Stormwater Monthy Tips

February

Litter is defined as waste products that have not been discarded properly. Litter endangers our environment, our wildlife, and our economy. It pollutes our neighborhoods, decreases property values, and destroys our city's natural beauty.

Tips To Help Prevent Litter

-              No littering! Take your food wrappings, drink containers, newspapers, and other potential litter home with you and dispose of it properly.

-              Keep your yard clean and free of things that can blow into the street and become litter.

-              Recycle! City residents can drop off recyclables at: 1) Five Points Shopping Center, 2) 1025 W Hill Ave. and/or 3) Corner lot of S. Lee St. and E. Savannah Ave.

-              At home, make sure garbage and recycling bags are tied securely so that loose papers and other items can't fall out and become litter.

-              When you visit a park, remember to take out what you bring in.

-              Educate children about the importance of disposing of trash properly.

-              Participate in community cleanup events.

When items like plastic bottles, styrofoam cups, and bags get into streams, they can harm wildlife and eventually end up in the ocean. This can contribute to a major pollution problem in our local rivers and streams. The ideal way to handle the problem of littering is to prevent it in the first place. Let’s all take responsibility and try our best to properly dispose of waste!

 

October

4 Tips To Have An Eco-Tastic Halloween!

Halloween is one of our favorites—but it’s unfortunately not the most eco-friendly holiday and the thought of all the potential plastic pollution gives us quite a fright! But fear not! We have four suggestions that will make this year’s Halloween more sustainable and keep the waters of Valdosta healthy and free of debris. 

  1. Hold on to your wrappers. When we’re out trick-or-treating, we may be tempted by the delicious morsels in our haul. As you and your family enjoy your treats on-the-go, please make sure those pesky wrappers don’t end up on the ground (which could ultimately find their way down a storm drain and into a nearby creek).
  2. Get creative with trick-or-treat bags. Plastic jack-o-lanterns are always full of candy and dangling from hands-on Halloween. The problem? Plastic is brittle, and once broken, finds its way into landfills. When your little superheroes and princesses go trick-or-treating, be sure they use a reusable bag to collect their treats. Canvas bags and pillowcases are great alternatives to plastic or even paper bags, and they are much sturdier.
  3. Recycle costumes. When photos last forever, and every Halloween requires a new look, A LOT of costumes end up getting worn once and discarded. Instead of tossing your costumes in the trash, or banishing them to a box in the basement, why not give them to charity, trade with family or friends, or stuff ‘em and use them in your garden as scarecrows?
  4. Volunteer!
  • October 9thRiver’ Alive Cleanup Event: For more information, please call Angela Bray at 229.259.3530. 

October 23rdFall Semi-Annual Hot Spot Cleanup Event: For more information, please call Teresa Turner at 259.3588

September

DO NOT PLACE LIQUID PAINT IN THE GARBAGE CAN: Add kitty litter or saw dust to liquid oil paints to solidify them before placing the cans – lid off – in the garbage. Latex paints are not considered hazardous, but they must be solidified before disposal so simply leave the lid off so the paint will dry. Dispose in the garbage – lid off. ONLY empty paint cans or cans with solidified paint can be put into the garbage container.

 If you're looking for other options, paint recycling is an excellent idea. Consider donating your paint to a community center, charity, place of worship or Habitat for Humanity ReStore. They're often working on projects with a limited budget and could use the extra supplies.

July

Scoop the Poop

 

So what’s the big deal? Dog poop is a natural fertilizer, right? WRONG! The truth about dog poop is that it’s the equivalent of putting raw sewage on the sidewalk. When pet owners choose not to clean up after their dog, the health of our community, environment and particularly our children are put at risk.

 Fecal Facts & Figures

  • Due to its high nutrient concentration, dog poop is toxic to your lawn and favorite trails.  Poop left on the ground causes burns and discoloration to grass and other vegetation.
  • The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies pet waste as a dangerous pollutant in the same category as toxic chemicals and oil.
  • An average size dog dropping contains 3 billion fecal coliform bacteria.
  • In addition to fecal coliform, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) confirms that dog poop can spread parasites including hookworms, ringworms, tapeworms and Salmonella.
  • Every time it rains in Valdosta, un-scooped poop is washed into storm drains that flow directly into our local rivers and streams.
  • Although poop may eventually “wash-away,” it does not disappear. The parasite eggs can linger in the grass and soil for up to 4 years! When a human or animal comes into contact with that soil through everyday activities like walking barefoot or gardening, they risk infection.

 SCOOP THE POOP: IT’S YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL DOODY (PUN INTENDED)!

January

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October

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December

Engineering
229-259-3530
229-333-1884
City Engineer
Location

Valdosta City Hall Annex
300 N. Lee Street
Valdosta, GA 31601 

Upcoming Events
Repeats every month on the first Friday 12 times.
04/05/2024 - 5:00pm to 8:00pm
05/03/2024 - 5:00pm to 8:00pm
06/07/2024 - 5:00pm to 8:00pm