• Use less toxic pest control products
• Use a rake or broom- not a hose- to clean up lawn and garden clippings
• Start a compost pile or use the curbside yard waste recycling programs
• Divert rain spouts onto grass or landscaping
• Pick up pet wastes and place them in the garbage
• Consider a graywater system and re-use right at home
  • Revised Garywater Standards (1997) (PDF)
  • Garywater Guidelines (PDF)

Automotive

• Have your car inspected and maintained regularly, and repair all leaks promptly.
• Recycle used motor oil and antifreeze!
• Cars pollute the air and water! Drive less; look into alternative forms of transportation.
• Wash cars on an unpaved surface where dirty water won't flow to a driveway, street, gutter or storm drain.Empty your bucket of soapy water into a sink or toilet. Better yet, use a commercial car wash.
• To find out more ways to reduce pollution from vehicles see our Vehicle Pollution Prevention Site.

Home Maintenance and Repair

• Avoid using toxic products, look for alternatives.
• Read the label! Know how to use and store all toxic products, including paints, cleaners and solvents.
• Recycle mercury containing products (e.g. thermometers, thermostats, and fluorescent tubes).
• Use up toxic products. If you need to throw them out take them to your Household Hazardous Waste drop off site.
• Use cat litter or other absorbent material to clean up toxic material spills from paved surfaces.
• Be sure that your cleaning company disposes wastewater to a sink, toilet or sanitary sewer cleanout- not the storm drain.
• When draining your pool or spa, pump water into a sanitary sewer cleanout.
• Rinse latex paint brushes in the sink.
• Recycle or reuse whenever is possible.
• When working on concrete, cement or mortar, keep materials from blowing or flowing to a driveway, street, gutter or storm drain.

Apartment and Condominium Occupants
Residents of apartments and condominiums can also act to protect the local environment. Palo Alto environmental programs have been distributing brochures about recycling and preventing pollution to residents of multifamily complexes. If you live in, manage, or own an apartment, duplex, or condominium, call 650-496-5910 for a copy of our brochure.