Keep Redmond Clean & Green

Join your neighbors in adopting a storm drain to protect the environment and help prevent flooding.

Keep your neighborhood clean and protect Redmond rivers, streams, and lakes.

Pick up your pet's waste

Pet waste contains harmful bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella. Bacteria can be washed into storm drains after rainfall and then flow untreated into rivers, lakes, and streams. 

3 Easy Steps

1. Pick up your pet's waste – in trails, parks, and even your backyard. 
2. Bag it – use a plastic dog waste bag or grocery bag.
3. Put it in the trash – a garbage can is the only safe place for pet waste regardless of the bag. 

Yard Care

Grow a healthy lawn that looks great year ’round while protecting Redmond’s water resources by proper use of lawn pesticides and fertilizers. 

1. Mow higher, mow regularly, and leave the clippings on the lawn (“grasscycle”).
2. If needed, fertilize moderately in September or May with a “natural organic” or “slow-release” fertilizer.
3. Water deeply, but less frequently. Or let lawns go dormant in summer.
4. Improve poor lawns with aeration, overseeding, and compost topdressing.
5. Avoid using “weed & feed” and other pesticides – use less-toxic alternatives.
6. Consider alternatives to lawns in shady areas, on slopes, and near waterways.

Download Natural Yard Care guide in English (PDF) or Cuidado Natural Del Jardin (Natural Yard Care) (PDF) to learn more about natural yard care.

Car Washing

Wash your car at a commercial car wash because they are required to send polluted wash water to the sanitary sewer system where the water is treated and cleaned. By doing so, you prevent polluted water from entering storm drains which lead to our water sources without treatment. Read our Car Wash brochure in our Related Documents section for more information.

Heating Oil

A leaking heating oil tank has the potential to contaminate soil, groundwater, surface water, and even neighboring properties. Property owners can be found liable for this contamination, as well as expensive cleanup costs.  

If you have a heating oil tank on your property the State of Washington offers Pollution Liability Insurance (PLIA) to assist with the cost of site cleanups. You must be registered with PLIA before the start of any accidental release for cleanup costs to be covered. Visit the State of Washington Pollution Liability page.

Removing/Decommissioning

Leaking tanks and tanks no longer in use should be removed or decommissioned to reduce pollution impacts on the environment and owner liability.  

If you are removing or decommissioning an above ground or underground heating oil tank you are required to obtain a Tank Removal permit from the City of Redmond Fire Department, visit our Permits page for information on applying.

Septic

Septic systems are only designed to treat sewage from toilets, showers, sinks, dish waters, laundry washers, and other plumbing fixtures. Well-operated and maintained septic systems help prevent pollution of groundwater, lakes, streams, and drinking water wells. 

Basic Practices

• Never put any household chemical, or non-human waste into your sinks or toilets. Chemicals can destroy the bacteria in your system necessary to break down solids. 
• Regularly inspect your system and pump your tank as necessary. 
• Use water efficiently. Too much can allow solids to escape your tank and plug your drain field. 
• Only plant grass over and near your septic system. Roots from nearby trees or shrubs can clog and damage the drain field or damage system pipes, or tanks.  
• Never park or drive vehicles on any part of your septic system.

For detailed information visit King County Public Health – How to care for your septic system page, or EPA SepticSmart page.

There are three steps you can take to lengthen the life of your septic system

1. Pump Your Septic Tank
   1. Septic tanks are typically pumped every 3 to 5 years, depending on water use. Generally, septic tanks accommodating larger households will need to be pumped more frequently.
2. Check for Septic System Failure
   1. Call your septic system professional if you experience any of these indicators of septic system failure:
      1. Odor
      2. Wet spots or standing water near the septic tank or drain field
      3. Backups in toilets, drains, or sinks
      4. Bathtubs, showers, and sinks drain very slowly 
3. Regularly inspect your system
   1. Contact a certified septic system professional to inspect and monitor your system with the following recommended frequency:
      1. Gravity systems: Every three years
      2. Pressure distribution systems: Annually
      3. A proprietary system such as an aerobic treatment unit (ATU), membrane bioreactor
      4. (MBR), drip irrigation, and other products: Annually, or more often if required by the manufacturer
      5. Mound or sand filter systems: Annually

Find a list of certified septic system professionals here Lists of on-site sewage system professionals - King County

Hazardous Waste

Some items such as gasoline, pesticides, oil-based paint, and fluorescent bulbs are considered hazardous and CANNOT go in your garbage. Improper disposal of such items is a risk to our natural resources and in turn our drinking water. Visit our Hazardous Waste section in our Garbage & Recycling page for more information.

Green Cleaning

Decide to select safer cleaning products. Reference this Green Cleaning brochure (PDF) Opens a New Window.  to help guide you, it also includes resources for making your homemade household cleaners.

For a list of Safer Choice certified products and safer choices to use in your community visit the EPA Safer Choice page.

Recycling & Compost

Visit our Recycling & Waste Reduction page for information about recycling and composting. 

Fats, Oils, Grease (FOG)

Fats, Oils, and Grease cause up to 50% of all Sanitary Sewer Back-ups. 

Do:

• “Cool it….Can it….Trash it!!! When it comes to fats, oil, and grease.
• Trash all wipes, even if they are labeled "flushable".

Don’t:

• Pour fats, oil, and grease down the sink.  
• Flush “Unflushables” which include Wet Wipes, Paper Towels, Hair, Cotton Balls, Dental Floss, Diapers, Feminine Hygiene Products, and Latex products.

 See our Related Documents section on this page for an "Unflushables" print out.

Backflow Prevention

Backflow is the undesired reverse flow of contaminants into the potable water.  Drinking water can become contaminated if your cross-connections are not properly maintained. For more information on how to protect your drinking water from backflow and our cross-connection program, please visit the Backflow Prevention page.

Spill Hotline

Accidental spills can pose an environmental risk. Call the City of Redmond Spill Hotline if you witness or are aware of a spill. The City will investigate and if necessary, take action to avoid or reduce an environmental threat. Call 911 immediately in the event of a hazardous materials emergency or a dangerous incident.

Pet Waste

3 Easy Steps

1. pick up your pet's waste – at trails, parks, and even your backyard. 
2. Bag it – use a plastic dog waste bag or grocery bag.
3. Put it in the trash – a garbage can is the only safe place for pet waste regardless of the bag.

Waste Containers

Items from overflowing garbage containers can make their way into storm drains which flow to local streams and pollute them and our drinking water. Please report overflowing garbage or recycling containers using our Report an Issue tool found on our page.