Did you know that all the rainwater that flows into the street and storm sewers goes untreated to our area rivers and Lake Erie?

Let’s do our part to our watershed clean by following these tips.

  1. Always clean up after your pets. Pet waste contains bacteria and parasites that can make us sick.
  2. Properly dispose of your yard waste and grass clippings. Compost the waste and use the nutrient-rich soil in your garden. Never dump yard waste on the banks of a stream, ditch, storm sewer.
  3. Perform a soil test on your lawn and garden to determine if you even need to fertilize. Remember, fall is the best time to fertilize and always use a phosphorus-free fertilizer.
  4. Fix oil or antifreeze leaks from your car. If there is a leak on your driveway, use kitty litter or oil dry to soak it up, sweep up the soiled materials, bag them, and throw them in the trash. If you change the oil in your car at home, take the used oil to an area auto parts store or the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Days at the Lake County Fairgrounds.
  5. Have some old cans of paint around the house? If the paint is water-based or latex, it can be dried out with kitty litter or sawdust and thrown in the trash. If it is an oil-based paint, it can also be dropped off during Household Waste Hazardous Collections Days.
  6. Don’t be a litter bug! Throw all your trash in the garbage. Take large, unwanted items directly to the Lake County Landfill for proper disposal. Never dump waste!

For more information contact the City of Mentor Building and Engineering Department at (440) 974-5785.