Tips of the Month

Composting

As you prepare for the City's Fall Clean Up Saturdays, you might also be inspired to clean out your refrigerator. If you're like many of us, you might find old or rotten summer veggies. What a perfect time of year to start participating in College Park's compost program!

You can participate in the program in two ways:

1. Bring your food scraps to one of the City's drop-off locations at the Department of Public Works (9217 51st Avenue) or at the Old Town Playground and Community Garden (7504 Columbia Avenue).

2. Sign up for the Curbside Food Scrap program. Purchase a bucket or wheeled cart from the City and leave it on the curb each week for pick up.

You might be surprised by all of the items you can compost, including:

Food scraps, e.g., apple peels
Rotten or spoiled food, e.g., dried-out corn on the cob, spoiled zucchinis, etc.
Coffee grounds/filters
Tea bags and loose tea
Eggshells
Uncoated or compostable paper places
Pizza boxes - clean or greasy
Food-soiled newspapers

For a full list of compostable items, see the City's website.

Composting reaps multiple benefits. It helps reduce the production of methane – a powerful greenhouse gas, it decreases the amount of waste that is sent to the landfill, and it creates local jobs (our City’s compost is sent to the Prince Georges County Organics facility at Western Branch).

From the City's Committee for a Better Environment

September is National Preparedness Month!

Are you prepared for an emergency with your pets? If not, it’s ok. It’s never too late to start planning. Here are some tips and guides to making a plan for you and your pets. The United States Dept. of Homeland Security suggests these steps for emergencies with your pets in mind:

“1. Make a plan.

2. Build an emergency kit.

3. Stay informed.”

#1. The plan

Do you have an evacuation plan for you and your family in the event of an emergency? Some hospitals and hotels don’t allow pets even during emergencies. Jot down some possible places for your pets to go. A family friend, a local pet boarding facility, or check with your local government for their emergency plan and see if it includes any holding of animals. Check with your neighbors, friends, or family and try to make a contact list of people who are willing to be called to come care for your animals if you need to leave the pet at home. Lastly, make sure your pet is microchipped and that the microchip information has the most recent, up to date contact information listed.

#2. Building an emergency kit.

Create an emergency kit of things your pet may need. Ready.gov suggests: “Have two kits, one larger kit if you are sheltering in place and one lightweight version for if you need to evacuate.”

Include your pets basic needs of survival. Food for multiple days, in a container that can be air-tight and waterproof. Water bottles, enough water for several days, a bowl. Don’t forget to consider your pet’s size. A larger dog needs a lot more water than a cat. Also having a place in the bag for your pet’s medication, if they are on any that they need daily.

Pet First aid kits can be bought online or you can assemble one yourself. A list of things needed in a pet first aid kit can be found here from Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine: https://vet.tufts.edu/news-events/news/pet-first-aid

Tags, collars, and ID should all be included. Including any necessary vet records, and photos of your pets. Don’t forget to include sanitary items for cleaning up messes, puppy pads, paper towels, disinfectant, and bags for disposal. Litter and boxes for cats.

Lastly, include some items that smell like home for comfort. An old t-shirt that you’ve worn and not washed, toys, blanket and/or towels. Comfort spray can also be bought, especially for cats. Calming treats as well are great to add, which are available for dogs and cats.

3. Staying informed.

Follow your local government pages on social media to make sure you can get the most recent alerts and broadcasts. Check your government websites and see if they have email subscriptions to emergency alerts. Download apps like the FEMA app or the National Weather Service app. And finally, always take alerts seriously. Go inside, or stay in place when alerted to do so. This not only keeps you safe but other people safe as well.

For more information, visit:

From the City's Animal Control Officer