When yard waste such as grass clippings, fallen leaves, bush trimmings, yard and garden debris and brush get blown into the streets as a result of landscape maintenance, they are eventually washed into the storm drain system during the first rain event. This significantly impacts the quality of the water because unlike sanitary sewers, anything dumped into the storm drain system flows directly into the nearest lake, stream, creek or river without any treatment to remove contaminants. Also, organic materials such as grass clippings deplete the oxygen level in the water, which is harmful to aquatic life. In addition, yard waste can clog up the storm drain system and cause flooding.
(Use fallen leaves as mulch or for composting.)

Know the Law to Avoid Fines

The Clean Water Act gave the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the authority to implement water pollution control programs. In an effort to comply with the EPA's mandate, the Dallas City Code Article IX, "Storm Water Drainage System," of chapter 19, Sec. 19-118.2(f)(5) states that "A person commits an offense if he discharges or allows or permits the discharge of garbage, rubbish or yard waste into the storm water drainage system."

Always remember that dumping yard waste into the storm drains could result in a fine and/or the possibility of jail time. As you do landscape maintenance, please keep the following in mind:

• Don't sweep or blow yard waste into the street or sidewalk.
   
• Don't dump yard waste into the inlets, storm drains or on creek banks.
   
• Don't leave yard waste on the pavement or in areas where it will be washed into the storm drain system.
   
• Don't pour leftover pesticides on the pavement, inlet or storm drain.

What Can You Do to Minimize Yard Waste From Polluting Our Water Ways?

• Clean up yard waste that get to the streets, sidewalks and driveways.
• Use a mulching mower or a mulching blade and leave grass clippings on the lawn as fertilizer.
• Use fallen leaves as winter or summer mulch or shred them and leave them on the lawn.
• Clean up and reuse granular lawn care products such as fertilizers that fall on the streets, sidewalks and driveways.
• Use fertilizers and pesticides as directed on the product label and dispose of empty containers properly.
• Rake yard waste into plastic bags and drop them off for composting at either of the City of Dallas composting sites listed below:
  
  Southeast – McCommas Bluff Landfill
  (214) 670-0990
  5100 Youngblood
  Dallas, TX 75241
  
  Northwest – Bachman Transfer Station
  (214) 670-6161
  9500 Harry Hines
  Dallas, TX 75220

Reasons Why You Should Help!

• To protect the quality of our water.
  
  To prevent health problems that can be caused by polluted storm water.
   
• To reduce the number of times the storm drain system has to be cleaned.
   
• To save money spent on costly cleanups.

(Use grass clippings as fertilizer.)

City of Dallas Public Works and Transportation
Storm Water Management Section
320 E. Jefferson Blvd  #308
Dallas, TX 75203
Tel. 214-948-4022
Fax 214-948-4076

For information about pesticides/fertilizer usage, composting, household hazardous waste disposal and recycling, call Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) at 1-800-CLEAN-UP.

For information about landscaping and gardening in the Dallas area, mulching, composting, safe pest control and fertilization, call Texas Cooperative Extension for Dallas County at (214) 903-3050.

Report Illicit Discharges And Storm Water Polluters!
Call 311 or City of Dallas Storm Water Management at (214) 948-4022.