National Conversation on Climate Action
You are invited to participate in the City's National Conversation on Climate Action event on Thursday, Oct. 4 at the Civic Center. This event, which will be held from 4-6:30 p.m., will discuss global warming and what is needed at the local level and beyond to solve this pressing concern.
Denton joins local government leaders from across the country in hosting these events which will be part education and part interactive community-wide discussion. The National Conversation is sponsored by ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, and the Association of Science-Technology Centers.
Join City of Denton officials, community leaders, and environmental speakers to discuss the City's current and future environmental initiatives. At the event, Mayor Perry McNeill will launch the City's Carbon Footprint project.
Local governments and community action are key to addressing global warming. City-wide efforts have been put in place to implement innovative strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while saving energy and money and fostering a healthier, more livable community. Attend this special event and learn how you can join City efforts to make a difference.
For more information about his event, please contact Katherine Barnett at (940) 349-8202
Home Chemical Collection Program
All Denton residents, regardless of whether they reside in a single-family or multi-family home, can get rid of all the household hazardous waste cluttering their garages and storage closets. Residents can call Customer Service at (940) 349-8787 to schedule an appointment for collection. When scheduling a collection, the resident will be placed on the list for the next available collection day, based on the residential trash/recycling collection day quadrants. Recycling personnel will collect from the residence directly at their curbside or front door depending where they live. Paint makes up 60 to 80 percent of most municipal household hazardous waste collection programs.
Many common household products are toxic, corrosive, flammable, or caustic and can be dangerous to both people and the environment when discarded incorrectly. The City of Denton Recycling Division will collect these products separately from other trash when the new Home Chemical Collection facility is complete in October.
Put your sewers on a fat-free diet this holiday season
Fats, oils, and greases aren't just bad for your arteries and your waistline; they're bad for your sewers, too. Greasy buildup from apartment and household drains sticks to the insides of sewer pipes and eventually causes expensive blockages. Sewer overflows and back-ups can cause health hazards, damage home and apartment interiors, and threaten the environment. Never pour grease down sink drains.
Proper grease disposal techniques:
- Dispose of oil using our HCC program.
- Try using paper towels to soak up excess oils and food residue from dishes and cooking equipment before putting them in your sink or dishwasher.
- Scrap grease and food scraps into a can or the trash.
- Pour hot grease in a milk jug with a lid and let cool before throwing it in the trash. Be careful not to burn your hand and let grease cool a little as not to melt plastic.
- Remember: home garbage disposals do not keep grease out of your plumbing system.
If you already have a clog, try pouring soda down the drain instead of chemicals. Soda eliminates odors, too. Help us work toward a fat-free sewer system by cutting down on grease.
Fall cleaning? What to do with all the leaves!
Mulching is an easy and beneficial way to deal with leaves. Just mow and leave on your lawn. Or you can rake and compost them. If you don't want to compost, set them out by the curb to be picked up by Solid Waste staff on your yard waste collection day. All yard waste picked up is composted by the City to make Dyno Dirt.
Please do not blow leaves into the gutter or dump them into drainage ditches. This are activities with potentially serious consequences. Leaves and yard debris that are blown into the street eventually collect in the storm drains. During heavy rains, clogged storm drains and bar ditches can cause flooding. Leaves and yard debris in the street also make the job of cleaning residential streets harder for the street sweepers. It takes a street sweeper approximately one month to clean every street in Denton. During the fall, that cleaning time increases based on how many leaves and yard debris ends up in the street. Drainage Department staff work 10 hours a day to offset the expanded time during this season. Leaves and debris that are picked up by the street sweeper end up in the landfill as opposed to being composted.
New Lawn and Landscape Irrigation and Water Waste Ordinance
On May 2, 2006, the Denton City Council passed a new ordinance designed to make sure we are all using our valuable water resources wisely. The ordinance, titled the Lawn and Landscape Irrigation and Water Waste Ordinance, focuses on changing the way Denton businesses and residents water their lawn and landscapes.
To litter or not to litter
At what point does that fast food wrapper in your hand turn into litter blowing down the street? How does what we throw away become litter? It isn't some magical transformation from one to the other. Trash turns into litter when citizens make poor choices about how to dispose of their trash. How many times have you driven down the street and seen a cigarette butt being tossed out of the car? Or witnessed a fast food bag blown out of the back of a pick up truck? There are many choices that we, as citizens of Denton, can make. Sometimes we should consider our actions, and the consequences, a little more carefully.
Denton residents now have a place to recycle their electronics!
The City of Denton has designated a large container for collecting electronics at the Landfill Drop-off site. It is a self-serve, free-of-charge service, just like using any other recycling at the landfill. It is accessible Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon. The Denton Municipal Landfill is located at 1100 S. Mayhill Road. The program accepts all PC related materials, such as CPUs, monitors, printers, fax machines, and scanners. Also small electronics are accepted such as cell phones, TVs, microwaves, and toasters. The program is open to all Denton residents. Residents should be sure to erase any personal information from their computer before dropping it off.
Clear Creek: a place to look and learn about nature
Through its partnerships with the Army Corps of Engineers, Denton ISD, UNT, TWU, Denton County, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the City of Denton is planning the building of the Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center (CCNHC) in 2009. CCNHC has a clear and distinct mission: to inspire environmental citizenship through an understanding of the heritage of North Texas. This mission includes providing nature experiences, education and research programs, and conservation and restoration projects for residents of Denton and the surrounding area.
SmartScape' CDs available to Denton citizens
The SmartScape' CD ROM program utilizes xeriscape principles, but goes beyond the basics by providing design, care, and plant search tools that are 'Smart' for North Central Texas. This program will show you how to:
- Conserve water and save $$ on your water bills
- Beautify your home and local environment
- Attract native butterflies, hummingbirds, and other wildlife
- Use less pesticides and fertilizers and reduce storm water pollution
For a free copy of the SmartScape' CD ROM, please visit the Public Information Office at 215 East McKinney, Denton, Texas, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. For more information on the SmartScape' program, visit http://www.txsmartscape.com.