20
WAYS YOU CAN HELP
STORM DRAINS: FROM THE STREETS TO THE
BEACH - During a rainstorm, the trash and toxins that
were dumped on the street run straight to the beaches.
1. Get your mind out of the gutter
Clean your driveways and sidewalks (with a broom, not the hose).
Put trash in the can instead of the gutter. Use your lawn clippings
to fertilize your lawn/garden.
2. Pull your own weeds The less herbicides and pesticides you spray,
the less you will swim in on the weekend. It all eventually runs
down to the beach. If we reduce the amount of slime that goes into
our storm drains, our costal waters will be protected.
3. Plant, don't pave
Let the run-off water soak into the ground. Landscaping
is prettier and creates oxygen.
4. Don't water the driveway It won't grow. And all that water washes to the beach.
5. Scoop the poop Unless you like to swim in animal poop, make sure you and your
neighbours pick up the droppings.
6. Report full catch basins The Dept. of Public Works should clean a full storm sewer.
7. Fix your car leaks More oil enters the beach from urban run-off than from tanker
spills. If your car drips, the oil will find its way to the ocean.
SAVE WATER, SAVE MONEY and SAVE THE OCEAN
8. Don't be a drip Low flow shower heads, drip irrigation, and low flow toilets conserve
water. Repair leaks.
9. Don't be a prune Don't let your showers dry out your skin like a prune. Shorten
your showers. Wash only full loads.
10. No trash in the toilet String and hair are hord on sewage treatment plants.
Remeber to throw them in the trash rather than in the toilet.
11. Water in the morning or evening It minimizes evaporation, and it's better for the plants.
12. Use nontoxic cleaners Drain cleaners, oven cleaners, nail polish remover, paint thinner,
etc. are chemical poisons. Vinegar and baking soda can clean very
well.
13. Oil's well that ends well
Recycle your used motor oil at a garage or recycling center. Don't
dump it down the storm drains, or in the trash.
14. Drop off your hazardous household waste at an authorized
dump site REMEMBER THE THREE R's: REDUCE, REUSE, AND RECYCLE.
15. Reduce your waste Buy jumbo-size packages. Shop for products with the least amount
of packaging.
16. Recycle once is not enough Buy recycled goods. Call 1-800-RECYCLE
17. B.Y.O.B. Bring your own canvas or used paper bags to the store.
18. The new coffee generation brings their own mugs. Help stamp out styrofoam. Take your ceramic mug to the coffee
cart.
19. People cause pollution, people can stop it. Educate others. Then, they too can protect our beaches.
20. Get organized Join up and get involved in a local action group. Join
the Surfrider Foundation. We have wasted enough, let's not
waste time.
Download
Surfrider's "Volunteer Menu Handbook" now to decide how you can
help!
back to top
|