5 Steps for Keeping Your Environment Clean This Winter

Keep lawn waste out of the gutter. Remember, clean gutters mean clean lakes.


Safely dispose of motor oil, antifreeze, and other chemicals. If you're going to do some routine vehicle maintenance, remember to keep oil, antifreeze, and other chemicals out of gutters, too.
Keep household chemicals from freezing. Don't forget that some household chemicals will freeze in an unheated garage. If the product label reads "soap and water cleanup" or "keep from freezing," it's probably a water-based product and could be damaged if frozen. If you have excess product, safely dispose of chemicals at your county's hazardous waste site.


If you heat with oil, check your tanks for leaks. Keep your fill pipe visible and accessible for the delivery driver. And if you take your tank out of service, remove the tank, lines, and fill pipe completely.


Safely dispose of computers, televisions, and other electronic waste. By state law, Minnesotans may not put televisions and computer monitors in the trash. Televisions and computer monitors are hazardous because they contain up to 8 pounds of lead and can cause an environmental problem if discarded with regular garbage.