San Mateo County News - Flows To Bay

If you clean surfaces outdoors, or hire someone who does, the goal is simple: keep wash water out of storm drains.

That’s why working with BAMSC-trained and certified mobile cleaners matters. Certified professionals are trained to contain, collect, and properly dispose of wash water so it doesn’t flow into the storm drain system.

Why is this important? Because storm drains don’t lead to a treatment plant. They lead straight to our local creeks and the Bay.

Why This Matters

Wash water isn’t just dirty water. Wash water can contain:

Soaps and detergents — Even products labeled “biodegradable” can harm fish and aquatic life when they enter creeks untreated. Wastewater plants can remove these pollutants; storm drains do not.
Oil and grease — From vehicles, machinery, and food service areas.
Food waste and organic debris — From dumpster pads, restaurant mats, and food carts.
Cleaning chemicals — Solvents, degreasers, and disinfectants used during surface cleaning.
Heavy metals and paint particles — From building washing or surface preparation.
Sediment and debris — Dirt and fine particles that cloud waterways and harm habitat.

When this mix flows untreated into our waterways, it can degrade water quality, harm wildlife, and affect the places our community swims, fishes, and enjoys nature.

Many common mobile services generate wash water, including power washing, mobile auto detailing, food service cleaning, pet grooming, carpet cleaning, pool maintenance, and landscaping work. That’s why proper containment and disposal are essential.

Choosing a BAMSC-certified professional (or becoming one) helps protect our shared waterways and keeps our community’s water clean for everyone.

Wash Water. Contain it, collect it, and dispose of it.

These best management practices keep pollutants out of storm drains:

Plan Before You Start

Walk the site and locate all storm drains. Know where they are before turning on water.

Decide where wash water will go. You have three options:

Sanitary sewer through a sink, floor drain, mop sink, cleanout, or toilet (requires permission from the property owner)
Landscaping or gravel where water completely soaks into the ground
Wet/dry vacuum to collect water for proper disposal

Have equipment ready. Long hoses, wet/dry vacuums, containment mats, sandbags, and berms help control where water goes.

During the Job

Do dry cleanup first. Sweep up debris, food waste, and dirt before using water.
Block storm drains. Use covers, sandbags, or berms before washing begins.
Contain the wash area. Keep water from flowing to streets and gutters.
Minimize water use. Spray nozzles help control flow.
Use less-toxic products when possible. Wash without soaps when you can. If cleaning products are necessary, choose less-toxic options.
Collect wash water. Use a wet/dry vacuum to capture water for proper disposal.

After the Job

Dispose of wash water properly. Direct it to a sanitary sewer, landscaping (with complete infiltration), or collect for disposal. Never let it flow to streets, gutters, or storm drains.
Remove all debris. Dispose of trash properly and handle hazardous materials safely.
Remove storm drain protection. Take plugs, covers, or sandbags with you.

Owners, workers, customers. Everyone has a role.

Keeping our waterways clean requires teamwork between service providers and customers.

For Mobile Business Owners and Workers

Make pollution prevention part of your standard service. Include proper disposal in every job. This shows your professionalism and protects water quality.
Invest in the right equipment. Wet/dry vacuums, containment systems, and long hoses expand where you can work.
Get trained and certified. Free programs teach efficient techniques while offering recognition that helps you stand out. Training is available in English and Spanish.
Plan ahead for each job. A few minutes of planning prevents problems and saves time.

For Those Who Hire Mobile Services

Ask about wash water disposal before hiring. Find out how contractors handle it.
Look for trained professionals. BAMSC certifies mobile cleaners in pollution prevention. Hiring trained contractors reflects your responsibility and protects our water quality.
Provide access to disposal options. Allow contractors to use sanitary sewer connections when possible.
Include pollution prevention in contracts. Make proper disposal a service requirement.
Share information with vendors. Forward helpful resources to businesses you work with.

Free Training and Resources

Become a BAMSC-Recognized Surface Cleaner

Mobile cleaning businesses can complete an easy and free online training through the Bay Area Municipal Stormwater Collective (BAMSC). The program includes:

Registering your name
Watching a 16-minute training video (available in English and Spanish)
Reviewing FAQs and common terms
Taking a self-quiz
Emailing BAMSC to confirm completion

Certificates are valid for one year and must be renewed annually.

After completing training, you receive:

Certificate of Training
Listing on the BAMSC website as a Recognized Surface Cleaner
Promotional materials for your business

Property owners can check the list of BAMSC-Recognized Surface Cleaners when hiring contractors.

Download Helpful Fact Sheets

General Guidelines:

Best Management Practices for Mobile Businesses (Spanish | Chinese)

Service-Specific Guides:

Get Local Support

Need help with disposal requirements? Contact your local wastewater treatment plant or city stormwater inspector.

Share resources with your team—training materials and fact sheets are available in Spanish for Spanish-speaking workers.

Our local creeks and San Francisco Bay depend on daily decisions by mobile service providers and the people who hire them. Following these practices helps you deliver excellent service and protect water quality.

