Best Management Practices
Solar Trash Compactor Hits The Streets of LA
Oct 18th
It may sound like an eco-giant with a huge appetite. In fact, maybe it is. The BigBelly Solar trashcan is hungry for trash and powered by, you guessed it, the sun!
Developed by entrepreneur James Poss, the BigBelly Solar trash compactor can hold four times as much trash as a normal trashcan. Recently, two BigBelly trash compactors were purchased with funds allocated to the Echo Park’s Trash Abatement Project (TAP) by the City Office of Community Beautification and Keep Los Angeles Beautiful.
The LA Stormwater Program donated the time and produced the graphics that appear on the BigBelly trash devices. We are proud to be a part of this little piece of LA eco-history! On September 14th, a ribbon-cutting ceremony took place in Echo Park to unveil the first functioning BigBelly Solar trash compactor in Los Angeles. City Councilman Eric Garcetti and other City employees were in attendance for the “green” carpet event.
“These units will not only reduce the amount of trash drifting on pavements and streets, but will also address the long term health of Echo Park Lake and improving water quality in the LA River and ocean as well,” Ida Talalla of TAP wrote in a blog post for LA Stormwater last May. “A More >
8 Pollution Prevention Tips
Sep 20th
Since 1993, the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable (NPPR) and the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) have observed the third week of each September as Pollution Prevention Week, also known as P2 Week. Unlike most environmental awareness programs, P2 Week focuses not on the usual activities such as clean-ups and renewal programs, but instead asks us to think of ways we can prevent waste and pollution before they happen.
With the 18th P2 Week upon us, other local organizations are already up to an early start. Many groups such as Friends of the LA River, Santa Monica Baykeeper, and Friends of Ballona Wetlands, participated in Coastal Cleanup Day, this last Saturday, at multiple sites along Los Angeles’ beaches and estuaries. Taking Pollution Prevention a step further, Heal the Bay, also worked to reduce their own cleanup-generated waste by sponsoring a “Bring Your Own” program where volunteers supplied their own reusable buckets, bags, gloves and other reusable items for the day’s zero-waste activities.
DTSC itself, along with the Western Sustainability and Pollution Prevention Network (WSPPN), have sponsored a video contest centered on the theme: “It Starts With Me.” Users were asked to submit short videos that show how making small changes in our daily lives can More >
How Are You Celebrating National Water Quality Month?
Aug 24th
Did you know that the month of August is National Water Quality Month? Yeah, we knew there was a reason we loved this month so much. It’s a perfect time to look at how we can improve local water quality by following a few simple tips!
How are water quality and stormwater related? Here’s how: when stormwater is cleaner then the environment benefits because less pollution is spread through our waterways. Storm drains in L.A. eventually drain into the ocean, so cleaner runoff means cleaner beaches for nature and people alike!
Below are 5 tips that will get you thinking a bit more about water quality (with an emphasis on stormwater!).
1) Lawn clippings don’t belong in the streets! That’s right, after you mow or rake leaves, do not blow or sweep this debris into the road where it will eventually flow into the storm drain. Instead, leave the clippings on your lawn or compost them!
2) Ditch those lawn chemicals! Yep, chemicals are not good for the environment. The less you use, the less that ends up washing into the stormwater system. When possible, use eco-friendly alternatives to pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides.
3) Tear out that concrete driveway! Permeable surfaces, which concrete is not, allow water to More >
Make Your Garden Ocean Friendly – A Chat with Surfrider Foundation’s Paul Herzog
Aug 4th
Paul Herzog works for Surfrider Foundation and is the National Coordinator for their Ocean Friendly Garden Program. The LA Stormwater Program recently caught up with Paul to discuss the program he oversees and glean a little insight on how to make our yards and gardens friendlier to our waterways.
LA Stormwater: Hi Paul! Can you explain how exactly runoff from gardens impact local water quality?
Paul Herzog: Runoff is the number one source of pollution in our local creeks, rivers and oceans. Water running off landscapes from sprinkler overspray or rain gutters directed to the driveway gets into the street gutters and is carried to ocean. It takes with it landscape chemicals and fertilizers, pollutants from car exhaust and oil, dog poop and other stuff. People that swim in these waters may get sick. We’re told that we are supposed to stay out of the ocean for 72 hours after a storm – but that’s often the best time to surf. This can affect the economy. If the ocean near where we live or where people want to vacation is thought to be polluted, many may simply stay away. People may also decide not to eat locally-caught fish.
Maintaining an Ocean Friendly Garden at home, work More >
Combating the Litter Problem is a Team Effort
Jul 19th
Take a moment to think about the last time you saw a piece of litter on the ground. Did you see a soda can, a plastic bag or maybe even a cigarette butt? Aside from being an eye sore, litter also has a tremendous negative impact on our environment. Here in the Los Angeles area, whenever a piece of litter finds its way to the streets, it can end up in our storm drain system where stormwater can carry it all the way to the ocean.
Here’s a fact that may startle you. According to Californians Against Waste, people living in our state use 12 billion plastic bags every year. If you break it down, that is about 400 bags used every second! Far too many of these bags end up in places they shouldn’t be, such as the sidewalk or side of the road.
