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Donations of Reuse items can be dropped @ 4819 S 12th Tacoma, WA 10-12
Items currently accepting
Clothes, Shoes, Small furniture items, dishes, and household items.
Our latest report is out!
All too often, environmental violations go unaddressed because the system for reporting these issues is fragmented and difficult for Washingtonians to navigate. Different agencies have varying responsibilities and figuring out whom to contact can be difficult depending on the violation being committed.
Our latest report, Lessons from IVAN-Washington, is the culmination of our work with frontline communities that are a part of our statewide coalition, as well as with state agencies and other governmental partners. Together, we came up with recommendations to address the barriers faced by communities when they need to report environmental issues.
Lessons from IVAN-Washington makes the case for a single, statewide environmental violations reporting tool to ensure we can advance equity, environmental justice, and healthy communities statewide.
A big thank you to all who lent their time and energy to engage in the development of this report!
Download the full report, or just read the executive summary in English or Spanish. https://frontandcentered.org/reports/
Where It's Hot and Why It Matters: Mapping Urban Heat in Pierce County
To track heat patterns, a collective of Pierce County agencies, cities, educational institutions, and nonprofits teamed up with the National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS). On August 4, 2024, a high-heat day, volunteers recorded real-time temperatures across the County, focusing on schools, parks, and community centers.
The study determined that afternoon temperatures can vary up to 10°F depending on nearness to shoreline, human activity, building density, and tree canopy. Urban areas get and stay hotter, sometimes not even cooling down overnight. Areas with more trees and plants cool off more quickly.
With this data, the Pierce County Office of Resilience and Climate Action created an interactive hub where you can explore heat patterns in your neighborhood and learn more about how to stay safe, plus ways to get involved in climate action locally and beyond. Click on this link to learn more:
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/05d35e84bbb34e158205390964de3704
Health: Health Equity
PFAS and Your Health
Did you know PFAS can be in your cookware? https://tpchd.org/homes/healthy-homes/pfas/
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of harmful chemicals.
They are used to make waterproof, nonstick, and stain-resistant materials. They do not break down naturally over time and build up in the environment and body.
Scientists are studying how PFAS affect people’s health.
Exposure to PFAS may lead to:
Lower birth weights.
Elevated cholesterol levels.
Increased risk of thyroid disease.
Reduced immune response to vaccines.
Higher risk of testicular and kidney cancers.
Increased high blood pressure during pregnancy.
Changes in liver enzymes that indicate liver damage.
How do you know if PFAS is in your cookware?
PFAS are common in nonstick cookware coatings.
PFAS in nonstick cookware may release into food if you scratch it or use high temperatures.
Your cookware may contain PFAS if it:
Has a nonstick surface.
Is scratched, peeling, or flaking.
Even if your cookware is labeled PTFE- or PFOA-free, it may still contain PFAS.
Keep PFAS out of your food.
Protect your water supply—enjoy good health.
Clean water promotes good public health. Everyone deserves to have a safe and reliable source of drinking water. To make sure water from the tap is safe, we permit, regulate, educate and consult with:
Water systems.
Industry professionals.
Property owners.
Businesses.
Are you curious about the water quality in your neighborhood?
Check out our new interactive map which shows water quality concerns in your area. The water quality information includes nitrate results, arsenic results and saltwater intrusion areas
Poor air quality affects your health.
Learn how you can improve the air—and your health.
Your age, general health, and the amount and length of exposure to smoke determines whether you will experience smoke-related health problems.
When smoke levels are high, even healthy people may experience symptoms.
Smoke can also affect indoor air quality in businesses and buildings like schools, hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities, and offices.
When smoke levels are heavy outdoors, a large amount of smoke can get indoors, even when you close windows and doors.
Commercial buildings and schools air filtration systems’ draw in the outdoor air. Standard HVAC air filters don’t remove most of the ultra-fine smoke particles. MERV 13, or equivalent, high efficiency air filters can help remove particulates from the air.
10 ways to improve air quality and protect your health
Sign up for burn ban alerts and abide by them. Know when air quality conditions become stagnant!
Burn seasoned, dry wood to release the least possible amount of smoke. Avoid:
Wet wood—It produces a lot of smoke and won’t burn efficiently.
Treated or painted wood—It will produce very toxic chemicals if burned.
Burning cardboard or papers you want to get rid of—Recycle instead.
Dispose of yard clippings properly—Outdoor burning is illegal in most of Pierce County.
Take a break from the driver’s seat when possible—Public transit, carpool, biking or walking can be an enjoyable way to reduce emissions.
Combine errands to save gas—Reduce exhaust fumes if you need to drive.
Be idle free—Switch off your car when you idle for more than 10 seconds.
Slow down when you drive and keep a consistent foot on the gas—Speeding and slamming on your brakes wastes fuel.
Keep your vehicle’s engine and tire pressure in top condition—A well-maintained vehicle produces less pollution.
Avoid garden tools that run on gasoline—A push or electric mower doesn’t pollute like a gas mower.
Be mindful of spillage when filling your gas tank.
You also might like:
Questions?
Email Jackie Busby.
How does your WA neighborhood rank for tree equity? | Seattle Times
Summer heat is not felt equally. Trees are one reason why.
A new online tool, developed by conservation nonprofit American Forests and the Washington Department of Natural Resources, lets Washington residents explore where those inequities exist. It covers urban areas across the state.
A fuller tree canopy comes with a host of benefits: It makes an area cooler, cleans the air, reduces stormwater runoff and makes streets safer for people with higher health risks, like seniors and children.
The tool assigns each city and census block group a tree equity score, which takes into account the area’s tree canopy need and socioeconomic context. The highest score possible is 100.
Tree Equity Map
Find your neighborhood’s score here
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/climate-lab/
Rooting Tacoma in Anti-Racist and Equitable Urban Forestry
Tuesday, September 16, 2025
4:30 PM 6:00 PM
In cities across the country, trees are inequitably distributed, usually concentrated in the neighborhoods with the highest socioeconomic opportunities. Tacoma is no exception. Here, lack of access to trees and green spaces is the result of racist redlining policies and decades of disinvestment in low income neighborhoods. It is also the result, though, of everyday actions that unknowingly disregard our neighbors' difficult experiences with trees and urban forestry programs, actions that keep us from organizing around a shared vision of an environmentally equitable future. Changing these dynamics requires all of us working together: arborists, city residents, governments, community-based organizations, and volunteers.
But what does this work look like? And where do we even begin?
The Tacoma Tree Foundation is excited to host Dr. Christine Carmichael, author of the nationally acclaimed book, Racist Roots. In an interactive webinar led by Dr. Carmichael, we will learn about the racist history of urban forestry in the U.S.A., understand how these dynamics are under renewed pressure due to climate change, and consider actions we can take at the individual and organizational levels today to reduce barriers to trees and grow an urban forest that serves us all.
Please note: Live webinar participants will have the opportunity to work in groups (alternative activities will be available for those who prefer to work on their own).