When it comes to Yard Waste…Just Bag It or mulch grass clippings!
Submitted by James Watts, Public Works Director
(Used with permission from the City of Hollywood, Department of Public Utilities)

Blowing, raking, or sweeping lawn clippings and other yard wastes such as leaves, dirt, and mulch into gutters, streets, or storm drains can cause a variety of problems. Storm water is not treated; it is simply diverted away from your home or business to help control flooding. Any wastes in streets, gutters, or on sidewalks will end up in nearby lakes, streams, canals, and other water bodies.

Putting yard wastes into our storm water system can create many problems such as:

Flooding. Yard wastes frequently block or clog storm drains resulting in localized flooding.

Mosquito increases. Small puddles that form over clogged storm drains are ideal habitats for nuisance insects including mosquitoes.

Wildlife harm . Yard and lawn wastes that enter storm drains and natural water bodies can choke filter feeders such as oysters and clams. Trash, such as plastic bags, can choke turtles and other marine animals. Pesticides and herbicides can poison or seriously injure a variety of aquatic animals. Fertilizers and lawn clippings provide a food source for algae and bacteria and can cause red or brown “tides” and associated fish kills.

Keep your City healthy and clean - mulch or bag lawn clippings and bag all other yard wastes and trash for proper disposal!  

Also remember to:

• Follow manufacturer directions and keep pesticide, herbicide, and fertilizer use to a minimum. Extra fertilizers can harm your lawn instead of making it greener!
• Conserve water whenever possible; never over water your lawn. Check all sprinklers- don’t “water" the streets and sidewalks.
• Keep grassy swales vegetated and in good condition.

To learn more environmentally friendly yard practices please visit the Florida Yards and Neighbors Program at http://hort.ufl.edu/fyn.

If you wouldn’t want to swim in it or eat fish from it,
why would you let it go down a storm drain?

Did you know it is illegal to put anything but rainwater down storm drains or into water bodies? Yard wastes, oil, grease, trash or chemicals of any kind don’t belong in our water ways! Report illegal dumping!  

For questions or to report a spill:

• During business hours
  (M-F 8:30 am-5:00 pm) call the
  City of Sunny Isles Beach
  Public Works Department at 305.792.1711.
• After business hours call the
  Miami-Dade County Department of Environmental Resource Management Pollution Hotline at 305.372.6955.

Your Cooperation Is Appreciated.

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