Skip to content

Monthly Archives: August 2011

Grants, Closed Landfills

The Solid Waste Program‘s recent U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Landfills Assessment grant allowed department staff to visit more than 50 old closed landfills throughout the state and assess their current condition.  The department is working with county governments and owners of the properties to provide them with information to maintain these facilities at an acceptable and sustainable level.

 If you would like more information about Missouri Department of Natural Resource grants, you may download a PDF copy of the department’s Financial Assistance Opportunities brochure.

Landfill information is available at Permitted Facilities.  

If you would like more information about the Solid Waste Management Program, please visit our web site.

 

Posted on Aug 31, 2011

Reduce Flooding Impact – Waste Pesticides

 Reducing the Impact of Flooding –

Agricultural Chemicals – Waste Pesticides

When Flooding is Inevitable

Unlike other natural disasters that strike Missouri (e.g. tornadoes), severe flooding usually can be predicted, giving those in the effected areas the opportunity to prepare. One important form of preparation is to take steps to minimize the environmental effects agricultural chemicals would have if exposed to flood waters. The suggestions below are taken from Reducing the Impact of Flooding – Agricultural Chemicals, a fact sheet created by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

Waste Pesticides

  • Protect all pesticides including any unusable or unwanted herbicides, insecticides or other pesticides from rising water or other water damage.
  • Repackage or overpack all paper bags to protect dry product from water damage.
  • Repackage or overpack older containers, liquid products or containers in poor condition to protect from water damage.
  • Use rigid plastic or metal containers to repackage or overpack containers.
  • Store pesticides damaged by water or otherwise rendered unusable for proper disposal. Do not throw pesticides into trash or dump onto ground.
  • Contact the waste pesticide collection program for information on the disposal of damaged or unusable pesticides.

More information regarding reducing the impact of flooding regarding other agricultural chemicals is available in the department’s fact sheets:

Reducing the Impact of Flooding – Agricultural Chemicals

In addition to agricultural chemicals, those living in rural areas affected by flooding should take steps to secure propane and other fuel tanks. Additional information related to securing and preparing propane tanks is available in the department’s fact sheet,

Reducing the Impact of Flooding – Propane Tanks

To report an environmental emergency, including fuel spills, please contact the department’s spill line at 573-634-2436.

For more information, please visit the Environmental Services Program web site.  

 

Posted on Aug 30, 2011

Reduce Flooding Impact – Bulk Liquid Fertilizer or Pesticides

Reducing the Impact of Flooding –

Agricultural Chemicals – Bulk Liquid Fertilizer or Pesticides

When Flooding is Inevitable

Unlike other natural disasters that strike Missouri (e.g. tornadoes), severe flooding usually can be predicted, giving those in the effected areas the opportunity to prepare. One important form of preparation is to take steps to minimize the environmental effects agricultural chemicals would have if exposed to flood waters. The suggestions below are taken from Reducing the Impact of Flooding – Agricultural Chemicals, a fact sheet created by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

Bulk Liquid Fertilizer or Pesticides

  • Lock and protect valves.
  • Close and lock site gauge valves on bulk fertilizer storage tanks.
  • Inventory all stored products.
  • Accelerate or postpone shipments.
  • Prominently display firm manager’s name and telephone number.
  • Road restrictions could limit the speed at which product can be removed.
  • All agricultural chemical bulk tanks should be anchored in some manner if empty.

 

More information regarding reducing the impact of flooding regarding other agricultural chemicals is available in the department’s fact sheets:

Reducing the Impact of Flooding – Agricultural Chemicals

In addition to agricultural chemicals, those living in rural areas affected by flooding should take steps to secure propane and other fuel tanks. Additional information related to securing and preparing propane tanks is available in the department’s fact sheet,

Reducing the Impact of Flooding – Propane Tanks

To report an environmental emergency, including fuel spills, please contact the department’s spill line at 573-634-2436.

For more information, please visit the Environmental Services Program web site. 

Posted on Aug 23, 2011

City of Arnold Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event

Region L – St. Louis-Jefferson County Solid Waste Management District

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event

The City of Arnold is holding a household hazardous waste collection event.

·        8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. – August 20, 2011
Arnold City Hall, 2101 Jeffco Boulevard
Questions – 646-282-6668
No charge for residents.

Residents can bring paints, stains, paint thinner, pool chemicals, weed killers, insecticides, cleaners, household batteries, gasoline, propane tanks, solvents and auto batteries and other household waste items.

Ammunition, gun powder, commercial and industrial byproducts, medical and biological waste, appliances, electronics and tires will not be accepted.
The event is being paid for through a grant from the St. Louis-Jefferson County Solid Waste Management District and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
If you would like more information regarding solid waste, please visit the Solid Waste Management Program.

Schedule of Local Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events

Household Hazardous Waste

Scrap Tires and Illegal Dumping 

 e-cycle Missouri

Reduce. Reuse, Recycle

Construction and Demolition Waste

 Permitted Facilities

 

 

Posted on Aug 19, 2011

Have your backflow device inspected

Why do I need to have my backflow device tested?

If you have an inground lawn irrigation system, you’ve probably grumbled that question when you received the annual notice from your water supplier.

