Celebrate Earth Day During April and Every Day

We're celebrating "Earth Day Every Day" throughout the month in honor of Earth Day on April 22!  This week, we've been highlighting services that help treat and prevent stormwater or polluted runoff, including information on County Rain Check Rebates and Stormwater Stewardship grants, as well as cleanup events that help keep litter out of our waterways.

Get social with us by using #PGCEarthDayEveryDay and visit our website for ongoing updates at bit.ly/PGCEarthDayEveryDay!

Rain Check Rebate Webinar Tonight

The lifetime limit for residential Rain Check Rebates has increased to $6,000! Learn about the eligible practices you can install on your property that receive rebates because they help manage runoff. Applicants that have previously completed projects or reached the previous limit are also invited to attend.

Register for the webinar tonight, April 14, at 6 pm at bit.ly/RCRwebinar414.

Next Weekend Scavenger Hunt Is Tomorrow, 4/15

Get ready to hunt for water-related Earth Day items this weekend! The list will be posted on our Earth Day webpage and social media pages tomorrow, Friday, 4/15, at noon, and you have until Monday, 4/18, by noon, to post and earn points for that week. 

Find the item(s), take a picture, tag DoE with #PGCEarthDayEveryDay, and earn points.

Facebook: @pgcdoe  
Twitter: @pgcsprout  
Instagram: @pgcsprout

The top three winners will earn a reusable goods swag bag with a BPA-free plastic bottle, steel straw kit (includes cleaning brush and carry pouch), reusable bag, and other eco-friendly items at the end of the month!

Register for Growing Green with Pride for A Chance to Win $$ 

Deadline tomorrow 4/15!

Help beautify our County by joining neighbors in your community for a day of cleaning, weed removal, and mulching on Saturday, April 23. Students may earn service learning hours!

Registration is required for participation. Please register at mypgc.us/growinggreen by April 15. Register for Growing Green with Pride for a chance to win $100 - $500 gift cards!   Learn more about the PGCProud Challenge, supported by PepsiCo, at www.pgcproud.com.

Regístrese para Creciendo Verde con Orgullo para la Oportunidad de Ganar $$

¡La fecha limite es mañana!

Ayude a embellecer nuestro condado acompañando a vecinos en su comunidad para un día de limpieza, removiendo malezas y agregando mantillo el sábado 23 de abril. ¡Los estudiantes pueden obtener horas de servicio comunitario!

Registración es requerida para participar. Favor registrarse en mypgc.us/growinggreen antes del 15 de abril. ¡Regístrese para Creciendo Verde con Orgullo para la oportunidad de ganar una tarjeta de regalo de $100 – $500!   Conozca más sobre el Desafío de PGCProud, respaldado por PepsiCo, en www.pgcproud.com.

Join Us April 18 - 23 as We Celebrate Preserve and Beautify Week

Earth Day is Friday, April 22 and Growing Green with Pride Day is Saturday, April 23. County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks, in collaboration with DoE and its sister agencies - Department of Public Works & Transportation (DPW&T) and the Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE) – will be highlighting the ways we are preserving and beautifying our environment in Prince George's County!

Continue to follow DoE, DPW&T and DPIE on our social media and websites for updates. 

New Time Announced for Last PGCLitterTRAK App Training in April

PGCLitterTRAK app trainings have been offered throughout the month in support of individual and group cleanup events, such as the Spring Growing Green with Pride event. Volunteers have one more opportunity in April to learn about using this mobile app to record the amount of litter we remove from our communities! Please note the new time for the April 19th virtual training is now 5 pm. 

Register for the April 19th session, at 5 pm, here.

Information submitted through PGCLitterTRAK app, including bags of litter removed, items collected and litter pick-up locations, will assist DoE to meet their trash reduction rate of 170,628 pounds per year within the Anacostia River Watershed. Data provided will also help DoE develop real-time maps cataloging litter collected throughout the County.

To learn more about the app and how to sign up for a user account, visit bit.ly/PGCLitterTRAK.

Video Series: Is this Trash or Recycling?

In this weekly series of "Is this Trash or Recycling?" in PGC, we share that plastic bags, plastic film, and other #4 plastics are not recyclable in County curbside collection however many retailers do accept clean and dry plastic bags and film. Find the closest participating retailer at www.plasticfilmrecycling.org. Click the image below to view our video or visit youtu.be/dHGQY4VqnZI.

More information on accepted materials at bit.ly/wastetoolkit.

In Honor of Earth Day, we thank our residents for keeping Prince George’s County Clean and Beautiful!

If you’re planning to visit the Brown Station Road Sanitary Landfill (BSRSL) on Earth Day, Friday, April 22nd, to properly recycle uncommon items such as white goods/appliances, household hazardous waste (HHW), or electronics, staff will be handing out small goodies, to say thank you for being part of it, proud of it! Items will be distributed while supplies last.

Let’s all do our part to protect Mother Earth and keep our County clean and beautiful!

Next SWAC Meeting is Tuesday, April 19th at 6 pm

For more information, visit our Solid Waste Advisory Commission page at bit.ly/pgcSWAC.

It’s Mulching Season!

Did you know...