Plastic products do not biodegrade, they photodegrade, which means these products are broken down by the sun over long periods of time into even smaller pieces. As such, these plastic materials, when floating in the ocean after being washed through our storm drains, end up confusing turtles, birds and fish into believing they are food. Sadly, this More >
The Village Gardeners Work to Improve the LA River
Jun 21st
In our last eNewsletter issue we highlighted a few ways we can make a positive impact on our community. Sometimes it’s nice to be inspired by the work of others, and it’s also nice to see how all the hard work we do is paying off.
Well, look no further than The Village Gardeners, a non-for-profit group made up of Studio City and Sherman Oaks residents.
This grassroots organization has a mission we can get behind; they simply want to help restore one half-mile section of the L.A. River between Fulton Avenue and Coldwater Canyon.
“It’s really a mile of river front when you count both sides,” Rick Rabins, a long-time resident of Studio City and President of Village Gardeners, Inc., recently told Victoria Jones of Patch.com.
Rick is not doing it alone. His group is well organized. Hundreds of volunteers come together to improve this little stretch of riverfront. They clean up trash, clear catch basins, pull out dead and diseased trees and replace them with drought resistant native plants and doggie waste bag dispensers. They hold events throughout the year, so if you live in the area make sure you check in with The Village Gardeners’ events page to lend a hand.
Ultimately, The Village Gardeners More >
Top Ten Water Pollution Facts
May 26th
Below are a few water pollution facts that all clean water lovers should know (and share with their friends)!
#1: When it rains water runs directly into L.A.’s storm drains where the water flows into our local waterways and then the ocean. This stormwater is much different than sewer water, as it is not connected to a treatment facility before entering our ocean.
#2: Small amounts of contaminants like pesticides and herbicides on our grasses and in our gardens can end up causing water pollution. When it rains, or when you run your hose, the water can carry these pollutants into the street where it enters the stormwater system.
#3: Excess lawn grass and yard waste after mowing or trimming can put unwanted fertilizer in our streams. This waste can cause pollution problems where it is discharged by using up oxygen in the water, which can then kill fish and other plants.
#4: Soil runoff can cause water pollution. Erosion from landscaping or dirt piles can run into the storm drain system which can greatly impact water quality.
#5: Rain barrels that are connected to downspouts can greatly reduce the amount of runoff from our properties that could contribute to stormwater pollution. These barrels catch the water before it has a More >
Lawn Be Gone: Score Some Cash by Removing Your Grass
Jan 13th
Maintaining a grass lawn can be a hassle. Keeping your grass green and looking healthy means watering and mowing on a regular basis. We bet there have been plenty of times when you just wanted to give up and tear it all out.
Well, if you really want to go green and stop all that watering (and pesticide use!), the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) and TreePeople have teamed up to give you 20 different options for drought tolerant turf and native plant groundcovers as result of the new parkway landscape guidelines.
And that’s not even the best part. The Residential Turf Removal Program will give you $1 per square foot of grass removed from anywhere on your outdoor property. Interested? We thought so! Use less water (which means less runoff into our stormwater system) and get paid!
Who thought tearing out your lawn could actually make you a little money while being environmentally friendly at the same time? To learn more and apply for the Cash for Grass program, please check out this LADWP information flyer.
Going Green with Parkways!
Nov 18th
L.A.’s Board of Public Works recently made it a bit easier to go green! That’s right, last month the Board voted on new rules that will allow homeowners in the city to plant drought tolerant turf and ground cover without having to obtain a permit.
This means less water use, which means not only water savings but less runoff that will make its way into out storm drain system!
To learn more about the City’s Residential Parkway Landscape Guidelines please check out this PDF (http://bss.lacity.org/Engineering_Division/Residential_Parkway_Landscaping_Guidelines_halflayout.pdf). Also, read the Los Angeles Times post on the Board’s vote. (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/urban_planning/)
When Less Is More – In the Garden
May 21st
Hey gardeners and home owners out there, did you know that you could reduce the amount of toxins in our waters by following a few easy rules?
It’s true and if you have a lawn or garden and occasionally use pesticides or herbicides to green it up, we have a little recommendation that could go a long way in helping keep our waterways clean .
First, always read directions on any product you plan to use on your lawn or garden, and only apply the amount of pesticide specified on the label. Second, always spot apply these substances on areas that you believe need them the most, and be sure pesticides are properly applied to the area the pest is most prevalent.
The less you use, the less that will make its way into the storm drain system and to our ocean. So when it comes to using pesticides, always remember that less is more.
Check back soon for another green gardening tip where we will discuss how to maintain your garden without using pesticides at all!
*Image courtesy of IPM Thailand
Save Water by Going Native!
Apr 6th
Water is a precious resource, especially in Southern California where the annual average of rainfall is much lower than in other parts of the country. At times this can mean water shortages and drastic cut backs as our population is large and our potential to use water is great due to our dry climate.
There are certainly many ways to conserve water usage, but one that is not often talked about is the use of native plants. Not only are plants that are native to our region beautiful, perhaps more importantly they are adaptable and accustomed to our dry climate.
Images of green lawns are typically what come to mind when we think about perfect residential landscapes. However, most of the green grasses that we use for our lawns are not native to Los Angeles, nor are they green. In fact, many of them use a lot of water.
That’s why native plants may be a great option if you are seeking to reduce your water usage, which in turn will help reduce runoff from your lawns. The less water you use in your yard, the less likely it is to run off into our storm drain system. Native plants, unlike regular lawns, More >
