The City of Bellingham and the Bellingham Public Library are co-hosting a week of Earth Day events designed to connect residents with the places and issues that define life in Whatcom County. The schedule runs through the week and includes hands-on environmental work, community service opportunities, and family-friendly programming at the library.
Earth Week in Bellingham is organized each year by the City of Bellingham with support from multiple city departments and community partners. This year's lineup reflects a mix of the practical and the celebratory, with activities ranging from habitat restoration at Squalicum Creek to a drop-off event for hard-to-recycle items like electronics and batteries.
The Squalicum Creek volunteer work party is one of the week's anchor events. Squalicum Creek flows from Lake Whatcom through the heart of Bellingham before reaching Bellingham Bay, and it supports salmon populations that are a priority for city conservation efforts. Habitat restoration work along the creek typically involves removing invasive plants, restoring native vegetation, and clearing debris from the streambed to improve water quality and fish passage. Volunteers of all experience levels are welcome at work parties of this kind.
The Padden Creek fish passage project tour is another highlight. Padden Creek is a second major salmon-bearing stream in Bellingham, and the city has been engaged in a long-running effort to remove fish passage barriers and restore habitat along its length. A guided tour gives residents an up-close look at what that restoration work involves and what progress has been made. Padden Creek runs through several Bellingham neighborhoods before reaching Bellingham Bay near the Fairhaven district.
For families, the Bellingham Public Library is offering earth-themed children's storytimes throughout the week. The library's Central Branch hosts regular storytime programming that draws families from across the city, and the Earth Week edition adds an environmental focus to the typical format.
The electronics and battery drop-off event addresses one of the more practical environmental challenges residents face: what to do with items that cannot go in standard recycling bins. Old phones, laptops, chargers, batteries, and other electronics contain materials that should not end up in the landfill but have no obvious disposal path for most households. Events like this one provide a convenient, free option for responsible disposal.
The Bellingham Public Library is also highlighting Earth Week reading recommendations through its online catalog at bellingham.bibliocommons.com. The library's collection includes resources on local ecology, Pacific Northwest wildlife, sustainability practices, and the history of environmental activism in Washington state.
The full Earth Week schedule is available at cob.org/earthday2026. Residents looking to participate in multiple events are encouraged to check specific dates and times, as activities are spread throughout the week rather than concentrated on a single day. For related Whatcom County outdoor recreation and environmental news, the air quality report on wildfire smoke impacts is available here.
