Are You Environmentally Correct? Positive Ways to Protect the Environment at Home "Keeping Our City Clean"

Home Maintenance

Keeping your home maintained and in good condition is very important to our community, but how you do it is crucial to the environment and our future.

General

• Buy household products labeled "non-toxic" or "non-hazardous."
• Buy and use only the amount you need.
• Take unwanted household products to a household hazardous waste collection event.
• Reduce automotive emissions by regular vehicle maintenance, car pooling and using public transportation.
• Direct rain gutters to the lawn, flower bed or shrubbery.
• Pick up animal waste twice a week or more if necessary and dispose of it in a sealed plastic bag.
• Use the blue recycle bin for recyclable material and the green/black trash bin for garbage.
• Always store products in the original containers or label new containers properly and keep instructive information available.
• Buy recycled or recyclable products to "close the loop" and fully support the recycling effort.
• Keep your barbeque grill clean and free of grease build-up.

Pest Control

• Apply the correct dosage of pesticides, herbicides and fertilizer. Follow label directions, stronger doesn't mean better.
• Never apply chemicals or fertilizers when rain or wind are in the weather forecast.
• Store pesticides, herbicides, plant foods and fertilizers in a dry, cool, covered location.
• If you spill any chemical, use dry clean-up methods, absorb, sweep and dispose in the trash.

Lawn and Garden

• Collect tree, shrub and grass clippings and start a compost pile or put in garbage bags and tie shut before disposal.
• Surround plants and lawn with a small berm or border to prevent run-off and wasting water.
• After applying fertilizer, water the plants lightly to stimulate soil absorption.
• Sweep the driveway and walkways after performing lawn chores.
• Bag and Tie your garbage and grass.
• Plant a Tree! Call Phoenix Urban Forestry for information about the matching cost program.

Vehicle Maintenance

Have your ever poured oil on your grass? Or household chemicals down the sink? If you answered yes, then you have contributed to the contamination of our water source.

Automobile Washing

• Sweep area prior to vehicle washing.
• Use a bucket and phosphate free, biodegradable detergent for vehicle washing.
• Do not use a degreaser while washing or rinsing a vehicle. Use a dry clean-up method to remove excess grease.
• Do not clean or degrease your engine at home, use a self-service car wash for degreasing engines or other equipment.

Automobile Repairs

• Dispose of used automobile fluids at your local garage, automotive store or at a household hazardous waste collection event.
• Inspect and maintain your vehicle regularly to reduce leakage.
• Perform all maintenance on an old blanket or have absorbent nearby to absorb any leaks or spills.
• Use drip pans to catch leaks and spills.

Did You Know...

• One quart of oil can contaminate 250,000 gallons of drinking water.
• Phoenix has two separate collection systems, one for sanitary waste and one for storm water run-off.
• 80 percent of pollutants reaching our rivers and washes come from chemicals that are dumped, sprayed or spilled on the ground and are carried through the storm drain system.
• Pipes, rivers, washes, retention basins, ditches, streets, gutters and catch basins are all a part of the storm drain system.
• Phoenix' annual storm water run-off could fill Sun Devil Stadium over 200 times and it could cost over a billion dollars to clean it up.
• Pumping pool water in to the street is illegal. It must be put into a sanitary sewer drain or contained on the property.
• To absorb antifreeze or oil spills you should use sand or cat litter as an absorbent.
• You can take your used motor oil to be disposed of at your local automotive store, garage or to a household hazardous waste collection event.
• Rain water carries contaminants from our streets into washes, rivers and parks.
• If you see anyone dumping anything into the street or catch basin, you should call:

The Storm Water Hotline at (602) 256-3190.

Pollution Prevention Connections

Environment
Office of Environmental Programs	(602) 256-5699
Storm Water Management	(602) 256-3190
Neighborhood Maintenance and Zoning Enforcement	(602) 262-7844
Pollution Control/Prevention	(602) 262-1859
Environmental Services	(602) 534-2524
Water Conservation	(602) 261-8367
Education
Phoenix Clean and Beautiful	(602) 262-4820
Water Services Department	(602) 261-8366
Transit	(602) 261-8253
Landfills	(602) 534-3333
Solid Waste/Recycling	(602) 262-7251
Recreational Programs	(602) 262-6861
Discharge and Disposal Concerns
Sanitary Sewer	(602) 262-1859
Storm Drains	(602) 256-3190
Hazardous Waste	(602) 262-7251
Spills and Emergencies	911
General Information
City Operator	(602) 262-6011
Sewer Roaches	(602) 262-6691
Dead animals (under 75 lbs.) in Phoenix	(602) 262-6791
Water Emergencies	(602) 262-6251
Phoenix Urban Forestry	(602) 495-3763
Neighborhood Clean-up	(602) 262-7844
Street Flooding	(602) 262-6441
Block Watch	(602) 534-2424
Graffiti Hotline	(602) 262-7327
Street Light Repair	(602) 495-5125
Abandoned Vehicles	(602) 262-7844
Adopt-A-Street	(602) 262-4980
Traffic Signal Concerns	(602) 262-6021
Phoenix Job Line	(602) 534-5627
Public Transit-Valley Metro	(602) 253-5000
Pothole Repair	(602) 262-6441

Upon request, the Street Transportation Department will make this information available through appropriate auxiliary aids or services to accommodate an individual with a disability by calling (602) 256-3190 or faxing a request to (602) 495-2016.