Learn more at Mobile Cleaners & Businesses or explore the Flows to Bay website.

Have you ever experienced street flooding during a heavy storm? For decades, that was a regular occurrence for visitors to San Bruno City Park, where El Zanjon Creek flowed through a concrete gutter that emptied directly into a street with angled parking. Today, that same waterway winds gracefully through mature trees in a naturalized channel that serves as both a beautiful community amenity and a powerful example of green infrastructure in action.

*The recently renovated San Bruno Recreation & Aquatic Center (credit: SWA Group)*

The 900-foot transformation of El Zanjon Creek is part of the broader renovation of the San Bruno Recreation & Aquatic Center and City Park—a project, led by the City of San Bruno and Group 4 Architecture Research + Planning, Inc., that demonstrates how thoughtful planning can restore natural waterways while enhancing community spaces and improving stormwater management.

From Frequent Flooding to A Natural Solution

For seventy years, El Zanjon Creek was confined to a concrete gutter that created significant challenges for park visitors. During heavy rains, the street and parking area would flood, stranding cars and residents. The creek itself was so shallow during dry periods that some residents described it as being “shallow enough to drive across.”

*The new, naturalized El Zanjon Creek channel (credit: SWA Group)*

In partnership with the City of San Bruno, SWA landscape architects led the creek restoration effort, working in collaboration with Group 4 Architecture Research + Planning, Inc., BKF Engineers, Environmental Collaborative, and regulatory agencies, including the Army Corps of Engineers, California Department of Fish & Wildlife, and the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board.

The restoration addressed these challenges through two major improvements:

Creek relocation: SWA moved the waterway away from the street and parking area, creating a naturalized channel that curves between the park’s existing mature trees.
Channel naturalization: The remaining concrete-lined section was transformed into a natural creek bed that supports ecological health and effective stormwater management.

Benefits That Flow Throughout the Community

This restoration delivers multiple benefits to the San Bruno community and the surrounding region:

Flood Risk Reduction: The new design reduces the flood risk in the parking and street areas while incorporating natural water quality basins that slow and treat stormwater runoff before it continues downstream.

Enhanced Water Quality: El Zanjon Creek flows from Junipero Serra Park and eventually reaches San Francisco Bay. The naturalized channel with native vegetation now provides improved habitat for wildlife – including local pollinators – while helping prevent stormwater pollution from reaching downstream waterways.

Improved Community Spaces: The creek’s new path creates a natural buffer between active park areas and the street. Two new bridges provide safe crossing points, and the design preserves nearly all existing mature trees while opening up additional space for community activities and recreation.

*San Bruno residents gathering by the restored El Zanjon Creek at San Bruno City Park (credit: SWA Group)*

Preservation Through Innovation

One particularly noteworthy aspect of this innovative design is how the project preserved the park’s established trees while completely rerouting the creek. This required careful engineering to thread the new waterway between these natural features, maintaining the park’s character while dramatically improving its functionality.

This attention to working with existing natural assets reflects best practices in green infrastructure design, whether at the scale of a major creek restoration or smaller projects like rain gardens that residents can install in their yards.

*Images of the creek winding through San Bruno City Park’s trees before and after the restoration (credit: SWA Group)*

A Model for Regional Watershed Health

This project demonstrates the importance of thinking beyond individual communities when it comes to stormwater management and water quality protection. Since El Zanjon Creek connects Junipero Serra Park to San Francisco Bay, improvements to this waterway benefit the entire regional watershed ecosystem.

The restoration also illustrates how different scales of green infrastructure work together. While residents might install rain barrels to capture rooftop runoff, larger community-scale projects like this creek restoration handle stormwater management at the neighborhood level. Both approaches contribute to reducing stormwater pollution and protecting water quality throughout San Mateo County.

*Children playing along the restored El Zanjon creek channel (credit: SWA Group)*

For San Bruno residents, this transformation means enjoying a more functional and beautiful City Park while knowing that their community is contributing to broader environmental health.

For other communities in San Mateo County, the project serves as an inspiring example of what’s possible when cities invest in green infrastructure solutions that address multiple challenges simultaneously.

Ready to contribute to watershed health in your own neighborhood? Learn about rain garden rebates of up to $300 to create beautiful, functional stormwater management in your yard. Explore our Green Infrastructure Story Map to discover more transformation projects throughout San Mateo County.

Improving your garden by introducing native plant life is an easy and visually attractive way to protect our water resources from stormwater (rainwater) pollution! Native plants act as the “first line of defense” and filter pollutants that would otherwise travel to waterways. Working as a natural filtration system is just one of the many environmental benefits native plants provide.

The Benefits of California Native Plants

With winter on the horizon and the rainy season among us, now is the time to consider how colder and wetter conditions impact water conservation efforts in our yard and garden. California is still in a drought, so make the most of the gift of rain this season and incorporate native plants into your landscape to maximize the benefits of rain while minimizing rainwater runoff pollution!

