ORAP Projects Overview
2024 Woodstove Replacement Program
This program intends to replace older non-certified woodstoves with EPA cleaner burning certified models to promote a healthier community. The towns of Riverside, Omak. Okanogan, and Malott often has measurable smoke concentration during the winter heating season that may be harmful to our health. By replacing inefficient stoves with efficient models these smoke levels can be decreased.
Check out the qualifications for participation in replacement program through the link below.
Woodstove Buy back
On June 5 and 6 Ecology collected woodstoves at the Twisp transfer station and the Okanogan County Central Landfill. The events collected 105 stoves reducing a potential of 2 tons of particulate matter. The most often comment from people bringing in stoves was, Thank you. People appreciated the opportunity to turn in stoves for recycling, decluttering and gaining some cash.
Thanks to Okanogan County Solid Waste for hosting the events and providing support equipment to move heavy stoves.
Composting
The first grade class at Okanogan’s Virginia Granger Elementary school taught by Jim Anderson received several awards for their efforts to make compost not smoke. The Okanogan Conservation District presented Mr. Anderson with the educator of the year award at their annual meeting in February to celebrate the class accomplishments. The second recognition occurred at the Colville Tribes Earth Day Celebration when his efforts were appreciated as contributing to the betterment of our environment. At the encouragement of several of our partners Jim applied for the EPA’s President’s Environmental Youth Award. The program was established to recognize outstanding student efforts to promote awareness of our natural resources and encourage community involvement. Each of the ten EPA regions selected a recipient from the applications for the award.
As predicted by many, the class received the award in Washington D.C. in September 2018 with a presentation of a plaque and certificates for each class member.
City clean up days
Clean out your garden sheds and drop off all your old, broken and unwanted spades, rakes, forks, wheelbarrows and other garden tools at:
What: Omak City Wide Cleanup Day When: May 11, 2019, 8 am - Noon Where: Omak Eastside Park, Omak, WA
Your tools will be repaired and given away free to a local school or community groups for community gardens.