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In his memoir, Loring Bullard reflects on his 73 years, from his 1950s and ’60s urban and rural American childhood to the present day, all weaved seamlessly in with the historical events that shaped him, the state of Missouri, the nation, and the world. In 225 colorful pages, this book tackles the Cuban Missile Crisis, nuclear testing, Earth Day, the contamination of Spring River and the ghost town of Times Beach, the production of Agent Orange in Missouri, lead mining controversies in the eastern Ozarks, rivers that caught fire, the rise of factory farming, legislative progress and setbacks, and much more. Along the way, Bullard provides ideas and resources for protecting the land, water, and air that we all share. 

 

Science of Sound--Teacher Workshop  Target grade level is 1st and 2nd grade, but we could take 3rd grade teachers as well.

See flyer for more details.  Click here.

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​Missouri Expands Safe Disposal Efforts with Spring 2025 Awareness Campaign 

Contact:

Kristina Benoist PSI Marketing and Communications Manager,kristina.benoist@productstewardship.us; (617) 904-4439

 

Springfield, Missouri – Missourians are being called to clean out their medicine cabinets and protect their communities as the Spring 2025 Safe Disposal Campaign launches today. Led by the Missouri Product Stewardship Council (MO PSC), Missouri Department of Natural Resources, District O Solid Waste Management District, the Missouri Poison Center, and the Product Stewardship Institute (PSI), the campaign provides safe, convenient options for residents to dispose of unwanted medications and medical sharps. 

 

Timed ahead of DEA Take-Back Day on April 26, the campaign builds on national momentum while addressing a critical gap: the DEA’s event does not accept sharps. Missouri’s campaign helps close that gap by highlighting year-round disposal solutions for both medications and sharps across the state. 

 

Improper disposal of these items poses serious risks. Medications flushed or tossed in the trash can contaminate drinking water and harm ecosystems, while discarded sharps put sanitation workers and the public at risk. 

 

As part of Missouri’s effort to expand access, the Fall 2024 pilot of a medicine mail-back envelope program gave residents a new, free option for safe disposal. In partnership with MO PSC, District O, and PSI, 15 pharmacies and public health organizations distributed pre-paid envelopes in Springfield, Dexter, Malden, Cameron, Washington, and Missouri’s Green Hills Region—offering a secure and anonymous solution especially valuable for rural and homebound individuals. 

 

“We are excited to continue and expand our campaign to provide Missouri residents with safe, medication disposal options,” said Angie Snyder, Solid Waste Management District O Executive Director and MO PSC Chair. “This year, we are piloting a medicine mail-back program to increase access for rural and home-bound residents, offering an alternative to kiosks and in-home disposal pouches. The MO PSC has worked hard for three years now to harmonize messaging about safe disposal throughout the state and to expand opportunities for residents to rid their homes of unwanted medication. Not only does this keep our friends and families safe, but it also protects our environment.” 

 

Throughout the campaign, organizers will raise awareness through social media, printed materials, and outreach partnerships with pharmacies, healthcare providers, and local organizations. Pharmacies, public health departments, police stations, and hospitals are encouraged to join the effort. Interested groups can contact hanz@productstewardship.us to participate. 

 

Residents are urged to take part in DEA Take-Back Day on April 26 and visit bit.ly/missouri-meds to find year-round disposal options—including sharps collection sites—across the state. 

 

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Product Stewardship Institute (PSI) 

PSI is a policy expert and consulting nonprofit that pioneered product stewardship in the United States — the bedrock of the circular economy. Since 2000, PSI has helped enact 141 extended producer responsibility (EPR) laws across 20 product categories in 33 states. PSI works with governments, businesses, academia, and environmental groups to ensure that products are responsibly managed from design to end of life. Join us at www.productstewardship.us.   

 

  Missouri Product Stewardship Council (MO PSC) 

The MO PSC is a coalition of local governments, businesses, and other stakeholders that aim to reduce waste, increase reuse and recycling, save local governments money, and support jobs. We take a product stewardship approach, which seeks to share responsibility with product manufacturers and creates accountability for managing waste, particularly at the post-consumer stage. www.missouripsc.org 

 

The Product Stewardship Institute is a policy expert and consulting 501(c)(3) nonprofit that powers the emerging circular economy. We rely on the generosity of our members, partners, and supporters to convene diverse stakeholders to build extended producer responsibility (EPR) policies, programs, and laws. Thank you!

 

DONATE

 

PSI an equal opportunity employer and provider. If you require alternatively formatted materials for effective communication, please contact us at info@productstewardship.us.

 

 

 

Springfield Art Museum Fassnight Creek Cleanups will be held the second Saturday of the month.  Coming up April 12, 9-11:00. We’re thrilled to bring back our Fassnight Creek 2nd Saturday Cleanups in collaboration with the Springfield-Greene County Park Board after a fall and winter break—join us in helping clean Fassnight Creek and stick around for a nature-art activity on Hatch Lawn.

 

Ozark Soul

Go to Native plants sales page

 

 

​Missouri Department of Natural Resources

Department of Natural Resources will host four pesticide collection events in 2025

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, FEB. 18, 2025 – The Missouri Department of Natural Resources will offer four free waste pesticide collection events in 2025. All of the events will be open from 8 a.m. to noon and are open to all Missouri farmers and households.​

• Sep. 13 - Location to be determined.

• Oct. 4 - Litton Agri-Science Learning Center, 10780 Liv 235, Chillicothe.

Accepted (limited to 8,000 lbs. total weight per farm or household):

• Herbicides.

• Insecticides.

• Fungicides.

• Rodenticides.

• De-wormers.

• Fly tags.

• Fertilizers containing pesticide.

