Citizen Connection April 2019As a citizen of Denton, there are a number of ways you can help the City make a difference in our
community. This issue of the Citizen Connection is filled with helpful tips on how you can play an
active role in the City’s recycling program, improving Denton’s air quality, protecting you and your
family from the West Nile virus, and voting in the upcoming election.
CITIZEN CONNECTION
APRIL 2019
CITY OF DENTON
Ozone is the leading cause of poor air quality. It is created by activities such as vehicle transportation,
electricity generation, and refinery operations. Ozone levels are worst in North Texas between March
and October, especially in the hottest parts of the afternoon.
The City of Denton has been an early adopter of solutions that have had a measurable impact on
air pollutants and greenhouse gases. Some of these forward steps include:
• Upgrading the City’s fleet to alternative fuel and electric vehicles
• Adopting an idle-reduction ordinance
• Improving the energy efficiency of new and existing buildings
• Increasing bicycle trails and lanes
• Committing to renewable energy
• Planting trees
Successfully reducing emissions and helping to
improve air quality requires widespread community
participation. We ask that you consider any of the
following actions to start making a difference today:
• Install LED bulbs in your home
• Bike or walk whenever possible
• Properly inflate car tires and stay on top of vehicle maintenance
• Get a free Energy Audit for your home
• Plant trees on your property
To learn more about how to make a difference, visit www.sustainabledenton.com.
HELP THE CITY IMPROVE DENTON’S AIR
QUALITY BY TAKING A FEW SIMPLE STEPS
Recycling is important to our community, and
while many people are well-intentioned recyclers,
it can sometimes be difficult to know how to
Recycle Right. When dirty or non-recyclable items
get picked up and compacted by collection trucks,
they can contaminate clean recyclable materials
with food, dirt, or grease. Once that happens, the
entire load may have to go to the landfill.
In order to prevent recyclable items from
becoming trash, the City of Denton will no
longer pick up blue recycling carts that are heavily
contaminated with non-recyclable materials.
Many people in Denton put a lot of care and
attention into their recycling. By not picking up
contaminated blue carts, the efforts of those
who Recycle Right will be have a greater impact,
as fewer properly recycled materials will have to
be thrown in the landfill due to contamination.
If there is a tag placed on your blue cart and it
is not picked up, please remove all non-recyclable
items and your cart will be emptied on your
next collection day. If you have questions, call
(940) 349-8700.
WHY RECYCLE RIGHT?
Only put these items in your blue cart:
Paper; shredded paper that is in a paper bag; plastic
items that are marked with a recycling symbol;
cartons; glass jars and bottles; clean cardboard
and boxes; and aluminum and steel cans.
Make sure all items are empty, clean, and dry before
placing them in your blue cart. Please DO NOT
place plastic bags of any sort in your blue cart.
Items that commonly cause contamination and
should be thrown away are:
Styrofoam or polystyrene; plastic bags; plastic toys;
used paper towels and tissues; metal and plastic
hangers; cardboard that has absorbed food grease,
or is soiled; food scraps; thick glass that is not a
bottle or a jar; broken items; and disposable plates
and utensils.
If you would like to learn more about recycling,
or take a tour of the Pratt Material Recovery
Facility/Recycling Center, send an email to
Vanessa.Ellison@cityofdenton.com.
A publication of the City of Denton Department of Public Affairs
ADA/EOE/ADEA • TDD (800) 735-2989 • www.cityofdenton.com
Questions about the Citizen Connection? Call (940) 349-8171.
UPCOMING CITY OF DENTON ELECTION
The City of Denton will hold an election
on May 4 to elect Council Members
to Districts 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Voting dates:
• Early voting, April 22-27, 29-30
• Election Day, May 4
For more information—including voter
registration, voter ID requirements, polling
locations, and precinct and district information—
visit the Denton County Elections website at
www.votedenton.com. Denton County Elections
can be reached by phone at (940) 349-3200
and by email at elections@dentoncounty.com.
To best protect yourself and your family
against mosquitoes and West Nile virus,
always remember the Four D’s:
• Drain standing water around your home,
yard, and neighborhood to put an end to
mosquito breeding grounds.
• Dusk and dawn are the times of day when
mosquitoes are most active, so you should
try to stay indoors.
• Dress in long sleeves and pants when you
are outside, and spray thin clothing with
repellent.
• Defend yourself using an insect repellent
that contains DEET, Picaridin, or Oil of
Lemon Eucalypus.
Eliminating breeding grounds is the most
important and effective prevention measure
against mosquitoes and West Nile virus. Help
the City control Denton’s mosquito population
by removing standing water from these and
other common areas on and around your
property: open trash and recycling carts,
boats and pool covers, fountains and bird
baths, clogged rain gutters, water bowls for
pets, buckets and barrels, flowerpots and
saucers, wagons and other toys, neglected
pools, tires, and piles of trash or debris.
To treat stagnant water, use Bti briquettes.
Each briquette will treat 100 square feet of
surface water for 30 days without the use
of toxic chemicals. To apply, simply drop
the briquette in standing water. Bti can be
purchased at local garden/hardware stores and
it is also available in limited supply from the City
at Water Administration, located in the Utility
Service Center at 901 A Texas St., or from the
City’s Composting Operations, located in the
Pecan Creek Water Reclamation Facility at
1100 S. Mayhill Rd.
The City’s communication efforts are a partnership
with the public. Be proactive and sign up to receive
CodeRed and eNews notifications by visiting
www.cityofdenton.com, follow the City of Denton
on Facebook and Twitter, and call (940) 349-8700
to make sure your contact information is correct.
FIGHT THE BITE: PROTECT YOURSELF
AGAINST MOSQUITOES THIS SUMMER
There will be no curbside collection on
Monday, May 27. Residential trash, recycling,
and yard waste collection will move forward
one day the week of May 27 to May 31 in
observance of the Memorial Day holiday.
Monday’s route will run on Tuesday;
Tuesday’s route will run on Wednesday;
MEMORIAL DAY COLLECTION SCHEDULE
Wednesday’s route will run on Thursday; and
Thursday’s route will run on Friday.
To view the complete 2019 holiday collection
schedule, visit www.dentonrecycles.com. To
receive updates about your collection schedule,
download the free Engage Denton mobile app.