Recycling & Beyond
Introduction
As the importance of environmental issues in our
community grows, Santa Clarita continues to search out proactive
and cost-effective solutions to address our growing environmental
needs. To assure a long-term environmental quality of life in
our community, residents need to play a vital role in helping
to bring about positive environmental change and to protect precious
economic and natural resources.
The City offers several environmental programs
to help residents. The Residential Recycling & Waste Reduction
Program assists residents in diverting materials away from our
local landfills and back into productive use. Likewise, our Stormwater
Program has been developed to protect the local waterways from
pollution and enhance water quality in Santa Clarita. The City
is also involved in programs that encourage residents to safely
dispose of household hazardous waste products, used motor oil
and other toxic chemicals.
This guidebook provides information to help
you take easy steps to promote a healthy environment in your
home, neighborhood and community. It includes information regarding
the City's pollution prevention programs, as well as environmental
resource and telephone listings for your reference.
Thank you for joining others in the community
to protect our quality of life in Santa Clarita and ensure a
clean and healthy environment for all.
Why Do We Care About the Environment?
- Life - We are all living organisms
dependent upon clean air, clean water and food (the environment)
for life.
- Saving Natural Resources - Our planet's
natural resources are finite. Eventually we will run short
of the materials we now use and discard. It is essential that
we protect these resources through recycling in the home.
- Drinking Water - Santa Clarita obtains
50% of its drinking water from underground wells. Pollution
prevention efforts and proper management of hazardous waste
help to preserve the quality of our drinking water in this
valley.
- Prevent New Landfill Development -
Landfills are closing throughout California. To prevent landfills
from being built in our community, such as the proposed landfill
in nearby Elsmere Canyon, recycling and waste reduction must
become a way of life for all of us.
- Economy - Waste costs money. Waste
reduction and recycling efforts can save you money in the
long run.
- Energy - Energy causes pollution
and can have a negative impact on the environment. Energy
conservation can help eliminate this form of pollution.
- The Future - Preserving resources
and the environment for our children and future generations
is one of the most important tasks we have today. By managing
our natural resources responsibly, we help to ensure that
our children and future generations will have adequate resources
to enjoy a high quality of life.
