Pet Waste
Pet waste left on the ground is carried away by storm water contributing harmful bacteria, parasites, and viruses to our parks. Please clean up after your pet.

Vehicle Fluids
Vehicle fluids such as oil, gas, and antifreeze are the No.1 surface water quality problems nationwide. Recycle used oil in a clean, sealed, plastic container, and call 1-800-CLEANUP for the nearest drop-off location.

Hosing
Hosing pavements washes pollutants into storm drains leading straight to one of the the City's multi-purpose retention basins (MPRBs). If water enters a public street or storm drain, you are in violation of the City Municipal Code Section 8-12.104 (76). SWEEP, don't HOSE!

Hazardous Substances
Old paint, pesticides, solvents, and batteries are hazardous substances. Dumping these substances significantly increases pollution in our community. Transport hazardous substances to an approved waste drop-off facility.

Litter
Styrofoam, plastic, and paper blow into inlets. Keep trash bins covered and avoid littering.

Green Waste
Keep green waste out of storm drains. Yard waste such as grass clippings, tree trimmings, and leaves can be composted and used for fertilizer around the yard.

Helpful Hints

• Always use local designated drop-off locations to dispose of hazardous liquids and materials.

• Wash your car on your lawn with biodegradable detergents and pour your bucket of soapy water down the sink when you're finished, not in the street, or have your car washed by a local environmentally-friendly full- or self-serve car wash facility.

• Use biodegradable detergents and environmentally friendly non-toxic cleaning, gardening, and household products whenever possible.

• Use fertilizer with lower levels of nitrogen on your lawn.

•Do not fertilize when raining or about to rain.

• Don't let your pets contribute to ground water pollution.

• Recycle whenever and whatever possible.

The City of Santa Maria's Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility is at the City of Santa Maria Landfill, 2065 East Main Street, Santa Maria. Watch for our expanded hours coming soon.

LANDSCAPING & GARDENING
Caring For Your Lawn In An Environmentally Friendly Way
BY THE UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Picture a healthy green lawn: perfect for lounging, great for ball games and cookouts, a real asset to your home. But did you know that your lawn--and how you take care of it--can also help the environment?

Healthy grass provides feeding ground for birds, who find it a rich source of insects, worms, and other food. Thick grass prevents soil erosion, filters contaminants from rainwater, and absorbs many types of airborne pollutants, like dust and soot. Grass is also highly efficient at converting carbon dioxide to oxygen, a process that helps clean the air.

Caring for your lawn properly can both enhance its appearance and contribute to its environmental benefits. You don't have to be an expert to grow a healthy lawn. Just keep in mind that the secret is to work with nature. This means creating conditions for grass to thrive and resist damage from weeds, disease, and insect pests. It means setting realistic goals for your lawn, whether you or a professional lawn care service will be doing the work. And if you choose to use pesticides, it means using them with care so as to get the most benefit and reduce any risks.

Caring for your lawn in an environmentally sensible way can have a bigger impact than you might think. Your lawn is only a small piece of land, but all the lawns across the country cover a lot of ground. That means you and your lawn care activities, along with everyone else's, can make a difference to the environment. And that's why taking care of the environment begins in our own backyards.

Yard and grass clippings
Learn how to properly dispose of yard and grass clippings.

Yard and grass clippings can reach our local waterways by washing into storm drains. Keep green waste out of storm drains. Try grasscycling, composting, or participating in a local green waste program.

Grasscycling is the practice of leaving clippings on the lawn when mowing. The clippings quickly decompose, returning nutrients to the soil. Grasscycling makes caring for your lawn easier and will not cause thatch. You can reduce mowing time by as much as 50 percent, because you don't have to bag or dispose of clippings. Leaving clippings on the lawn also reduces the lawn's water loss and its need for fertilizer. To grasscycle, it is best to cut grass when the surface is dry (no drops of moisture on the grass), and to keep mower blades sharp. Follow the "1/3 rule": Mow the lawn often enough so that no more than 1/3 of the length of the grass blade is removed in any one mowing. Proper mowing will produce short clippings that will not cover up the grass surface. You may have to cut the lawn more frequently, or double cut, when the lawn is growing quickly.

Backyard composting is the process of allowing nature to break down your green waste. When you mix your grass clippings, weeds, trimmings, and water in a bin, beneficial insects and microorganisms decompose the mixture into finished compost. You can help speed up the process by keeping the pile moist, not soaked, and periodically mixing it to add air to the pile. You may have finished compost in as early as six weeks. Finished compost can be placed over the soil as mulch, or mixed into the soil as a wonderful soil amendment.

Learn how to properly use and dispose of pesticides.
Did you know that pesticides that wash off our yards from rain or overwatering are toxic to the environment?

Testing has shown that even small amounts of commonly used pesticides may be lethal to living creatures. So try non-toxic alternatives for pest control. Take unwanted or unused pesticides to a household hazardous waste collection center. Never throw pesticides in the trash or into a storm drain.

To find where to dispose of pesticides in your area, contact the Utilities Department (805) 925-0951, ext. 7270. Use biological methods and traps to reduce insects, weeds and fungus instead of toxic insecticides and herbicides. Never apply pesticides or herbicides near wells. To learn about biopesticides go here: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/biopesticides/

Plant grass or plants in exposed soil areas.

Tips For Using Pesticides
Sometimes, even with good lawn care practices, weather conditions or other factors can cause pest problems to develop. Pesticides can help control many lawn pests. But pesticides have risks as well as benefits and it's important to use them properly.

The chemicals we call pesticides include insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides. These products are designed to kill or control pest insects, weeds, and fungal diseases. Pesticides can be very effective. But don't be tempted to rely solely on pesticides as a quick-fix solution to any lawn problem.

Serious, ongoing pest problems are often a sign that your lawn is not getting everything it needs. In other words, the pests may be a symptom of an underlying problem. You need to correct the underlying problem to reduce the chance that the pest will reappear.

All pesticides are toxic to some degree. This means they can pose some risk to you, to your children and pets, and to any wildlife that venture onto your lawn--especially if these chemicals are overused or carelessly applied. Pesticides can also kill earthworms and other beneficial organisms, disrupting the ecological balance of your lawn.

Store pesticides out of children's reach in a locked cabinet or garden shed.

When spraying, protect your skin, your eyes, and your lungs.

Wash this clothing separately before using it again.

Before Using Any Pesticide, Be Sure To Review These Basic Rules

If you have questions about a pesticide, call EPA's tollfree National Pesticide Telecommunications Network (1-800-858-7378). For general information on minimizing pesticide risks, call or write EPA for a free copy of the Citizen's Guide to Pesticides. The number to call is 703-305-5017; the address is: EPA, Office of Pesticide Programs, Field Operations Division,H7506C, 401M Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460.