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Pollution Prevention is the reduction or elimination of pollutants or waste at the source. This may be achieved through activities, which promote, encourage or require changes in the way that businesses, industries, institutions and residents dispose of materials that are in our places of work or in our homes.
Elimination or reduction of pollutants at or near the source is less expensive and more effective than collecting, treating and disposal of our wastes.
By employing the principles of pollution prevention, we may save money, have healthier and safer workplaces and homes, protect our natural resources and protect our environment.
In your home, wastewater is produced when you shower, wash clothes, flush the toilet, prepare your meals, and clean up dishes, pots and pans. Not everything that is disposed of down the drain is safe for the plumbing in your house or safe for the miles of public sewers that service our community. Additionally, many of our household chemicals and household wastes that enter our sewer systems cannot be effectively treated by municipal wastewater treatment systems and may result in damaging the rivers, lakes and ocean that our wastewater will ultimately be discharged to.
What should people NOT be flushing down their toilets or sinks?
- cigarette butts
- tampons
- tampon applicators
- sanitary napkins
- condoms
- cotton swabs
- wipes
- dental floss
- bandaids
The above items should never be flushed down the toilet or sink. They should always be disposed of in the garbage.
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Other things you can do around your home to protect our rivers, lakes and our ocean:
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- Try to purchase non-toxic alternatives to harsh chemicals for your cleaning needs, use up the entire product and don’t purchase more than what is actually needed. Do not pour unused household chemicals down the drain or into your toilets.
- Return unused pharmaceuticals or medications to your pharmacy. Unused pharmaceuticals, medications and other personal care products should not be disposed of down your sink drains or in the toilet.
- Fats, oils and grease in the sewer system can block your sewer lateral and may result in expensive repairs to your home. Scrape grease and food scraps off your plates. Use disposable paper towels to wipe up grease and place them in your green bin. Never pour grease down the sink drains or toilets.
- Properly dispose of products such as paints, solvents and vehicle fluids. Residents may take these wastes to the Household Hazardous Waste Depot located at 50 Chain Lake Dr., Bayers Lake Business Park. Latex and oil base paints are acceptable at your local Enviro Depot (TM). Do not dispose of these wastes down the storm drain.
- Pick up after your pets. Pet waste carries with it numerous bacteria which will make its way into the storm sewer system and ultimately into our rivers, lakes and our harbour. Please dispose of pet waste by flushing it down your toilet or double bag and dispose with your regular garbage collection.
- Use commercial car washes instead of washing your car in the driveway. Car washes are equipped to handle dirt, soaps and contaminants. Run off from your driveway can wash into the storm sewer and contaminate lakes and rivers.
- Maintain septic systems wisely. Try not to overload your septic system with large water volumes, and practice good maintenance with a pump-out every 2 to 3 years. Minimize both solids and water that go into them, never add harsh chemicals, and have them inspected every few years. You can also contact the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Labour at 424-3230 or http://www.gov.ns.ca/
- Swimming pools and hot tubs are enjoyable and also popular in HRM, but they must be maintained properly to ensure that harsh pool chemicals aren’t allowed to enter the street, where they may flow into storm drains and directly to our rivers, lakes or harbour. Unlike water that enters the sanitary system from our sinks and toilets, water that enters the storm system is not treated before entering natural waterways in HRM.
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