So called “flushable” wipes are made of polyester and cause sewer backups into homes and streets and damage wastewater pipes and pumps. Disinfectant wipes of every type should be disposed of in the trash. Other things that should not be flushed down the toilet are: dental floss, paper towels, napkins, cotton swabs, plastic of any kind, food, hair, diapers and clothing of any kind, needles or sharps of any kind and never, never flush medicine down the toilet or down any household drain. Use care and prevent sewer backups into your home. If you have an idea to be discussed on EnviroPod, email [email protected] or call 703-324-5821, TTY 711.

Dispose of household hazardous waste (HHW) like paint, chemicals, and batteries safely by bringing those items to the I-66 Transfer Station on West Ox Road or the I-95 Landfill in Lorton. If you don’t know what an item is, bring it to one of these locations and qualified employees will figure out how to dispose of it in environmentally friendly ways. It's easy and free for Fairfax County residents.

The restoration of the riparian corridor is the most common technique used in stream restorations. The loss of the vegetated riparian corridor of many streams, particularly those within urbanized watersheds, calls for riparian restoration, one of the least expensive of all stream restoration activities.

Things have changed in landscaping for residential, commercial and municipal use. Thirty years ago, there was a very limited choice of plants available for all three uses. Now it’s known that native plants are equal in beauty to non-native plants and they are readily available in nearby nurseries. The natives are hardy and can support more wildlife – like butterflies and other pollinators – than non-natives. They are adapted to the local environment and. need less water. Listeners can learn to create ‘outdoor rooms’ by using native plants. More information is available at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/soil-water-conservation/nativeplants and from the National Audubon Society (www.Audubon.org) and from the Virginia Native Plant Society (https://vnps.org/).

There are purple, glass only recycling containers in multiple locations throughout the county and nearby jurisdictions. This is a regional effort with partners that include City of Alexandria, Prince William County and Arlington County with more to come. Glass is infinitely recyclable and can be used in some construction projects. For more information visit https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/publicworks/news/regional-approach-glass-recycling-leads-creation-purple-can-club or call 703-802-3322, TTY 711 or email [email protected]

We’ve been taught for generations to dispose of unwanted medication by flushing it down the toilet or sink. Things have changed. There are safe, easy and environmentally friendly ways to dispose of prescription and over-the-counter medications. Don’t allow drugs to fall into the wrong hands or contaminate water supplies. EnviroPod features subject matter experts from the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services talking about important environmental topics focused on what residents can do and what the county is doing to fulfill its environmental vision. If you have an idea to be discussed on EnviroPod, email [email protected] or call 324-5821, TTY 711.

The MS4 is the stormwater drainage system. The MS4 Permit requires the county to prevent polluted stormwater runoff from reaching state waterways through the stormwater system, and to educate the public in ways they can help. Stormwater runoff contains lots of litter. The county recently started a litter cleanup program with homeless shelters whose residents are paid to clean up litter from streets and streams. Shelter residents gain skills and money and the county gains a cleaner environment.

EnviroPod Episode 10 features Hugh Whitehead, urban forester III, Urban Forest Management Division, talking about tree care -- how to select the right tree for the right place; how to dig the hole (call 811 first), mulch and water; and after-planting care such as when and how to prune.

Jen Cole, Executive Director, Clean Fairfax Council, talks with Host Scott Coco about litter on EnviroPod. We live in a disposable culture and many of our day-to-day items are made of plastic: plastic bags; plastic drink bottles; plastic tableware. There is more litter today than there was 50 years ago. Plastic litter does not go away, it just gets smaller and smaller. There are three things that everyone can do now to make a difference in the amount of litter we see in Fairfax County:

1. Stop using plastic bags from the grocery store; stop using plastic drink bottles

2. Too much food is wasted. Start composting food waste at home and at work

3. Make litter an issue on your personal social media platform.

The Clean Fairfax Council works to educate people about how to make less garbage. If you are looking for ways to clean up your neighborhood, ask Clean Fairfax.

EnviroPod Episode 8 features Dan Brooks, Assistant Complex Manager, I-66 Transfer Station, and Host Scott Coco, helping residents to dispose of paint, fertilizer, pesticides and other Household Hazardous Waste by bringing these leftover items to the I-95 Landfill in Lorton or to the I-66 Transfer Station on West Ox Road, where Dan and his colleagues dispose of these noxious noxious chemicals in environmentally friendly ways. For a list of accepted materials visit: Household Hazardous Waste.