RE Sources
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RE Sources is a community-based environmental non-profit organization.
RE Sources is a non-profit environmental education organization founded in 1982 as Bellingham Community Recycling. Our vision is for healthy, prosperous communities living in balance with the natural world.
09/17/2026
We are excited to announce the Share & Repair Fair on Sunday, October 18th, a gathering designed to help you save money, reduce waste, build DIY skills, and learn alongside your neighbors. Combining a fix-it-fair, clothing swap and skill share, this event is presented by The RE Store | Salvaged building materials & furniture and Whatcom County Library System and will feature local organizations, upcyclers and trades people who are passionate about reducing waste and teaching others. Bring something that’s broken, things you don’t use, or a question to ask!
Services and repairs you’ll find: Knife sharpening, leather conditioning, jewelry repair, toy repair, bicycle repair, DIY resources from WCLS, instrument repair, textile mending, Ask an Expert: Home repair and building pros available to answer questions, upcycling craft activities for kiddos, and much more!
Things to bring to share or swap: Clothes (Must be dropped off at designated locations before the event), hand tools, art supplies, pantry staples & garden surplus, garden seeds
🗓️ Sunday, October 18th
🕐 12 - 4 p.m.
🏫 Pioneer Pavilion, 2007 Cherry Street, Ferndale, WA
♻️ Check out The RE Store’s web page for even more info!
09/17/2026
‼️ During RE Sources’ monthly monitoring at Lake Padden on Tuesday, 9/15 we observed large algae blooms near the Lake Padden Boat Launch and on the northwest end of the lake near the tennis courts. The bloom looks like spilled green paint on the water’s surface.
🔬 RE Sources collected an algae sample on behalf of Whatcom County Health, which has been sent to King County Lab and is being tested for cyanotoxins like microcystin, or anatoxin-a. Test results are expected by Friday, 9/18 or Monday, 9/21 and will be published at www.nwtoxicalgae.org.
⚠️ The main danger to people and pets comes from eating or swallowing the algae. We advise not to touch, eat, or swallow any algae and avoid areas where algae blooms or algae mats are present.
09/15/2026
In early August, nearly thirty community leaders gathered to discuss what the future holds for the Nooksack watershed as we move forward in the adjudication process. We are grateful to be a part of this conversation and appreciated hearing the perspectives this group brought. We're in this together.
August 6th - Water Wars (how to avoid) a www.soulcraftallstars.com original for www.waterwars.info
09/10/2026
‼️ Blue, green and brown clumps of algae have been observed at Toad Lake during RE Sources’ past two monitoring rounds on 8/11 and 9/8. These clumps were more prolific during the recent September outing.
🧪 Whatcom County Health has also been collecting samples of the algae clumps at Toad every week since 8/11, with microcystin levels only increasing since the first testing. Currently, microcystin levels are above human health standards.
⚠️ The main danger to people and pets comes from eating or swallowing the algae. We advise not to touch, eat, or swallow any algae and avoid areas where algae blooms or algae mats are present. Whatcom County Health plans to continue sampling weekly until levels decrease.
🔬 What is different about this bloom is that it is from a benthic mat, so it does not look like the typical spilled green paint on top of the water. Benthic blooms form underwater on rocks, sand, or plants, eventually breaking free and floating to the surface or washing up on shore. This makes them difficult to spot early on.
⛓️💥 Click the link in our bio for Whatcom County’s health advisory.
09/02/2026
On August 16th, Bellingham City Council awarded a $40.9 million contract to Walsh Construction Company II, LLC “for the installation of upgraded air pollution control equipment at the Post Point Wastewater Treatment Plant.” While this is a major disappointment, RE Sources is committed to working toward a faster transition to cleaner and healthier technologies.
So, what's next? Read our latest blog for the full update.