• mulching supports healthy plants and lawns?
• mulching is the act of recycling grass clippings or wood by finely cutting and re-cutting the materials? These recycled grass cuttings and bark or wood chips are known as “mulch,” which will protect the grass underneath, conserve soil moisture and help prevent weeds. 
• when you keep your grass clippings on your lawn, you retain about 25 percent of your lawn's fertilizer needs, according to the University of Missouri Extension? Grass clippings contain nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus which is food for beneficial bacteria in the soil. An easy way to mulch your lawn is to cut just one-third off the top of the grass at a time, but this way requires you to mow more often. It may be necessary to go over the lawn several times with a mower to get the leaf pieces small enough or use a mulching mower to achieve the desired particle size. Additionally, mowing leaves in the fall also adds valuable nutrients to the lawn.
• mulching conserves soil moisture? As more water remains in the soil, it remains available to the roots, which helps promote plant growth. Mulch slows moisture evaporation on hot sunny days and cold or windy winter days. Mulch also prevents cracks from forming, which could expose roots to extreme temperatures and be detrimental to the plant's health.
• mulching protects against temperature changes? Mulch helps insulate and regulate soil temperature to keep roots cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The ideal time to mulch is mid-to-late Spring. Mulching is especially important for new plantings in the fall, that are still tender, as temperatures begin to drop. Seedlings can work their way through a thin layer (3 in) of mulch but too deep and it could impede the plant's growth.
• mulching adds character and curb appeal? The darker the mulch color, the better brightly colored flowers will stand out in your design. Mulch should not be placed against the exterior of the home, as it provides a moist environment that may attract insects. However, a gravel base against the border of the home can decrease moisture issues and evade insects and pests, while allowing ample drainage.

• you can pick up FREE mulch from the Prince George's County Organics Composting Facility on Saturday, April 23?

Join us in celebrating Earth Month and Mulch Madness - read more below!

County Residents Can Pick Up FREE Mulch on April 23!

Prince George’s County residents can pick up FREE mulch from the County Organics Composting Facility on Saturday, April 23, from 8 am to 1 pm or while supplies last.

Mulch for this source reduction event is derived from live holiday trees collected curbside and dropped off throughout January. A skid loader will be available to load mulch directly into pickup trucks (no commercial vehicles). Residents transporting mulch by car will need to bring their containers, shovels, or pitchforks.

For more details, visit mypgc.us/mulchmadness

¡Residentes del Condado Pueden Recoger Abono GRATIS el 23 de Abril!

Residentes del Condado de Prince George pueden recoger abono GRATIS en la Facilidad de Compostaje de Materiales Orgánicos del condado el sábado 23 de abril de 8 am a 1 pm o hasta agotar existencia. 

El abono para este evento de reducción de residuos proviene de árboles de navidad reales recolectados o desechados durante el mes de enero. Un cargador frontal estará disponible para cargar el abono a su camioneta (no vehículos comerciales). Residentes transportando abono en sus automóviles necesitaran traer sus propios contenedores y palas o horquilla.

Para más detalles, visite mypgc.us/mulchmadness

Stormwater Stewardship Grant Program

The Prince George’s County Stormwater Stewardship Grant Program funds on-the-ground restoration activities that improve neighborhoods, improve water quality, and engage County residents in the restoration and protection of the local rivers and streams of Prince George’s County.

Who can apply: Non-profit organizations,  municipalities, watershed organizations, education institutions, community associations, faith-based organizations, civic groups, and more.

For more information, visit the Chesapeake Bay Trust’s website.

Rain Check Rebate Program

Prince George’s County residents, businesses, and non-profits can apply for cash rebates by adopting stormwater management practices that improve the quality of the County’s waterways while beautifying our communities.

Learn about the eligible practices, requirements, Contractor Training Completion list, and more at DoE's website. 

More spots are available at many Anacostia Watershed Society cleanup sites across the region! Sign up here to join hundreds of volunteers throughout the watershed to make a better future for the Anacostia River.

There are plenty more cleanups happening throughout April that still need volunteers! Find the nearest Potomac River Watershed Cleanup, hosted by the Alice Ferguson Foundation, here. 

Scoop That Poop

Dog waste is more than a nightmare for our shoes. Just like human sewage, untreated pet fecal matter is harmful to waterways. Rain washes dog waste and the associated disease-causing organisms, such as giardia and salmonella, into rivers, beaches, and the Chesapeake Bay via storm drains.

Watch our video by clicking the image below or visit bit.ly/scoopthatpoopvideo.

Visit our website for more on the benefits to "Scoop that Poop" at bit.ly/pgcscoopthatpoop.

Share your Furry Family "Fotos"

In honor of Adopt a Shelter Pet Day, we want to showcase all the furry, feathery, and scaly pets that have been rescued from a shelter to promote the importance of adopting.

Throughout April, post a cute or funny picture of your four or two-legged family member with the hashtags #PGCEarthDayEveryDay AND #AdoptDontShop.

Emailed photos must be sent by Wednesday, April 27 to BGarner@co.pg.md.us.

All photos will be posted on April 29 in celebration of Adopt a Shelter Pet Day on April 30!

Earth Month Calendar

Check out all these events happening in honor of Earth Day! Please follow safe COVID guidelines for in-person events. Space is limited, so be sure to register today!

View or download a full-size copy of the calendar below.