Tip 3: Put Waste in the Right Place
Keep pet waste, litter, yard waste, chemicals and dirt off the street to keep our lakes clean.
These things pollute our lakes with bacteria (that can make animals and people sick), phosphorus (that makes algae grow) and sediment (that clouds the water). They also plug up our drainage system.
Here are some easy things you can do to protect our lakes:
- Grab a plastic bag when you grab the leash to take your dog for a walk. Then pick up the pet waste and bring it home to put in the garbage. Read more about pet waste and water quality [PDF].
- Keep yard waste off the streets and out of wetlands and streams. Compost at home, call your garbage hauler or your city or county for drop off sites. Learn more about composting at reduce.org.
- Bring unwanted paint and household chemicals to a Hennepin County household hazardous waste disposal site.
- If you have other things you need to get rid of, check out Hennepin County’s A – Z How to Get Rid of It Guide.