🌳 Free trees for Columbia residents! 🌳 Good news, neighbors! The City of Columbia is giving away trees to residents in select areas, and your household might be eligible. 👉 Visit canopy.como.gov (or scan the QR code on the flyer) to check if you qualify. 🌱 Households can reserve up to FOUR trees while supplies last, so don’t wait too long! 📍 Pick-up: Halloween (Saturday, Oct. 31) from 10am to 12pm United Community Builders, 1801 Towne Dr, Columbia, MO 65202 Let’s grow our tree canopy together! Please share with friends and neighbors who might want a tree. 💚

The chasing arrow symbol is unregulated and does not mean an item is recyclable in the city's recycling program. Help the City of Columbia maximize the value of recyclable materials transferred outside of the City. - Millions of dollars are spent to convince consumers that items and packaging are easily recycled when many are not. This encourages people to put items in their blue recycling bag that negatively affect the value of easily recyclable items. - Large volumes of unwanted items can lead to the city not being able to sell its recyclables. - If there are too many unwanted items in the recycling, the sorting becomes inefficient and too costly to get the unmarketable items out. 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝘂𝗯𝘁, 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝘁. - It’s better to trash something questionable than to risk ruining the rest. We are collecting the following types of recyclable materials: ✅ #1 Transparent Plastic bottles (such as sports drink, water, or soda bottles) ✅ #2 Plastic Containers (such as detergent jugs, milk jugs, or shampoo bottles) ✅ Aluminum beverage cans ✅ Metal food cans 🧢Plastic caps can either be recycled by being screwed onto the respective bottles or thrown away in the trash. 📦 𝗠𝗶𝘅𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿, can still be bundled and left on the curb for collection - 𝗙𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗴𝘀.

𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗬𝗖𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗧𝗜𝗣: These four everyday items 𝗖𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗧 be recycled with the city recycling program and need to go into your trash container. 1 - 𝗣𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗻𝘀 - 𝗖𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 2 - 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗧𝘂𝗯𝗲𝘀 - 𝗖𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 3 - 𝗔𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗼𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝘀 - 𝗖𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 4 - 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝘇𝗲𝗻 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 - 𝗖𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗯𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 We are collecting the following recyclable materials: ✅ Plastic bottles (such as sports drink, water, or soda bottles) ✅ Plastic containers (such as detergent jugs, milk jugs or shampoo bottles) ✅ Aluminum beverage cans ✅ Metal food cans 🧢Plastic caps can either be recycled by being screwed onto the respective bottles or thrown away in the trash. 📦 𝗠𝗶𝘅𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿, can still be bundled and left on the curb for collection - 𝗙𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗴𝘀. 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝘂𝗯𝘁, 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝘁. - It’s better to trash something questionable than to risk ruining the rest. Think differently. Think sustainably. Think reduce, reuse, repurpose, repair and recycle.

GOT THESE? WE WANT THEM IN YOUR BLUE BAG! We are collecting the following recyclable materials: ✅ Plastic bottles (such as sports drink, water, or soda bottles) ✅ Plastic containers (such as detergent jugs, milk jugs or shampoo bottles) ✅ Aluminum beverage cans ✅ Metal food cans 🧢Plastic caps can either be recycled by being screwed onto the respective bottles or thrown away in the trash. 📦 𝗠𝗶𝘅𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿, can still be bundled and left on the curb for collection - 𝗙𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗴𝘀. 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝘂𝗯𝘁, 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝘁. - It’s better to trash something questionable than to risk ruining the rest.

𝗥𝗘𝗗𝗨𝗖𝗘, 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗬𝗖𝗟𝗘 & 𝗥𝗘𝗨𝗦𝗘: 𝘽𝙀𝙎𝙏 𝙋𝙍𝘼𝘾𝙏𝙄𝘾𝙀𝙎 𝙊𝙉 𝙃𝙊𝙒 𝙏𝙊 𝘽𝙍𝙀𝘼𝙆 𝘿𝙊𝙒𝙉 𝘼 𝘾𝘼𝙍𝘿𝘽𝙊𝘼𝙍𝘿 𝘽𝙊𝙓 It's best practice to break your cardboard down to optimize the space. Follow these easy steps to break it down properly: 1. Remove cat.🐈 2. Take your box and turn it upside down. Run a box cutter along the center bottom seam, slicing through the packing tape. 3. Repeat this under the two flaps on each end of the box, freeing the tape at the edges. 4. Pull all four flaps straight up, so that all edges, on either end, move freely up and down. 5. Lightly push and twist in until the box collapses on itself—flattened and ready to be stacked. Learn more about what you 𝗖𝗔𝗡/𝗖𝗔𝗡'𝗧/𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗧𝗢 recycle with the city recycling program here: como.gov/utilities/columbias… 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝘆. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲, 𝗿𝗲𝘂𝘀𝗲, 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲, 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻.... 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗲. #comorecycleright

