Town Of
Auburn, NH
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Use water-based paints whenever possible. Look for products labeled "latex" or "cleans with water.

Avoid cleaning brushes or rinsing containers in the street. For water-based paint, rinse them in the sink. For oil-based paint, clean them with thinner.

Never dump paint or paint-related products in the trash, your driveway or street.

Paint stripping residue, chips and dust from marine paints containing lead or tributyl tin are hazardous wastes. sweep them up and take them in a sealed container to a household hazardous waste collection site.

Schedule grading and excavation projects for dry weather.

Practice source reduction. Order only the amount of material needed to complete the project.

Use recycled and recyclable materials whenever possible.

Keep all construction debris away from the street.

Prevent erosion and sediment runoff by covering excavated material and piles of asphalt, sand and similar materials with plastic tarp.

Never dispose of cement washout or concrete dust into driveways or streets.

Recycle broken asphalt, concrete, wood and cleared vegetation. Non-recyclables should be disposed of as a hazardous waste.

Before using, read labels and follow directions.

Use non-toxic alternatives to traditional pesticides and fertilizers.

Never apply pesticides of fertilizers before rain or near water bodies.

Do not over apply pesticides and fertilizers. Spot apply, rather than blanketing and entire area.

Store pesticides, fertilizers and other chemicals in a covered area to prevent runoff.

Take unwanted pesticides and fertilizers to a household waste collection site.

Control the amount of water and the direction of sprinklers, to avoid waste and runoff. the average lawn requires an inch of water each week, including rainfall, to 10-20 minutes of watering. A half-inch per week is enough in the spring and fall.

Water your lawn early in the morning so water has time to soak into the soil before the heat of the sun causes evaporation. Sprinklers should be left on long enough to allow water to soak into the ground but not so long to cause runoff.

Use drip irrigation, soaker hoses and micro spray systems to better control the amount of water used.

Periodically inspect and fix leaks and misdirected sprinklers.

Recycle leaves, grass clippings and other yard waste, instead of blowing, sweeping or hosing them into the street.

Try grasscycling, letting grass clippings drop on your lawn, instead of using a grass catcher. The clippings act as a natural fertilizer, returning nutrients and organic matter back to the soil, and because grass is mostly water, it also irrigates your lawn, conserving water. Reducing the need to water as often or use toxic fertilizers meaning less contaminated runoff from your lawn.

Have your oil changed by a professional. If you do it yourself, recycle your used oil and filter at a certified collection center or household hazardous waste site.

Buy recycled motor oil for your car.

Clean up leaks and spills with an absorbent material such as kitty litter

Antifreeze, made from the chemical ethylene glycol, is extremely toxic. Drain your radiator into a drip pan to avoid spills, and take the old antifreeze in a sealed container to a household hazardous waster collection site.

Try a less toxic alternative. Antifreeze made from propylene glycol has a lower freezing point, a higher boiling point and lasts longer.

Wash your vehicle at a washing facility that reclaims wash water, preventing oil, grease and toxic fluids from washing into the street and the storm drain system.

Use only soaps, cleaners and detergents labeled phosphate free or biodegradable. The safest products for the environment are vegetable based or citrus based soaps.

Select a site where the wash water can soak into the grass, gravel or can be diverted to nearby landscaping.

Bring a bag, clean it up, dispose of it properly, in a toilet or trash.

If possible, bathe pets indoors, using less toxic shampoos or have your pet professionally groomed. Pet shampoos and soaps, even those that are biodegradable, can be toxic to people and marine life.

Consider using alternatives such as oral or topical flea control products. If you use flea control products such as shampoos, sprays or collars, make sure to dispose of unused quantities properly.

Site barns, corrals and other high-use areas on the portions of the property that drain away from water bodies.

Restrict animal access to water bodies by fencing.

Protect manure storage facilities from rainfall and surface runoff.

Install gutters that will divert runoff, away from livestock areas.

Confine animals in properly fenced areas, except during exercise and grazing.

Animal areas should be swept or shoveled at least once a day , and not hosed down towards a water body or storm drain.

During heavy rainfall, consider indoor feeding, a practice which keeps more manure under a roof and away from runoff.

Store animal waste in a sturdy, seepage-free unit or in waste pits or trenches with an impermeable layer.

Use less toxic alternatives such as bacterial insecticides, diatomaceous earth insecticidal soaps, boric acid powder, horticultural oils and pyrethin-based insecticides. When washing livestock. allow wash water to seep into the ground or conduct in an area that is routed to the sanitary sewer.