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February 2021 Citizen ConnectionCardboard Recycling Tips Did you know that the City of Denton Solid Waste and Recycling department has begun the rollout of a new smart routing application in each of our collection vehicles? The regularly scheduled residential and commercial trash, recycling, and yard waste routes have implemented RUBICONSmartCity POD devices and iPads in each vehicle in order to better serve the City of Denton solid waste and recycling customers. In our next phase of use, we will use the POD to optimize call-in services such as bulky pick-ups, HCC, extra brush, etc. With RUBICONSmartCity, each customer address is geocoded and plotted on routes, and our vehicles are tracked via geolocation, so we can see the progress of a route at any point during the day. This enables us to dispatch drivers that complete their routes early to assist other routes that are incomplete in order to better utilize city resources and provide better service to our customers. In addition, the in-cab iPad verifies the collection service of an area, in near real-time, and provides our drivers with intuitive tools to enhance and streamline their workflow. The POD devices monitor and transmit critical data related to vehicle health, vehicle location, and the drivers of our solid waste fleet vehicles, so that we can proactively service issues before they result in disabled vehicles, keeping more vehicles on the road for more of the time. Ultimately this system will create greater efficiencies in how we collect waste, and we can’t wait for the next phase of using RUBICONSmartCity to better serve our community. If you found yourself doing more online shopping than usual this holiday season. You probably have more cardboard than you know what to do with! Instead of throwing away your cardboard, here are some ways you can reuse it to extend its life. Cardboard can serve many purposes around the house. Use it to store household items. Hold on to it for future moving needs. Reuse boxes for gift giving or for packing any donations. If you are ready to part ways with your cardboard, please read through the following: Tips for Recycling Cardboard: 1. Keep it clean – remove any tape or added material from the box 2. Keep it flat – flattening your cardboard will allow you to save space in your cart 3. Keep it dry – once it gets wet you can no longer recycle the material 4. Keep lid closed – paper and cardboard will stay dry, break down boxes if your lid cannot close The City of Denton offers curbside recycling and two recycling drop off locations. If you have access to curbside recycling, place your clean, flat and dry cardboard in your blue bin. If you don’t have access to curbside recycling, or if you have excess cardboard, feel free to use one of our drop off locations located at: • North Lakes Park, at Windsor Dr. and Hinkle Dr. • Denton Municipal Landfill, 1527 S. Mayhill Rd. (Open Mon. – Sat., 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.) Smart Routing Software for Solid Waste and Recycling Collection Vehicles Don’t Be Clueless, Use QLess! Are you visiting Customer Service in person? Use QLESS to get in line from your car or before you even leave home! Just download the QLESS app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store and follow the directions.The app will show you how many people are in line, the approximate wait time, and send you a notification when it is your place in line! If you are running late, you can even give yourself extra time without losing your place in line. QLess allows you to wait from the comfort of your home, car, work, or an area business without the need to stand in line. When you receive notice that it is your turn, simply arrive at the office, ring the bell at the door. Staff will confirm your place in line and let you in. If you don’t have the app, you can still visit www.cityofdenton.com/QLess to get in line from a computer. You will still receive the same helpful updates via text. Aren’t in line when you arrive? No problem. Just ring the bell and staff will put you in line and you can wait wherever is convenient for you. If you don’t have a phone to receive updates, staff can let you know the approximate wait time and when you should return to check your status. A publication of the City of Denton Department of Public Affairs ADA/EOE/ADEA • TDD (800) 735-2989 • www.cityofdenton.com As a partner of the EPA’s Watersense Program, the City of Denton will be participating in the nationally recognized Fix a Leak Week, March 15-21. By participating in this national effort, the City of Denton commits to reducing the one trillion gallons of water lost nationwide every year to leaks. A rate of 10 drips per minute can waste more than 500 gallons a year, here are some basic ways you can help conserve water and lower your water bill! • Identify toilet leaks by placing a drop of food coloring or color tab in the toilet tank, if water color shows up in the bowl after ten minutes you have a leak • Check faucet gaskets and pipe fittings to see if there is any water on the outside of the pipe • Be sure to watch your sprinkler system run when you turn it on this spring, cracks and leaks may have occurred over the winter months Be on the lookout for online webinars hosted by sustainability staff, and for more tips on leaks follow City of Denton Sustainability on Facebook or visit our website at sustainabledenton.com! For more information on how you can prevent water loss due to leaks and conserve water, you can visit www.epa.gov/watersense/fix-leak-week. Fix a Leak Week Maintaining Your Irrigation System To further celebrate Fix a Leak Week, here are some pointers for maintaining your irrigation system. When an irrigation system is functioning properly it can conserve water by providing only the water your lawn and landscape needs in the most efficient way. When an irrigation system is not functioning properly, it can result in a drastic increase in water usage. Here are some helpful tips for making sure system is functioning properly: • Water between the hours of 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. to maximize water absorption and minimize evaporation. • Water no more than twice a week to encourage strong, deep root systems which are better equipped to withstand the extreme Texas heat. • Do not water paved areas. Water flows into the road or walkway indicates over watering or broken sprinkler heads. • Install water-wise landscaping. Choose native plants to reduce your irrigation needs and mulch in landscape beds to retain moisture. • Use efficient irrigation. Consider drip irrigation and efficient sprinkler heads to minimize waste. • Make sure your system has appropriate water pressure throughout it. Mulching Tips For Your Winter Garden Mulching is a great practice that can contribute to the health and beauty of your trees and plants, but how much is too much mulch? Here at Beneficial Reuse Department, we’re experts in mulching and we have many Dyno Dirt mulch products for you to choose from when winterizing your garden. Here are some tips to keep in mind when applying mulch: • Although mulch is what helps keep moisture in the soil around plants and trees, too much water held in the surrounding soil can be devastating. When mulch is piled too high or mounded up the base of the tree trunk (like a volcano) it can retain too much moisture, causing the roots, bark, and cambium to rot. The cambium is the layer of tissue just under the bark which transports water and nutrients to the leaves of a tree. Without it, your tree will likely not survive. • Plants need oxygen and they receive this oxygen through their root system. Excess water in the soil prevents the roots from getting the oxygen they need, which can cause them to die. • You may have noticed as you have applied mulch that it can sometimes give off heat. When mulch is applied too thickly, this heat can become trapped without a way to escape into the air and plant tissue that is exposed to this heat may suffer irreversible damage. • Although a thick layer of mulch may seem like a protection for plants and trees, it can harbor damaging organisms. Excess moisture caused by over mulching makes a perfect place for bacteria and fungus to grow and thrive. For additional information regarding mulch, call the Beneficial Reuse Department at 940-349-8290. We’re happy to help you choose the right mulch for your project! You can also find available products by visiting www.cityofdenton.com/dyno.