🌳𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻! 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆!🌳From the amazing Columbia Parks and Recreation - Infrastructure for healthy trees! Construction at North Village Park continues with installation of structural cells to provide non-compacted and organic soil for tree root devlopment under the perimeter park sidewalks. Healthy trees have been championed by Columbia Parks and Recreation staff from early concept development phases, to provide shade and green space for all future generations to enjoy. North Village Park is located at 210 Orr Street and is scheduled to be completed in 2027. Image 1: 10 foot by 20 foot excavated pit with tree root cells inside, but not backfilled. Image 2: 10 foot by 20 foot excavated pit with tree root cells inside and backfilled with approved tree soil mix. Image 3: Sectional diagram showing deep root cells under pavement to protect tree roots for maximum growth potential. Unlike traditional street trees that are limited by compacted root balls and small soil volumes, this design provides ample underground space for roots to spread - allowing the tree to grow larger, live longer, and better serve the community.

City adds second Ripple Glass bin for glass recycling!!! There’s now a second Ripple Glass drop-off bin, thanks to a partnership between City Utilities, Ripple Glass, and the University of Missouri. 📍 Drop-off location: 1242 Ashland Rd (MU campus) maps.app.goo.gl/tpQCnTkMsA3w… ✅ Accepted: Transparent glass bottles and jars, any color. Empty and free of food or liquid. Labels can stay on; lids and caps go in the trash. 🚫 Not accepted: Opaque glass, porcelain, window glass, boxes, or plastic bags. Items too large for the porthole should not be left on or beside the bin. Slide items through the porthole one at a time. ⚠️ Glass is not accepted in curbside collection or blue recycling bags. #ColumbiaMO #RippleGlass #GlassRecycling Learn more about the trial program and drop-off guidelines here: ayrs.io/qm0c2c

🎃 Fewer wrappers. Same sugar rush. 👻 Swap in these greener treats: 📦 Nerds, Dots, Junior Mints. They still come in recyclable mini cardboard boxes. Smarties, Milk Duds, and Whoppers come in paper boxes too. ✨ Hershey’s Kisses. Foil wrapping beats plastic. 🌱 Alter Eco truffles. Their wrappers are compostable. 📝 Pixy Stix and Bits-O-Honey. Both come wrapped in waxed paper. Same candy bowl, way less trash. 🗑️🚫 What are you handing out this year? 👇 🔗 thesimpleenvironmentalist.co…... #EcoFriendlyHalloween #PlasticFree #TrickOrTreat

The average American throws away more than $700 worth of food every year. 🥗 In many cases, the problem comes down to how we store it. #foodwaste #climateactio #sustainability

Join CCUA for a FREE pumpkin composting event that is sure to be a smash hit! Don’t let your post-Halloween pumpkins rot on your front porch! Come smash them with CCUA! CCUA will be in the grassy area next to the ARC (located at 1769 W Ash Street) during Columbia Farmers Market from 9am to 12pm with baseball bats, catapults, and other pumpkin-smashing tools. Bring your own pumpkin or just come and smash! We’ll be to your left if you enter the Park at the northeast entrance from Clinkscales!

𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻! We know climate action must be implemented across all City departments to address the diverse impacts, risks, and vulnerabilities we currently face. That’s why 29 different divisions and 10 different City departments have formed CAAP Teams – over 40 municipal employees in all! Although team members come from departments across the City, our CAAP Teams focus on five key categories. Natural Resources Resource Conservation Clean Transportation Clean Energy Healthy Housing Working together, all six teams focus on projects that directly reduce Columbia’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and enhance our climate resilience. Team members develop innovative ideas and initiatives, ensure accurate results tracking, and provide key insight and expertise to CAAP Core and Project Management teams. comoclimateaction.org/action… Think differently. Think sustainably.

