If you’re looking for ways to celebrate Earth Day, come spend the day with us in Concord. The city is hosting two free community events. The first event is a SoilSHOP that kicks off at 10 a.m. at Les Myers Park with tips for both experienced and beginner gardeners, just in time for planting flower and vegetable gardens. Afterwards, grab lunch and do some shopping in Downtown Concord, voted one of America’s most charming small-town downtown’s by HGTV. Finally, head over to McGee Park for the free Flutter by Earth Day event beginning at 3 p.m. City staff will also be handing out free paper yard waste bags at both events, so come see us and get yours before the city moves to eliminate plastic yard waste bags this summer.
SoilSHOP Event at Les Myers Park, Friday, April 22, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
In partnership with the Concord Wildlife Alliance, the city is hosting a free SoilSHOP at Les Myers Park, located at 338 Lawndale Avenue SE in Concord. This is an opportunity to learn from local experts about safe gardening practices, composting, water conservation, native plants and more. Activities include:
- Local vendors with expert tips and tricks for a successful garden.
- Free soil screening for lead. Residents are invited to bring a soil sample in a plastic quart-sized bag for screening. Instructions for collecting the sample are available here: https://bit.ly/3OuU8vY and also linked in the city’s Facebook Event.
- One-on-one health education about the hazards of lead and guidance on how to protect children from lead exposure.
- Free blood pressure checks courtesy of Cabarrus College of Health Sciences.
- Free paper yard waste bag giveaway with City of Concord Solid Waste Services staff available to answer questions about the city’s upcoming move to eliminate plastic yard waste bags.
Flutter by Earth Day at McGee Park, Friday, April 22, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The City of Concord Parks and Recreation Department is hosting a free, family-friendly Flutter by Earth Day event at McGee Park, located at 219 Corban Avenue E in Concord. This event will have fun activities for kids and adults alike, including arts and crafts, and vendors with fun ways to learn more about our community’s natural climate and many interesting creatures.
Paper Yard Waste Bag Giveaway
At both events, city Solid Waste Services team members will be on hand giving out free paper yard waste bags and answering community questions in anticipation of the city moving to eliminate plastic yard waste bags beginning July 5, 2022.
Currently, loose yard waste must be contained for collection in either clear plastic bags or individually owned containers. Yard waste includes items such as grass clippings, leaves, and mulch. There is no limit to the number of bags residents may leave for yard waste collection, however, there is a 35-pound weight limit per bag. Unfortunately, bags often end up weighing much more due to wet weather conditions, which leads to increased strain and injuries to workers. The wet yard waste in the plastic bags also causes a strong, foul odor in the warmer months.
The city’s Solid Waste Services crews currently cut open the plastic yard waste bags and individually empty them into the trucks as plastic is not accepted at the yard waste processing facility. This is not only a safety risk for city workers, but it also leads to longer collection wait times for customers as routes take longer to complete.
To improve the health and safety of city workers, increase route efficiency for customers, and reduce the city’s environmental impact on our landfill, the city will eliminate the use of plastic bags for yard waste beginning July 5, 2022. Residents can also use individually owned containers for the collection of their loose yard waste, as are currently allowed. Information regarding this change will be shared in the coming weeks.