Keep Redmond Clean & Green
The City has several programs dedicated to reducing or eliminating pollution before it causes environmental harm. The City’s efforts are enhanced by Redmond residents and business owners taking action. A few easy steps and simple changes to habits can keep pollutants out of the environment and our water sources, keeping our drinking water clean.
Please continue reading for ways on how YOU , as a Redmond resident, visitor or business owner, can make a difference Where You Live and Where You Work.
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
- Pick up your pet's waste – in trails, parks, and even your backyard.
- Bag it – use a plastic dog waste bag or grocery bag.
- 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.
- Mow higher, mow regularly, and leave the clippings on the lawn (“grasscycle”).
- If needed, fertilize moderately in September or May with a “natural organic” or “slow-release” fertilizer.
- Water deeply, but less frequently. Or let lawns go dormant in summer.
- Improve poor lawns with aeration, overseeding, and compost topdressing.
- Avoid using “weed & feed” and other pesticides – use less-toxic alternatives.
- 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
- Pump Your Septic Tank
- 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.
- Check for Septic System Failure
- Call your septic system professional if you experience any of these indicators of septic system failure:
- Odor
- Wet spots or standing water near the septic tank or drain field
- Backups in toilets, drains, or sinks
- Bathtubs, showers, and sinks drain very slowly
- Call your septic system professional if you experience any of these indicators of septic system failure:
- Regularly inspect your system
- Contact a certified septic system professional to inspect and monitor your system with the following recommended frequency:
- Gravity systems: Every three years
- Pressure distribution systems: Annually
- A proprietary system such as an aerobic treatment unit (ATU), membrane bioreactor
- (MBR), drip irrigation, and other products: Annually, or more often if required by the manufacturer
- Mound or sand filter systems: Annually
- Contact a certified septic system professional to inspect and monitor your system with the following recommended frequency:
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.
Free household hazardous waste disposal brochure.
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
- Pick up your pet's waste – at trails, parks, and even your backyard.
- Bag it – use a plastic dog waste bag or grocery bag.
- 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.
Car Washing
Wash your cars at a commercial car wash because they have a system that sends the dirty wash water to the sanitary sewer system, where the water is treated and cleaned. Doing so prevents dirty water from entering storm drains, which flow to our local rivers, lakes, and streams
without treatment. Read our Car Wash brochure in our Related Documents section for more information.
Wash your cars 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.
Keep your pipes unclogged and pollutants out of our water.
Do:
- Clean your grease traps once a week
- Keep dumpster areas clean
- Wipe food scraps and grease off with a paper towel into a compost bin
- Install and maintain screens on floors and sink drains to catch any food scraps or grease missed
- Properly maintain grease removal device
Don't:
Dump food or grease down the drain. Also, keep it out of the dishwasher.
It is a business owner's responsibility to properly manage and dispose of hazardous waste. If a business generates less than 220 pounds (about half of a 55 gallon drum) per month, it is considered a small quantity generator (SQG). SQG’s can dispose of their business waste for free at four disposal locations in King County. For more information about hazardous waste, visit the King County Local Business Hazardous Waste Management Program page. Your company can also be reimbursed up to $500 to assist in the management of hazardous waste.
Keep area clean, clearly identify receptacles listings and appropriate signage. Improperly maintained disposal areas attract pollutants and pests.
In the event of an accidental spill or incident where pollutants threaten environmental water quality, call our Spill Hotline. Visit our IDDE page for more information on our Spill Response program, formally called Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination.
Cascade Water Alliance offers FREE evaluations of automatic, in-ground sprinkler systems at qualifying commercial or multi-family properties. An irrigation efficiency audit can help you use water more efficiently and lower your property’s water bill. Check out the Cascade Irrigation Evaluation Application at: https://cascadewater.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Irrigation-System-Evaluation-Application.pdf
The EnviroStars program provides a one-stop hub for participating businesses to get assistance and recognition for environmentally sustainable actions that protect their workplace, the community, and the environment. To learn more about EnviroStars and to enroll your business, visit the EnviroStars website.
Pressure washing can release pollutants into storm drains. If pressure washing is a must:
- block storm drains
- collect wash wastewater
- dispose into sanitary sewer after filtering or if waste water contains hazardous substances, dispose of at an approved hazardous waste facility.
For more information, see our Pressure Washing brochure under Related Documents on this page.
Stormwater facilities and structures on your private property connect to public stormwater systems that lead to creeks, lakes, and wetlands. Help keep pollutants out of our waterways and help prevent localized flooding! Visit our Private Drainage Inspection page for more information.
Groundwater supplies 40% of Redmond’s drinking water. Groundwater (wellhead) protection areas were recently updated using robust computer modeling. The updated protection areas are called Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas (CARA) and were adopted April 16, 2019.
If you own or operate a business in Redmond, you protect our drinking water resource by:
- Evaluating your hazardous materials handling process.
- Being vigilant in cleaning up and reporting spills. Call our Spill Hotline.
- Keeping lids closed on outside waste bins.
- Minimizing use of toxic cleaning solvents and other chemicals.
If your business is in CARA I, City requirements include:
- Storing hazardous materials in secondary containment.
- Being prepared to clean up spills (i.e. a plan and spill kit).
Regulations specific to business practices can be found in Redmond Municipal Code 13.07 and Redmond Zoning Code 21.64.050.
To find out if your business is in CARA I or II, or for more information, visit our Groundwater page.
Related Documents
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Report an Issue
Use the City’s request management system to report non-emergency issues, make requests, and find answers to common questions.
In case of emergency, call 911.
Report Issue or Make Request
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Ken Waldo
Program AdministratorPhone: 425-556-2714