Recently we noticed an increase in colorful “biodegradable” dog waste bags being left throughout our city parks. While we appreciate efforts to use more environmentally friendly products, leaving these bags behind is still litter—and not something visitors or staff want to see along our trails and green spaces. Being a responsible pet owner means following the “Leave No Trace” principle: if you pack it in, pack it out. Please help keep our parks clean, safe, and enjoyable for everyone by taking your dog’s waste with you when you leave. ✅ 𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 — 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝘂𝗽 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝘁𝘀! ✔️ Pick it up ✔️ Bag it ✔️ Trash it Learn more ➡️ como.gov/sustainability/pet-… 🌍 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘆 - 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝘂𝗽 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝘁. Think differently. Think sustainably. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘆

🐾💩 Wildlife waste is part of their ecosystem. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝘁’𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁. 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝗡𝗢𝗧 𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗨𝗣 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝘁, 𝘆𝗼𝘂'𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 - you’re putting yourself, your family, your pet, our local wildlife, and our waterways at risk. Pet waste left on the ground doesn't just “𝗴𝗼 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆” It can: 🚫 Spread harmful bacteria 🚫 Pollute our streams and lakes 🚫 Harm local wildlife 🚫 Make other pets and people sick Do your part: ✔️ Pick it up ✔️ Bag it ✔️ Trash it 📌 Learn more: como.gov/sustainability/pet-… 🌍 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘆 - 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝘂𝗽 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝘁. Think differently. Think sustainably. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘆. #PetWaste #CleanWater #DoYourDoody #ScoopThePoop

The chasing arrow symbol is unregulated and does not mean an item is recyclable in the city's recycling program. Help the City of Columbia maximize the value of recyclable materials transferred outside of the City. - Millions of dollars are spent to convince consumers that items and packaging are easily recycled when many are not. This encourages people to put items in their blue recycling bag that negatively affect the value of easily recyclable items. - Large volumes of unwanted items can lead to the city not being able to sell its recyclables. - If there are too many unwanted items in the recycling, the sorting becomes inefficient and too costly to get the unmarketable items out. 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝘂𝗯𝘁, 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝘁. - It’s better to trash something questionable than to risk ruining the rest. We are collecting the following types of recyclable materials: ✅ #1 Transparent Plastic bottles (such as sports drink, water, or soda bottles) ✅ #2 Plastic Containers (such as detergent jugs, milk jugs, or shampoo bottles) ✅ Aluminum beverage cans ✅ Metal food cans 🧢Plastic caps can either be recycled by being screwed onto the respective bottles or thrown away in the trash. 📦 𝗠𝗶𝘅𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿, can still be bundled and left on the curb for collection - 𝗙𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗴𝘀.

𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝘆𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘀! 🍾🍾 There’s now a second Ripple Glass drop-off bin, thanks to a partnership between City Utilities, Ripple Glass, and the University of Missouri. 📍 Drop-off location: 1242 Ashland Rd (MU campus) ✅ Accepted: Transparent glass bottles and jars, any color. Empty and free of food or liquid. Labels can stay on; lids and caps go in the trash. 🚫 Not accepted: Opaque glass, porcelain, window glass, boxes, or plastic bags. Items too large for the porthole should not be left on or beside the bin. Slide items through the porthole one at a time. ⚠️ Glass is not accepted in curbside collection or blue recycling bags. #ColumbiaMO #RippleGlass #GlassRecycling Learn more about the trial program and drop-off guidelines here: ayrs.io/qm0c2c

🛠️ Thank you, Fix-It Fair community! 🛠️ What a fantastic day at Saturday’s Fix-It Fair! A huge thank you to everyone who came out, shared their time, and brought items in need of a second chance. From jewelry to vacuums, we fixed it all, and everyone had a great time doing it! 😊 Every item repaired is one more item kept out of the landfill. That’s a win for our wallets, our community, and our planet. 🌎♻️ A special thank you to our volunteer fixers, whose skills and patience made it all possible. We couldn’t do it without you! 👏 📸 Check out the photos below of our wonderful participants in action! Missed this one? Don’t worry! Follow our page for news about the next Fix-It Fair. Got something broken at home? Hang onto it, because we may be able to fix it next time. 🔧 #FixItFair #RepairDontReplace #ReduceReuseRepair