The water used by your irrigation system is supplied by the same source as the water you cook with, bathe in and drink. Contaminants such as fertilizer, pesticides or feces, can enter an irrigation system through the sprinkler heads and potentially be drawn back into your home or your water supplier’s piping, contaminating the entire system. 

 

A backflow device is critical in protecting your drinking water from contamination, and annual testing is necessary to ensure it functions properly.

 

The Missouri Safe Drinking Water Law requires public water supplies to ensure customers have their backflow devices tested by a certified backflow tester each year.   Backflow testers are certified by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to inspect, test, repair or replace backflow prevention assemblies and devices.

 

To learn more about backflow prevention or to locate a certified backflow tester in your area, visit our backflow webpage.

Posted on Aug 18, 2011

Green Tips – Green Meetings

A typical five day conference with 2,500 attendees uses 62,500 plates, 87,500 napkins, 75,000 cups/glasses and 90,000 cans and bottles. Green meetings are a good way to save money. What makes a meeting Green?

  • Incorporating environmental considerations throughout the planning and implementation process to minimize the negative impact on the environment.

Creating a green meeting:

  • Provide recycling bins in public areas and private rooms.
  • Use cloth napkins and tablecloths.
  • Use glass or ceramic coffee mugs instead of Styrofoam or paper.
  • Use water coolers instead of bottled water. 
  • Donate extra food and refreshments to local shelters or food banks.
  • Serve locally grown or organic food if possible. (Locally grown is usually within 100 mile radius.)
  • Use online invitations or registration.
  • Collect and reuse plastic nametag holders.
  • Use reusable or recyclable signage.
  • Place exhibitor information on CD or online to cut down on handouts.

Transportation

  • Minimize travel requirements.  A shorter distance equals less environmental impact.
  • Encourage public transportation when possible, and provide incentives to guests in the form of free passes for buses, light rail, etc.
  • Schedule activities within walking distance of each other.

 

For additional environmentally-friendly tips, please visit Green Tips.

Posted on Aug 05, 2011

Learn about your drinking water

Do you know what’s in your drinking water? If not, the department is urging consumers to find out more about their drinking water quality by reviewing a report from their local water system.

Public water supplies were required to make the Consumer Confidence Reports available to their customers by July 1. The reports describe the water sources used by the systems and identify any contaminants found during routine drinking water testing. The reports also inform consumers of the water system’s compliance with other drinking water-related rules and provide general information about drinking water and health, enabling Missourians to make practical, knowledgeable decisions about their health and environment.

To assist utilities in producing the reports, the department created an informational packet that contains a template and tips on developing an informative report and making it available to customers. The Consumer Confidence Reports also provide suppliers with an opportunity to explain how they protect the community’s drinking water supplies in order to build their relationship with the customer.

All community water systems are required to make a Consumer Confidence Report available to all of their customers. These systems include cities, water districts, subdivisions, mobile home parks and other water systems serving at least 25 residents. A copy of the report will be sent by mail, published in the local newspaper or posted at the water system’s office, public buildings and the local library. Large water systems serving more than 10,000 people must deliver each customer a copy of the report directly and smaller systems may use one of the other delivery or notification options. Several water systems post the report on the web.

The department encourages the public to read their water system’s Consumer Confidence Report and become better informed about their drinking water. Any citizen served by a community water system who has not received a Consumer Confidence Report should call their water provider and request a copy.

Posted on Aug 04, 2011

Help fight ozone this summer!

Here’s a news flash: It’s going to be another hot one this week. Temperatures across much of Missouri are staying in the middle and upper 90s, occasionally crawling to the triple-digit mark.

There’ s not much that can be done to control this heat wave, but there are some things that can be done to control an environmental and health concern that often accompanies the hot days of summer: ground-level ozone.

Ground-level ozone – commonly known as smog – is a gas created when pollution from vehicles, businesses and power plants combine in the presence of sunlight. Typically, ozone pollution is more of a problem during hot summer months because sunlight and warm temperatures speed up the formation of ground-level ozone.

Exposure to ground-level ozone contributes to health and environmental problems. Healthy adults can experience problems breathing, especially those who exercise or work outdoors. Children are at increased risk from exposure to ground-level ozone because their lungs are still developing. Ground-level ozone can also damage trees and agricultural crops.

Simple everyday steps can help reduce the emission of harmful ozone-causing pollutants:

  • Keep vehicle tires properly inflated. Under-inflated tires increase gasoline consumption.
  • Use public transportation, carpool, bike or walk.
  • Stop at the first click when filling up gas tanks. Overfilling can lead to gasoline spills, which allows harmful ozone-causing vapors to escape into the atmosphere.
  • Don’t use gas-powered lawn equipment on hot, sunny days with little or no wind. Consider waiting until early evening to mow your lawn.
  • Conserve energy by turning off lights and appliances when leaving a room to reduce emissions from power plants.

Ozone monitoring data for ozone season, which began April 1 and runs through Oct. 31, is available from the Missouri Air Quality Data System Web page. For more information on ozone, visit the department’s Ozone Web page  and read the article on Ozone in the latest Missouri Resources’ magazine. 

Posted on Aug 02, 2011