Public Works & Environmental Services
Refuse, Yard Waste & Recycling Collection
Mayor's Climate Protection Agreement
Public Education Efforts & Materials
The City of East Lansing, working with the Great Lansing Regional Committee (GLRC),
has submitted a Master Public Education
Plan (PEP) to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ). The purpose
of the PEP is to develop a systematic approach for informing East Lansing residents
and businesses of their impact on water quality of the Red Cedar and Looking Glass
River watersheds. The PEP is periodically reviewed, updated and reapproved by MDEQ
as the objectives of the overall Stormwater Management Program progresses.
The City has committed to pursuing educational efforts focusing on the following seven objectives:
1) Educate residents concerning the ultimate discharge point and potential impacts
from the separate storm water drainage system serving East Lansing.
2) Educate residents about their responsibility for, and stewardship of their watershed.
3) Educate East Lansing residents on the availability, location and requirements
of facilities for disposal or drop-off of household hazardous wastes, travel trailer
sanitary wastes, chemicals, grass clippings, leaf litter, animal wastes and motor
vehicle fluids.
4) Educate residents regarding acceptable application and disposal of pesticides
and fertilizers.
5) Educate residents concerning the preferred cleaning materials and procedures
for residential car washing.
6) Encourage public reporting of the presence of illicit discharges or improper
disposal of materials into the City's separate stormwater drainage
system.
7) Educate residents concerning the management of riparian lands to protect water
quality.
The City has undertaken numerous projects and programs in order to accomplish these
objectives. Listed below are just a few of the measures implemented by the City:
- Published the Michigan Pollution Emergency Alert System (PEAS) hotline number on the City's web site and the GLRC website. This system is used to report environmental pollution emergencies.
- Published articles in the Curbside Journal, Dialog and on the City web site to discourage improper disposal into City storm drains.
- Began labeling storm drains with "No Dumping - Flows To Waterways" curb markers and distributed accompanying door hangers.
- Actively promote and participate in County household hazardous waste collections.
- Participate annually in the Children's Water Festival.
- Promote local Adopt-a-River events.
- Developed and distributed information on proper fertilizer and pesticide application.
- Conduct annual yard waste collections, Christmas tree collections and promote home composting and grass cycling.
- Published information on local business that accept and recycle automotive fluids.
- Installed watershed awareness road signs throughout the City.
- Conduct regional recycling events for electronics which contain heavy metals and other hazardous materials.
- Participate in and sponsor the annual Project Pride event which collects a wide variety of items for reuse, recycling and proper disposal.
- Publish and distribute information on proper disposal/recycling options for grease, oil, pharmaceuticals, mercury thermometers and more.
The City of East Lansing and the GLRC Public Education Program Committee will continue to work to educate our residents on the importance of our watersheds to the community. Together we can stop water pollution at the source.