🎃 𝗧𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗣𝘂𝗺𝗽𝗸𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 - Pumpkins are a holiday favorite - from cheerful porch displays to spooky jack-o’-lanterns. With just a little extra care, you can keep your pumpkins looking festive longer and even get some tasty snacks out of them. 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗣𝘂𝗺𝗽𝗸𝗶𝗻: 🕷️Check for health: Choose a pumpkin that’s firm, blemish-free, and free of soft spots or bruises. 🕸️Inspect the stem: Look for a healthy, green stem—it’s the pumpkin’s lifeline. Avoid pumpkins with dry, brittle, or broken stems. 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 🐈‍⬛Carve at the last minute: Pumpkins begin to break down quickly once carved. Waiting until just before your event keeps them looking fresh. 🔶Cut from the base or back: Instead of removing the stem, cut your access hole from the bottom or back of the pumpkin to preserve nutrients. ◾Scrape thoroughly: Remove all pulp and seeds to reduce moisture and prevent rot. 👺Seal the edges: Rub petroleum jelly on cut edges to slow drying and shriveling. 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗶𝗽𝘀: 🐈‍⬛Use a bleach solution: Wipe the inside and outside with a diluted bleach solution to kill bacteria and slow decay. 🕷️Store in a cool, dark spot: When not on display, keep pumpkins in a refrigerator, basement, or shaded outdoor space. ⛈️Avoid sun and rain: Direct sunlight and moisture speed up the rotting process. 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝘂𝘀 𝗧𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗙𝘂𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗮𝗳𝗲𝘁𝘆: 🥸Roast the seeds: Don’t toss them—pumpkin seeds make a crunchy, healthy snack. 🔪Host a carving party: Set up an outdoor space with blankets and tools for a festive group activity. 🗡️Carve safely: Use child-friendly carving kits for kids, and keep sharp tools contained in a dish or tray. 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀, 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝘂𝗺𝗽𝗸𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲, 𝗳𝘂𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝘆. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘆.

𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬: 🍂 That number is not a typo. One family. One year. Thousands of rodents quietly removed before a single crop row is touched. Barn owls pull this off because every part of them is engineered for silence. The leading edge of each wing feather is serrated like a comb — it breaks up turbulence before sound can escape. A barn owl in full flight barely registers above background noise. The rodent hears nothing. There is no warning. And the reach goes further than the hunt itself. Fewer rodents means less grain lost to burrowing and gnawing. Less grain lost means less desperation from farmers to reach for poison — which means hawks, foxes, and snakes higher up the food chain stay safer too. One owl family quietly holding a dozen threads together at once. They do not patrol. They do not rest. They raise young that will go on to run the same silent operation in the next field over. No engine. No chemical. No invoice. Some infrastructure was never built — it simply nested.

𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻! We know climate action must be implemented across all City departments to address the diverse impacts, risks, and vulnerabilities we currently face. That’s why 29 different divisions and 10 different City departments have formed CAAP Teams – over 40 municipal employees in all! Although team members come from departments across the City, our CAAP Teams focus on five key categories. Natural Resources Resource Conservation Clean Transportation Clean Energy Healthy Housing Through their work together, all six teams focus on projects that directly reduce Columbia’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and enhance our climate resilience. Team members develop innovative ideas and initiatives, ensure accurate results tracking, and provide key insight and expertise to CAAP Core and Project Management teams. comoclimateaction.org/action… Think differently. Think sustainably.

How much do you know about climate action? Columbia’s Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) lays out a vision and strategy to address risks posed by climate change and contribute to international efforts to draw down greenhouse gas emissions. Implementing the CAAP requires motivating staff, finding funding for strategies, involving community members to make key changes and sustaining momentum. Columbia has already taken steps to improve community sustainability. Learn more here: @ comoclimateaction.org Think differently. Think sustainably