Takeback Day
April 23, 2024Do you have unused medications that need to be thrown out? DONT flush them down the toilet—instead, dispose of them properly during National Prescription Drug Takeback Day this Saturday. Flushing pharmaceuticals leads to source water contamination, because wastewater treatment plants were not designed to remove these chemical compounds. Aside from potentially showing up in drinking…
Earth Day 2024: Planet vs. Plastics
April 16, 2024Join us this Saturday as we celebrate Earth Day in The Park with the City of Allentown! Allentown’s Earth Day in the Park was started in 2018 to “create awareness about environmental protection, while bringing community members together to celebrate Earth Day and have some fun!” The free celebration will be held April 20, from noon to…
Six Tips To Recycle Your Christmas Tree
January 3, 2024The holiday decorations are coming down and live Christmas trees are already lining the curbs. But don’t just toss that live tree out with the trash! Consider an eco-friendly solution and recycle your Christmas tree instead. Most municipalities offer curbside pickup of Christmas trees, which are then turned into mulch or compost. Residents of Bethlehem, Allentown and…
This Fall, Go Easy on the Lawn and Garden Cleanup
September 19, 2023Are you getting ready to tuck your garden beds away for the fall? This year, try taking a more light-handed approach to “garden sanitation”—your back will get a break, and so will Mother Nature. The long-accepted approach to fall lawn and garden care has been to rake every leaf and prune, chop or pull just…