Oakland County Groundskeepers Weed Out Invasive Plants on Campus

When weeds run amok in lawns, gardens, or walkways, gardeners usually only have two options to remove them: by hand or herbicide. They could choose to manually remove them, but that process is strenuous and often backbreaking. On the other hand, if gardeners choose herbicides, they could unknowingly introduce toxic chemicals to waterways and aquatic life as well as butterflies, bees and earthworms, especially if used incorrectly.

There is a third option though – steam. In conjunction with Oakland County’s Environmental Sustainability Strategic Goal, landscaping services use steam to remove weeds that sprout throughout the campus grounds, including on lawns, pavement gaps, and garden beds. It’s the same kind of steam you’d use at home to iron a shirt or cook vegetables but at hotter temperatures.

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2023 NoHaz Collection Days

Oakland County’s NoHaz Collection team is here to help residents safely dispose of household hazardous materials ranging from pesticides, paints, air fresheners, propane cylinders, cleaning solutions, prescription medicines, and more. Though these items have made our lives easier, they can also be toxic to our health and environment when we use and dispose of them in our regular trash. Unlike industrial hazardous wastes, household hazardous wastes are not regulated.

Because so many items contain hazardous components, most people can identify a few products in their homes that are hazardous. Do you have items in mind that you want to properly dispose of? No commercial, contractor, business or institutional waste will be accepted. All liquids must be in sealed 5-gallon or smaller containers. Do you have items that you’re unsure about? View lists of accepted and non-accepted materials in the FAQ section of Advantage Oakland’s NoHaz web page or call the NoHaz Hotline at 248-858-5656.

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What it’s Like to Drive an EV

Happy Earth Day! Annually, April 22 marks the anniversary of the environmental movement that was established in 1970. Inspired by student anti-war protests and concern of environmental pollution, Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson tapped U.S. Rep. Pete McCloskey of California to co-chair a movement. They enlisted the help of Dennis Hayes, an activist, to form a national environmental network and to organize events, including teach-ins on college campuses.

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Oakland County Parks and Recreation Seeks Input on New 5-Year Parks and Recreation Master Plan

photo of wetlands at Independence Oaks North

We want your feedback! The new Oakland County Parks and Recreation (OCPR) 5-Year Parks and Recreation Master Plan is available online and OCPR is encouraging Oakland County residents to continue to share their feedback. Their plan will help build a more equitable, sustainable, and resilient future for OCPR by updating the strategic plan vision and mission by adding four core values to the 2023-2027 Recreation Plan.

The plan will guide OCPR staff and the Parks Commission in their efforts to provide high-quality recreational opportunities to Oakland County residents over the next five years. It follows the Guidelines for the Development of Community Park, Recreation, Open Space and Greenway Plans provided by the Grants Division of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and will replace the previous 5-year plan, which expires on December 31, 2022.

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Oakland County Mobile Boat Cleaning Stations Help Prevent Spread of Aquatic Invasive Species

Mobile boat cleaning station at park

Oakland County is home to thousands of lakes and rivers our residents use for boating and paddling, fishing, and hunting. These outdoor activities can unintentionally disperse aquatic invasive species (AIS); non-native plants, animals, and other organisms that can harm our local economy, environment and even our health.

In the summer of 2020, the Oakland County Board of Commissioners established the Clean, Drain, Dry, Dispose (CD3) Pilot Program to raise awareness about the dangers of aquatic invasive species and to educate residents about how to help prevent the spread of these species in Oakland County waters.

The CD3 Pilot Program utilizes mobile boat cleaning stations to empower local water enthusiasts to better protect Oakland County waterways. These stations help users to clean, drain and dry their watercraft, and to dispose of any living organisms (plant or animal) that may be clinging to the crafts. With support from Oakland County Parks and Recreation, the pilot program ran for the final weeks of the 2020 boating season, throughout the 2021 season, and just launched for the 2022 season.

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