The Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System
The City ’ s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System ( MS4 ) or storm drain system was designed to divert excess rainwater or stormwater to the many creeks and streams found in the City of Arlington . However , as stormwater flows over yards and impervious surfaces like driveways , streets , roofs and parking lots it picks up pollutants and transports them to these same creeks and streams . These pollutants can have a negative effect on the water quality and increase drinking water treatment costs . The most common pollutants in urban areas are grass clippings , leaves and other yard waste .
�� Grass clippings and leaves can clog storm drains . This can result in street flooding that can damage public and private property .
�� Lawn clippings and leaves blown inside storm drains will decay , use up oxygen and release nutrients . Excess nutrients encourage weed and algae growth in the our local waterways .
�� Grass clippings and leaves that are blown into the streets or left on sidewalks are eyesores that make neighborhoods less attractive . � ��It is illegal to dump , sweep or blow grass clippings or any yard waste into the storm drain .
Stormwater Pollution Ordinance ������������� www . arlingtontx . gov / city������������������ ��������������������������������������
The storm drain system is separate from the sanitary sewer system which conveys wastewater from your home , business and schools to a wastewater treatment plant . Sanitary Sewer wastewater is cleaned and treated before being discharged back into the environment . Stormwater runoff is directly discharged to our local waterways and is not treated to remove pollutants .
Report Illegal dumping of yard waste or other debris into our storm drains or local waterways at www . arlingtontx . gov / contact or 817-459-6777 .
Don ’ t Bag It !
In an effort to save landfill space , the City of Arlington banned the curbside collection of bagged grass clippings when we adopted the “ Don ’ t Bag It ” program in 1993 . According to the Don ’ t Bag It program , leaving grass clippings on the lawn and allowing them to work their way back into the soil , helps produce a beautiful , green lawn .
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Report Illegal Dumping
Mulch the grass back into your yard as you mow .
Create a composting area in your yard for grass clippings .
�� If you do bag your clippings , you ’ ll need to take them to the City ’ s landfill . The landfill will take bagged clippings at an area specifically reserved for yard waste . The charge to bring a pick-up truck load of clippings to the landfill is $ 6.00 for residents . If you have any questions about what the landfill will or will not accept , you can call Republic Waste Services at 817- 354-2300 .
For more information about the City of Arlington ’ s Don ’ t Bag It program visit www . arlingtontx . gov / recycle
Backyard Composting
Compost forms when you mix together things like leaves , grass clippings , vegetable and fruit scraps , coffee grounds and filters , and used tea bags . The mixture breaks down into compost , a material rich in humus and nutrients that can enrich your soil . Compost has many of the nutrients that plants need . You can use it as a mulch or topdressing or can mix it into the soil .
Learn how to improve the quality of your soil and help prevent yard waste from entering our storm drain system by attending a free monthly class on composting .
For more information call 817-459-6778 or email recycling @ arlingtontx . gov .
Leaf Recycling
In an effort to prevent leaves from entering our storm drain system , The City of Arlington provides several collection sites for free leaf recycling starting at the end of November . For more information visit www . arlingtontx . gov / recycle .