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IN THIS ISSUE:
- Changes to Hazardous Waste Pickup & Disposal
- Safe Storage of Household Hazardous Waste
- Illegal Dumping and What You Can Do About It
- 4 Ways to Help Our Waterways from Home
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Changes to Hazardous Waste Pickup & Disposal
To help combat the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, the Western Placer Waste Management Authority (WPWMA) has limited access to the facility to commercial haulers and customers with an existing WPWMA credit account. All services will be closed Saturdays and Sundays. Anyone without a WPWMA credit account will not be permitted access to the facility until further notice. Updates will be posted on the homepage of the WPWMA's website as they become available.
In addition, the free curbside pickup offered to Lincoln residents for batteries, e-waste, fluorescent tubes & bulbs, fats, oils & grease, mercury-containing items, and motor oil & filters has been temporarily put on hold. Call (916) 434-2450 for more information or for updates.
Continue reading to understand how to store these items safely until these services resume.
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Safe Storage of Household Hazardous Waste
Household hazardous waste can be toxic and includes many common items such as automotive fluids, batteries, cooking oil, cosmetics, e-waste, fertilizers, pesticides, household cleaners, medicines and more. Once the services at WPWMA and the free curbside pickup program described above are back to running at their regular capacity, we can properly dispose of these items that we're no longer using. For now, it is critical that we safely store them! Here are some important tips for storing these materials:
DO:
- DO keep the containers tightly sealed. If there are leaks, place the leaking container into a clear plastic bag and store that container separately. If there are spills, use kitty litter to absorb the spills and then place the kitty litter in a bag or container for proper disposal at a collection facility.
- DO keep products in their original containers and keep all the labels on. This helps you to remember what everything is and it also helps the household hazardous waste workers.
- DO store household hazardous products, including medication, out of reach and out of sight from pets and children.
- DO follow the storage directions provided by the manufacturer (i.e. do not allow to freeze, do not store in humid areas).
DO NOT:
- DO NOT store products in food containers.
- DO NOT mix products together. Mixing products could be very dangerous.
- DO NOT store products near sun exposure, heat, flames or sparks.
- DO NOT smoke in areas of your home where HHW products are stored.
The EPA and FEMA have more resources on proper HHW storage. If you still have questions, contact the Western Placer Waste Management Authority or contact the manufacturer of your product.
You can help through simple actions.
Continue reading to learn how.
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Illegal Dumping and What You Can Do About It
With disposal options limited for some of these common household items, people may be tempted to dump them down the storm drain as a way to get rid of them.
Dumping or disposing of items in the storm drain or in the public right of way is not only harmful to our waterways, but it is also illegal! The City of Lincoln has an ordinance that prohibits these actions, known as illicit discharges and illegal dumping. An illicit discharge is the discharge of anything into the storm drainage system that is not clean stormwater. These discharges are problematic because they may become a source of pollution in our local creeks and rivers since they can contain bacteria, viruses, metals, pesticides, sediment, nutrients, and/or trash. The dumping of these types of items can pollute our waterways, cost money to clean up, and cause our City to look unsightly. Don't trash Lincoln! Clean water starts with you!
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4 Ways to Help our Waterways From Home
As we abide by our County and State directive to shelter in place, there are still activities we can do to make sure we're keeping our waterways clean and safe. Here are some ideas to get you started.
- Do you have children at home? Engage them in the topic of water pollution prevention! There are many online resources to help you with this, including the CA Department of Water Resources, Project WET Foundation - Discover Water, and more listed on our "Schools" webpage.
- Think of ways to reduce and refuse using single-use plastics and replace them with reusable items such as reusable totes, water bottles, food containers, or straws. These simple actions can decrease the amount of plastic (which can last for generations) in our waterways that also harm marine life.
- As you take a walk outside for a little exercise or fresh air—while maintaining 6 feet of spacing from others—bring a reusable tote and pick up litter that has been left behind on sidewalks, parks, and/or trails, then properly dispose of it in the correct trash, recycling, or compost receptacle. Once at home, make sure to thoroughly wash your hands.
- Make sure you continue to pick up after your pet, even if it's your own backyard! Dog waste contains millions of bacteria, viruses, and parasites. When left on the ground, it decomposes and is either transported by water into a storm drain or seeps into the soil.
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Remember—Clean Water Starts With You!
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