Soon the leaves will start to drop, and another fall cleanup will be upon us! Help keep Lake Erie and your local waterways clean and healthy.
Never sweep or blow yard wastes or fertilizers into the storm drains or dump leaves and grass on the banks of a nearby stream. Excess leaves and grass can deplete the water’s oxygen and harm aquatic life not to mention cause flooding if blocking drains.
Try composting your yard wastes, using a mulching mower to leave the grass on the lawn, or bag it and take advantage of your city yard waste collections.
If you must fertilize in the fall for a healthy lawn that can withstand the harsh winter months, consider testing your soil first, use organic products and sweep up any fertilizers spilled on hard surfaces to prevent it from washing into storm sewers
and streams.
Remember, pollutants washed away in a storm ultimately making its way out to Lake Erie.
Follow these tips to help prevent pollutants from disrupting our waterways. Be smart, do your part!
For more information, contact the City of Mentor Building and Engineering Department at (440) 255-1100.