pay icon

Pollution Prevention at Home

Everyone can do their part in preventing pollution in their community. Help do your part to protect our environment today and in the future.

In Your Home

  • Use Household Hazardous Materials (HHM) wisely.
    • Do not pour hazardous household materials down the drain or flush down the toilet. (Some examples of HHM are fertilizer, pesticides, varnish, oven cleaner, drain cleaner, metal polish, rat poison, mothballs, oil-based paint, antifreeze and furniture polish.)
    • Take Hazardous Waste Drop-off in Bondurant.
    • Do not dump anything down storm sewers; they lead directly to our rivers.
    • Do not dump HHM on the ground; they can pollute our groundwater.
    • Try not to purchase more than you will need.
    • Follow label instructions carefully.
    • Try to purchase the most environmentally-friendly products you can.
    • Use safer home cleaners like baking soda and vinegar, and make your own when possible.
  • Reduce the amount of waste you put in your garbage.
    • Use reusable materials.
    • Do not buy more than you need.
    • Purchase items made from recycled products whenever possible.
    • Recycle in CurbIt! bins or take items to Metro Recycling Center. You can recycle #1 and #2 plastics, cardboard, newspaper, magazines, mixed paper, cereal boxes, cards, wrapping paper, metal cans, clear glass, and aluminum and clear glass beverage cans.
    • Recycle used clothing and household items by having a garage sale or taking them to resale places such as Goodwill, the Salvation Army or DAV.
  • Dispose of old appliances appropriately – either call your garbage handler to pick them up or take them to the Metro Park East Landfill drop-off area.
Learn more at: Metro Waste Authority

In Your Yard

  • Bag up grass clippings, leaves, sticks and branches and put them at the curb in CompostIt! bags. Loose grass and leaves can easily wash into storm sewers and then into rivers. Do not burn – burning is illegal in most parts of the metro area and also pollutes our air.
  • Use fertilizer wisely.
    • Get a soil test kit from a garden supply store to see how much fertilizer your lawn or garden actually needs.
    • Do not apply fertilizer when rain is in the forecast.
    • Dispose of any leftover fertilizer properly by taking it to the Regional Collection Center in Bondurant.
  • Use pesticides sparingly.
    • When possible, plant things that will attract beneficial insects, like ladybugs.
    • Weed your garden by hand instead of applying chemicals.
    • Buy the most environmentally friendly products you can.
    • Dispose of any leftover pesticides properly by taking them to the Regional Collection Center in Bondurant.
  • Clean up pet waste, especially when it is on paved driveways and sidewalks, so it does not get washed into storm sewers. Dispose of it in the trash.
  • Plant grass, trees and shrubs to hold dirt in place and prevent erosion.
  • Clean up litter.
  • Use sand or sawdust on icy sidewalks and driveways instead of salt, whenever possible.
  • Sweep driveways and sidewalks instead of washing them with water – water washes oil, grass, pet waste, leaves, etc., into storm sewers.
  • Wash your car on the lawn instead of in the driveway to prevent pollution runoff and use biodegradable detergents.
  • Keep cars in good repair so they do not leak oil.
    • Take used oil to an auto repair shop or Regional Collection Center to be recycled.
    • If your car leaks onto your driveway or garage, sprinkle it with cat litter to soak it up, then sweep it up and put it in the garbage.
    • Never pour oil on the ground; it can get into groundwater supplies.
  • Choose more porous materials, like gravel, bricks and woodchips, rather than concrete areas when planning landscaping; these practices reduce the potential for runoff.
Learn more at:

At Recreation Areas

  • Take recyclable items home to be recycled.
  • When trash cans are not provided, take your trash home and dispose of it there.
  • Volunteer to clean up parks.
  • Make sure boats are not leaking gas or oil.

At Construction Sites

  • Excavate as little land as possible before beginning to build.
  • Put up a silt fence to halt dirt from getting washed off the property.
  • Put hay or straw down on loose dirt to help hold it in place.
  • Plant grass, trees and shrubs as soon as possible after construction is completed.
background image