Tips

As leaves fall and the weather turns brisk, Minnesotans know all too well that winter is fast approaching. That thick layer of colorful leaves might be hiding another problem for our streets and waterways: litter….

Fall is a beautiful time to be outdoors in Minnesota — and a critical time for yard care. Cooling temperatures make fall the perfect season for planting new grass, pulling weeds, aerating the soil and…

Minnesota waters need a low-salt diet Minnesota has a growing salty water problem that threatens its freshwater fish and other aquatic life. Chloride from both de-icing salt  and water softener salts gets into lakes and…

Picking up after your pooch is more than just a courtesy to your neighbors — it’s also being a good neighbor to area lakes and rivers. That’s because pet waste can contain harmful bacteria, as…

Every day, our lakes, rivers and drinking water sources are getting a strong dose of chemicals from the products we put on and into our bodies. Artificial fragrances, parabens, preservatives, and Triclosan are just some…

Leftover household products that contain corrosive, toxic, ignitable, or reactive ingredients are considered to be household hazardous waste (HHW). Products, such as paints, cleaners, oils, batteries, and pesticides that contain potentially hazardous ingredients require special…

Who’da thunk it? Washing your car in the driveway is actually an environmental no-no. That’s ‘cause paved driveways that drain to the curb send suds, oil, and greasy grit straight down the storm sewer and…

Water naturally runs toward lower ground, so turn low-lying areas around your home into rain gardens with native plants that can filter out pollution from stormwater runoff. Plant trees, shrubs and grasses into layers of…

There could be some in your medicine cabinet right now — unused prescription drugs you’ve just forgotten about. Proper disposal keeps them from being misused or contaminating our fragile rivers and lakes, and now it’s…