Not Accepted:

• Pesticide rinsate: For rinsate management information, visit mo.gov/document-search/pesticide-rinsate-management-pub2870/pub2870.

• Paint, explosives.

• Fire extinguishers.

• Yard waste.

• Electronics.

• Trash.

• Pesticides from businesses, pesticide-production facilities, pesticide distributors, pesticide retailers or similar entities.

Registration is recommended but not required. Register for one of the collection events at pesticidecollectionregistration@dnr.mo.gov. More information about the Missouri Pesticide Collection Program is available online at dnr.mo.gov/waste-recycling/what-were-doing/events-collections-trainings/missouri-pesticide-collection-program.

 

Missouri Prairie Foundation

Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale in Springfield on April 26

Bass Pro Shops Sportsman’s Center® is the location of this sale.

 

Springfield, MO (April 15, 2025)—Native plants beautify landscapes and help support songbirds and other cherished wildlife. A wide variety of native wildflowers, grasses, sedges, vines, shrubs, and trees supplied by two Grow Native! professional members will be available for purchase at a Missouri Prairie Foundation native plant sale organized in partnership with Bass Pro Shops Sportsman’s Center®, 1 Bass Pro Drive, Springfield, MO 65807 on Saturday, April 26, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“Choosing native plants for home landscaping is one of the best actions homeowners can take to support nature’s web of life and add beauty to their yards or property,” said Carol Davit, MPF Executive Director. 

Native plant vendors at this event are Gaylena’s Garden and Ozark Soul Native Plants.

Some vendors accept cash, check, or credit cards; some only cash or checks. Shoppers may begin browsing product selections, making purchases, and picking up pre-orders from each vendor at the advertised start time. “Early birds” will be asked to wait until the advertised start time to begin shopping. 

The following vendors are accepting pre-orders. When placing your pre-orders, please include your phone number and note that the order is for the Springfield Bass Pro Shops Sportsman’s Center® on April 26:

Ozark Soul Native Plants- Order via website (preferred): https://preorder.ozarksoul.com or phone: 816-809-4062. Please visit https://ozarksoul.com/availability for current availability. Pre-order by Wednesday, April 23 at 5 p.m.

 

Vendors will donate a portion of their sale proceeds to benefit the prairie conservation work of the Missouri Prairie Foundation.

 

The Missouri Prairie Foundation is a 59-year-old prairie conservation organization and land trust. In addition to its prairie conservation work, the Missouri Prairie Foundation also runs Grow Native!, a 25-year-old native plant marketing and education program, and administers the Missouri Invasive Plant Council. 

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Amanda Lands Ramrup

Events & Communications Coordinator

Missouri Prairie Foundation and Grow Native! program

P.O. Box 200

Columbia, MO 65205

636-303-7418 (mobile)

outreach@moprairie.org

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Ozark Society

(see flyer, click here)

The Ozark Society is a non-profit organization established in Arkansas in 1962 to protect the Buffalo

River and its surrounding wilderness area from development, thus allowing it to remain a free-flowing

and scenic river. Today, the Ozark Society continues to advocate for conservation of natural resources,

preservation of scenic places, and environmental education.

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The Youth Grant Program (K through 12th grade) was initiated in 2020. The purpose of this program is to

support youth engagement and participation in conservation and environmental education projects.

Since inception, the program has awarded a total of $53,000 to 33 projects with 7,500 youth

participants from Kindergarten to 12th grade.

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Who are beneficiaries of Youth Grants? Grants from $500 - $3,000 are awarded to conservation and

environmental programs in schools or small non-profit organizations from any region in which there is an

active Ozark Society Chapter including central and northwest Arkansas, Springfield Missouri and north

Louisiana

What types of projects are awarded? Proposals should focus on some aspect of conservation or

environmental education, which aligns with principles of the Ozark Society. Examples of more specific

focus for a project are: water quality/stream restoration, preservation of wild spaces or natural

resources, native plant gardens and native tree projects, habitat restoration, sustainability projects,

enhancement of access to nature, and unique/innovative projects that address local environmental

problems.

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Ozarks Clean Fuels Coalition​

 

SW Missouri Local Government Briefings

 

2025 Earth Day Festival, Springfield, MO. Earth Day Festival tickets are now on sale! FLYER

Find more details at https://www.earthdayspringfieldmo.org/

#earthdayfestival #sierrahull #caseyandtheattaboys #ozarksbelladonna #sgfmo

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​​​​​​Missouri Butterflies, host plants and Caterpillars

Go here to see a great poster of common butterflies and their caterpillars!

 

Watershed Center of the Ozarks

2024 Annual Report

Join the Team:  two seasoal internships with Watershed Natives

James River Basin Partnership.

​2024 Annual Report

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JRBP Volunteer Opportunities On The Horizon:

April 22nd - Earth Day Cleanup

June 7th - River Rescue Cleanup

July 12th - Snapshot Sampling Event

 

Plus: education events, tree planting, and more!

 

Hear about more opportunities as they come available by signing up to be a volunteer:

Volunteer Sign Up

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Children and Nature Network

 

Springfield Community Resource Guide

 

EPA​

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Dish to Dirt Program

Read to find out how to subscribe and see what events are coming up.  Learn about composting, free workshops and more! Click HERE.

The Ozarks Clean Air Alliance (OCAA)  Go HERE to find out more. and the Clean Air Action Plan

 

White River Sierra Club

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The Schoolcraft Ozarks Society

Dark Sky Missouri (Click here for more information)

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Missouri Environmental Education Association (MEEA)

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Missouri Recycles (MORA)  

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Check out what can be recycled at Staples. https://www.staples.com/stores/recycling

 

Ozark Riverways Foundation
Ozarks Greenways

Missouri Department of Conservation

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