ManagingYour

HouseholdWastes

C L E A R C H O I C E S F O R C L E A N W AT E R

UCContain yard,

household, and petwasteKeep garbage in its placeKeep garbage canstightly covered. To avoid litter, takegarbage andrecyclables out to your curb only on the day your trash is picked up.

Manage yard wastesKeep leaves, grass clippings, and other yard wastescleared off driveways, sidewalks, and streets, sothat they won’t wash into storm drains.

Bag pet wastesPet wastes carrydisease-causingorganisms! Pick upafter your pet. Bagpet wastes anddispose of properly inthe garbage.

Conserve and recycleBuy only what you needAvoid creating waste. Buy only the amounts thatyou will use right away.

RecycleTake old or unwanted household chemicals toyour local recycling centers (where available).Take advantage of local household chemicalround-ups. If you change your own oil, collectall of the used oil and take it to your local oilrecycling center.

Buy recycled productsLook for recycled paint, motor oil, andantifreeze.

Use and dispose of chemicals properlyNever mix chemicalsDon’t mix different household chemicalstogether. The mixture might be harmful or toxic.

Store products safelyStore products in their original, labeledcontainers in a covered and secure area, awayfrom children and pets.

Dispose of chemicals properlyTake responsibility for chemicals that you throwaway. Rinse paint brushes in the sink rather thanoutdoors with a hose. Never pour household,automotive, or lawn and garden chemicals intothe storm drains — it’s illegal and it pollutes thewater. For additional information on properdisposal, call the number on this brochure.

Remember...Water runs downhill.

Water picks upeverything.

Water flows to our rivers,streams, and creeks.

Do your partto keep our water clean!

Dumping liquid or solid wasteinto a storm drain or creek is

a crime! If you see illegaldumping, report it!

Broomfield303-464-5648

Golden303-384-8181

Wheat Ridge303-235-2861

Westminster303-430-2400 x3362

Jefferson County303-271-8454

Arvada720-898-7810

This brochure was created by and used with the permission of the City and County of Denver,the City of Aurora, the City of Lakewood and the

Urban Drainage and Flood Control District.

C T WL

Clean water – we need it to surviveRivers, streams, creeks, ponds, lakes,

reservoirs — the metro area’s waterways are

some of our most precious resources. They

provide drinking water, recreation, and wildlife

habitat. But only if the water remains clean

and unpolluted.

This brochure offers ways to handle

household chemicals and waste that will help

prevent water pollution and keep our streams,

rivers, and lakes clear and clean.

Not all pollution isintentionalWe all need to do our partto protect local waterwaysfrom pollution. What youmay not realize is howmuch water pollution isunintentional, caused by thethings that we do everyday— at work, at home, at play.

What you do makes a difference!You might not think that you can help solve theproblem, but you can! The average home canaccumulate as much as 100 pounds of chemicalwastes each year — from common householdand lawn and garden products such as:

� Paint

� Paint thinners

� Cleaning solutions

� Degreasers

� Pesticides

Improper use or disposal of these commonhousehold products leads to water pollution.Yard waste, such as leaves and grass clippings,and pet waste can also contribute to waterpollution.

You can keep your home clean and safe and helpprevent water pollution! Here’s how.

Look for alternativesUse non-toxic productsAsk retail experts about non-toxic or less toxicalternatives to your current cleaning,automotive, and lawn care products. Considerusing basic products like vinegar, ammonia, andbaking soda for your cleaning needs.

Read product labelsAvoid products labeled “Danger” or “Poison.”Products labeled “Warning” or “Caution” areless hazardous.

Use commercial car washesInstead of washing your car in the driveway, useyour local car wash.Commercial carwashes collect andfilter out dirt, soap,and oil. The washwater is then cleanedand recycled.

� Weed killers

� Fertilizers

� Antifreeze

� Motor oil

� Gasoline

The gutter in the street outside your homecarries water into a network of storm drains thatlead straight to local creeks and rivers. Stormdrains are separate from the sanitary sewersystem (which handles wastewater from yoursinks, tubs, and toilets). Unlike wastewater,stormwater is not treated at a sewage treatmentplant. Stormwater goes directly from the stormdrainage system into local creeks and rivers.

Anything on the sidewalks and streets, such astrash, antifreeze, motor oil, pet waste, paint, orexcess fertilizer, is carried away by runoff andends up in storm drains, where it flows intorivers, lakes, and streams.