Bellingham City Council Awards Post Point Upgrade Contract Despite Community Concerns. So, What's Next? - RE Sources While this decision is a major disappointment, RE Sources is committed to working toward a more sustainable wastewater future
The freshwater lakes that we frequent are vulnerable to harmful algal blooms that threaten ecosystem function and public health. RE Sources’ North Sound Waterkeeper and team currently monitor five lakes throughout the summer and fall seasons, when algal blooms are more likely to occur due to warmer temperatures. These lakes were selected because they are used as drinking water or have high recreational usage like swimming, boating, and fishing. This week, RE Sources’ Program Coordinator Zoe Fry and North Sound Waterkeeper Intern Sarah Guenther were out collecting water samples at Cain Lake. Regularly monitoring these lakes is crucial for informing the public and leading agencies to further assess these blooms.
�The Lake Monitoring process consists of visual observations and data collection on water quality parameters, which aids in detecting signs of algal blooms and nutrient pollution. Using a YSI multimeter, a water quality monitoring instrument, we measure parameters from the surface of the water to the bottom of the lake. In the RE Sources lab, the water samples are analyzed for the presence of phosphate and nitrate. Harmful algal blooms are caused by an excess of nutrients, specifically nitrogen and phosphorus, which enter lakes from stormwater runoff and wastewater effluent. If any algal blooms are observed on the surface or in the water column, samples are collected for microscopic identification.
One of the best ways to be informed about harmful algae blooms is signing up for ’s listserv, or visiting nwtoxicalgae.org. And, check out re-sources.org for tips and resources for staying safe while swimming and harvesting seafood this summer.
For young people across the globe, climate change and environmental degradation aren’t just academic issues, they are crises that impact nearly every facet of life. That’s why RE Sources hosts Youth for the Environment and People (or YEP!), a one-of-a-kind youth empowerment program for high school students that elevates student voices and gives youth key skills to make change in the world.
This fall, Bellingham and Ferndale YEP! students will explore our local transit infrastructure, how we can make environmentally friendly commuting easier to access, and how to prioritize sustainable transportation in our communities. Students will learn from local experts and tour Whatcom Transit Authority (WTA)’s bus barn before designing and implementing their own solution to reducing dependence on fossil fuel-based transportation through a group action project.
Applications for fall colors will be accepted through September 14th! If you’d like to meet and work with like-minded people, learn about important local issues, and make a difference in your community, we encourage you to apply!
08/10/2026
Looking forward to The RE Store's first annual Make Art Not Trash DIY: a free, all-ages, and all-skill-levels DIY Reclaimed Art Show.
Saturday, September 12th, 1-5 p.m.
And you can contribute! Sculpture? Painting? Collage? Take something headed for the landfill and turn it into art. Or just come see what others have made, vote for your favorite, and maybe leave with a few ideas of your own.
08/07/2026
On Monday, August 10, Bellingham City Council will vote on approving a $40.9 million contract to upgrade the incinerators at Post Point Wastewater Treatment Plant. “Upgrading” the incinerators is the City effectively doubling down on antiquated technology (the incinerators are already decades old) that will continue to release pollution and toxics into our air and water for decades to come. This outdated wastewater treatment infrastructure is already failing to meet today’s demands — let alone tomorrow’s.
We’ve had more than 1400 people voice their concerns and opposition to this upgrade, yet the City and City Council have continued to move forward with this process. Now is the time to make one more appeal to City Council to reject the contract and instead steer our community toward a healthier, more sustainable future.
Use the link below to directly email City Council members with a pre-written, editable message we've put together.
Ask City Council to reject the $40.9 million contract for upgrading the Post Point incinerators
08/04/2026
It's the best time of year to enjoy the water, so here's a few tips and resources to help ensure you stay safe and healthy while recreating and harvesting. From checking swimming advisories at local beaches to knowing where seafood is more likely to be contaminated by pollutants, it's best to know before you go. Have fun, be safe, and stay healthy out there!
Tips and Resources for Staying Safe While Swimming and Harvesting Seafood This Summer - RE Sources Summer is the season of water, but there are environmental factors that can make both swimming and harvesting something to avoid at times.
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2309 Meridian Street
Bellingham, WA
98225
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| Monday | 9am - 5pm |
| Tuesday | 9am - 5pm |
| Wednesday | 9am - 5pm |
| Thursday | 9am - 5pm |
| Friday | 9am - 5pm |
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