Water Conservation

With the state continuing growth in population, all Texans face the potential of water shortages. More people using water for more purposes places an acute demand on the water source, which has not increased as water requirements have grown. Most municipal water is used for domestic purposes such as bathing, drinking, cooking, and washing - plus lawn watering and car washing.

Here are a few tips to help all of us help conserve water:

• About 75% of the water in the house is used in the bathroom. Showers usually use less water than tub baths.
• Install a showhead that restricts the amount of the flow.
• Don't use hot water when cold will do.
• When brushing your teeth, turn off water until you need to rinse.
• Never use the commode to dispose of cleaning tissue, cigarette butts, and trash. This wastes water and places unnecessary loads on the sewer treatment plant.
• When cooking, use a pan of water or stopper the sink for rinsing pans and cooking implements - rather than turning on the water faucet each time a rinse is needed.
• When cleaning vegetables, use a pan of cold water rather than letting the faucet run.
• If you hand wash dishes, use a pan of water for rinsing instead of running the faucet.
• Never run the dishwasher half full.
• When purchasing appliances, check water requirements of various models and brands; some use less water than others.
• Promptly repair leaky faucets.
• Insulate all hot water pipes to avoid waste while waiting for water to 'run hot'.
• Don't over-water plants. More plants die from over-watering, than from being dry.
• Turn a soaker hose so that holes are on on the bottom, again to avoid evaporation.
• Water slowly, and never on a windy day.
• Don't water too much. Too much water overloads the soil so that air cannot get to the roots - this can promote plant disease.
• Automatic sprinkler systems should be operated when demand on the City's water supply is lowest - between 4:00 and 6:00 A.M.
• Fertilize lawns at least twice a year for root stimulation. Grass with good root systems makes make better use of less water.
• When washing the car, use a bucket of soapy water and use the hose only for rinsing.

These tips are republished from the publication title: "It's Time for Texans to Think Water Conservation", from the Texas Water Board.

Garland Recycles

The Solid Waste and Recycling Services Department provides recycling bins to use for every-other-week collection of recyclable materials from residences. The following materials are acceptable for collection:

• Type 1 and Type 2 plastic containers such as
  • soft drink bottles
  • peanut butter containers
  • vegetable oil bottles
  • milk jugs
  • water jugs
  • juice bottles
  • cleaning solution bottles
• Aluminum cans, tin/steel cans, aerosol cans
  • no chlorofluorocarbons accepted
• Glass food and beverage containers (all colors)

The city asks us to place stacks of newspapers, magazines, tabloids, and advertising inserts on the ground next to the recycling bins. Newspaper and other paper products should be bundled with strong twine, placed in a cardboard box, or weighted down with a heavy object to prevent blowing around. Please place these items next to the recycling bin - not inside of it.

Garlands Recycling Center is available for citizens to drop off the following recyclable materials:

• Newspapers, magazines, advertising inserts, and tabloids
• Tin and steel cans
• Aluminum cans
• Scrap metal and aluminum
• Glass bottles and jars (all colors)
• Plastics (Type 1 and 2)
• Corrugated cardboard
• Auto and truck batteries
• Used motor oil and transmission fluid
• Used oil filters
• White office paper, computer paper, mixed paper, junk mail, telephone books, brown paper bags, and pasteboard boxes.

You may call the Customer Service Division at 972-205-3500 for more information.

TOP

Household Hazardous Waste

Garland residents are encouraged to dispose of household hazardous chemical products responsible and free of charge at the Dallas County Home Chemical Collection Center.

• Dallas County Home Chemical Collection Center
  11234 Plano Road
  Dallas, TX

Please bring proof of residency. For more information regarding hours of operation and listing of acceptable products, you may call 214-553-1765.

TOP

Brush and Bulky Items

One day each week, a Brush and Bulky Goods (B&BG) crew collects many types of solid waste generated at residences. In general, brush and bulky goods include items from tree limbs to grass clippings, to construction waste and appliances. Any approved B&BG to be pickup up should be placed between the sidewalk and the curb in front of the house.

Acceptable waste includes:

• Brush
• Tree limbs and trunks
• Bagged leaves and grass
• Furniture and appliances
• Insulation
• Siding
• Paneling
• Flooring
• Sheetrock (broken and placed in disposable container)
• Plastic laminate
• Pipes
• Wire

Certain types of bulky waste are prohibited from being set at curbside. As a rule, these materials pose problems in the areas of lifting and loading them, not allowed in Garland's landfill, or the waste should be placed in the resident's green trash container.

Prohibited waste includes:

• Bagged or loose trash
• Rocks
• Dirt
• Roofing materials
• Bricks and concrete
• Tires (with or without wheels)
• Household chemicals
• Lawn and construction/demolition waste

Construction and demolition (C/D) debris is waste material from home repair and remodeling. Brush crews will pick up construction/demolition waste from a home four times per calendar year. Any C/D debris placed out more than four times per year is considered a premium collection, and the resident will be assessed an extra charge.

Keep brush/bulky waste separated at the front curb.To help speed up collections and reduce the chance of injury to the collection crew, place BB&G in four separate piles at the curbside:

1. Limbs and tree trunks
2. Bags of leaves and grass
3. Bulky items (other than appliances) such as furniture and construction debris
4. Appliances

Make sure no one parks a vehicle near the waste. To avoid possible damage to vehicles, blocked waste will not be collected.