Page 3 - The Shores of Jupiter - September '20

The Shores, Page 3
Northern Notes Solid Waste Authority from page 1

What Is NPDES? drains. This is to help keep any collection day. If you live in a city, contact them for bulk
construction debris and/or soil item collection.
By Katie Roundtree, out of those drains. The hay For COVID-19 impacts to solid waste services and
Finance Director, Northern bales and tubes act as filters programs, please visit SWA.org/COVID19.
Palm Beach County so that only clean water runs More on SWA cancelled/postponed programs:
Improvement District into the drains. Either the
What is NPDES and contractor or the engineer Helpful Hurricane Resources
what does it stand for? inspecting the site is required
You see the initials to file reports on the contractor’s Learn how to prepare your family by visiting
mentioned at the bottom compliance with the program. In addition, companies ReadyPBC.org.
of every article Northern that spray chemicals into the canals and lakes in order to • Get the PBC Dart app on your smart phone.
Palm Beach County maintain aquatic weeds, are required to report the use of • Watch a short video from the SWA for tips on
Improvement District those chemicals and if there were any spills each month. hurricane safety.
(Northern) sends in to the The reports are given to Northern staff for review and • Learn about SWA collection priorities after a storm.
newspaper. NPDES stands proof that the regulations are being followed. Northern • Learn more from the National Hurricane Center.
for National Pollution Discharge Elimination System. It staff use these reports to prepare an annual compliance • Learn more from the Florida Division of Emergency
is a federal program designed to eliminate stormwater document. Management.
pollutant discharges to receiving waters of the United How can you help? By knowing the facts and being About The SWA
States. In 1987, the Environmental Protection Agency aware, you can help clean up our lakes and waterways. The Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County is a
developed regulations governing stormwater discharge Some examples include, store materials in enclosed dependent special district that was created by the Florida
requirements under the Clean Water Act. In 1990, the or covered areas, prevent liquids from leaking out of Legislature in 1975. Since then, the SWA has developed
Federal Register indicated that the Palm Beach County the trash area, never clean paint brushes or rinse paint an award-winning integrated solid waste management
area was to begin compliance with the program. containers into the street or storm drain and keep vehicles system to handle the county’s waste and recyclables. We
About 40 local governments from around Palm and equipment in good working order to prevent leaks. call ourselves AWAY: whether you throw it, recycle it or
Beach County have taken a cooperative approach to Always remember, nothing but storm water belongs in flush it AWAY, we put your waste to work. Each year, we:
compliance, jointly conducting several activities and the storm drains. Please see our website, www.npbcid. • Process more than 90,000 tons of recyclables
collectively developing a number of tools used to carry org, for more information on the NPDES program. See • Combust approximately 1.8 million tons of trash to
out pollution prevention programs. Each year, the lead the Helpful Links section for information on the Palm generate electricity at renewable energy facilities
permittee (Northern Palm Beach County Improvement Beach County NPDES program (http://www.pbco- • Produce enough electricity to power approximately
District) enters into interlocal agreements with each of npdes.org/) as well as a website designed to educate the 74,000 homes
the remaining local governments to oversee the joint public about keeping pollution out of our waters, www. • Recycle more than 150,000 tons of wastewater
activities. A steering committee, composed of individuals stormwaterandme.org. treatment residuals (sludge from flushes) into
representing local governments that participate in the NPDES tip: If you suspect a discharge or spill is environmentally-friendly fertilizer
program, advises Northern on the various activities. hazardous, call 911! For all other discharges, spills and • Safely dispose of more than 4.2 million pounds of
Contractors are required to maintain their construction illegal dumping, call the local entity responsible for the home hazards
sites so that debris is contained and any sediment laden stormwater system (a reporting list may be found at www. • Collect water off of the roofs of Renewable Energy
water will not find its way to the waterways nearby. stormwaterandme.org) or call the FDEP Environmental Facility 2 and store it in a 2 million gallon cistern, which
If you’ve ever driven by a construction site, you may Crimes toll-free number (1-877-2-SAVE-FLA or #DEP is used as part of the energy making process
have noticed hay bales or tubes placed around street from your cellular phone). With the recent changes to the SWA’s website, anyone
can now sign up to receive SWA news, calendar updates,
Advertise in This Newspaper! Call 561-746-3244 jobs, or other Web postings of interest by signing up
online.

Best Bin Caddy#

NEW!

On sale
$ 69 95
Tax Inc.
Licensed and Insured Recycling Bin Caddy

Made in the USA
Using Heavy Duty PVC and All Terrain Wheels.
Easy To Use Design. Arrives Fully Assembled With
Free Local Delivery. (Bins not included.)
Call 561.354.8169
To Order Today