San Mateo County receives an average of 24 inches of rain per year, with the rainy season lasting from October to May. During this period, the excess rainwater that does not soak into the ground travels on streets and pavements (also known as impermeable surfaces) and will pick up pollutants along the way into storm drains, which drain into local creeks, the San Francisco Bay, and the Pacific Ocean. Because native plants are best suited for the semi–Mediterranean climate, their deep roots absorb rainwater and prevent runoff from ever reaching these impermeable surfaces.

**(Native plants absorb excess rainwater and prevent runoff from reaching impermeable surfaces**.)

Permeable surfaces on the other hand work to counter the effects of runoff from rainwater and irrigation. Permeable surfaces are areas of land that contain materials such as mulch and turf. These materials allow water to trickle through while filtering out pollutants. There are also permeable paving surfaces for driveways and walkways, such as interlocking concrete pavers, porous asphalt, and pervious concrete. The combination of native plants and permeable surface materials prevents harmful chemicals and waste from traveling through the environment when it rains.

When deciding which native plants to surround your permeable walkways and driveway, consider adding Yerba buena, Hummingbird sage, or other climate-friendly plants. These plants do well in areas like San Mateo County, meaning you can enjoy a thriving yard that’s both beautiful and environmentally beneficial all season long. For more plant-related recommendations, check out these resources from the UC Master Gardeners of San Mateo & San Francisco Counties.

Maximize the Power of Native Plants with Your Very Own Rain Garden!

Have you heard about rain gardens? Do you know how they work? If not, we’ve got you covered!

A rain garden isn’t a garden of rain – it’s actually a garden comprised of native shrubs, flowers, and perennials planted in a shallow hole made for rainwater collection. Rain gardens with native plants are a powerhouse for rainwater absorption.

**(Rain gardens help reduce runoff and support local waterways.)**

Rain gardens are both aesthetically pleasing and environmentally functional. The strategic placement of rain gardens allows rain runoff (or stormwater runoff) to absorb into the garden’s flower bed, soaking up the rainwater that would usually sit at the foundation of your house or erode your soil.

To help you install your own rain garden and convert a traditional lawn to a water-efficient landscape at the same time, check out the Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency’s (BAWSCA) “Lawn Be Gone” community-based rebate program. If you are a customer of a BAWSCA member agency, you are eligible to receive $1-4 per square foot of lawn replaced and can earn an additional $300 by adding a rain garden!

To see if you’re part of a BAWSCA member agency and for more information about the “Lawn Be Gone” rebate with rain garden addition, visit our “Rain Gardens & Rebate Program” web page here.

Support Our Waterways and Your Wallet through Rainwater Harvesting

**(Collecting rainwater in barrels and cisterns is optimal and more cost-effective for watering plants than tap water.)**

Rain barrels are containers positioned next to homes and other standing structures that collect water from downspouts or gutter converters during rainfall. Cisterns are large tanks used for the same purpose – usually for large properties and commercial buildings.

The water collected in rain barrels can feed the native plants in your garden during drought, which cuts down on potable water usage and reduces your water bill. Further, rainwater is optimal for gardening because rainwater is free of the chemicals and additives that are present in tap water, which compromises soil quality over time.

Like native plants, rain barrels and cisterns collect rainwater that would otherwise run onto the pavement/street and wash pollutants, debris (leaves), and chemicals (like motor oil) into nearby waterways through storm drains. When this happens, the water quality and organisms that live in neighborhood creeks, the San Francisco Bay, and the Pacific Ocean are impacted.

Learn more about the benefits of owning a rain barrel, the countywide rain barrel rebate, and if you qualify for an additional rebate from BAWSCA here. The combined rebates can cover up to 100% of the per-barrel price (pre-tax) for qualifying applicants!

Use Your Winter Garden to Improve San Mateo County

Use this winter season to make the most of natural resources. Turn rain (or stormwater) runoff into nutrients for plants and wildlife when you use rainwater collection in your winter gardening routine. Score some environmental brownie points by using native plants in your winter landscape, installing a rain garden, or using rain barrels to conserve water.

Simple actions like adding native plants and installing rain barrels and rain gardens are essential to creating a more resilient ecosystem in San Mateo County now and for future generations. Used individually or in unison, these actions significantly impact the surrounding environment and can benefit wildlife, preserve water and soil quality, and make San Mateo County a healthier place to live.

To learn more about stormwater pollution, native plants, rain barrels, and rain gardens, visit flowstobay.org.

Share a photo of you with your rain barrel setup, tag @Flowstobay in your caption on Instagram and Facebook, and be sure to include the hashtag #FlowsToBarrel – we’d love to see you in action making that positive impact!

**(Shaleen of Redwood City with her 50-gallon rain barrel.)**

After the large success of the rain barrel program in the last 3 years, Flows To Bays is happy to announce the program has been brought back for a fourth year in a row.

Flows To Bay has again partnered with Rain Water Solutions (a certified B corporation) to acquire barrels in bulk directly. This translates into significant cost savings for San Mateo County residents and businesses! As part of this program, each barrel will cost $80 (pre-tax)—over a 50% discount from the retail amount. Qualifying applicants can also apply for the countywide rebate after rain barrel purchase and installation, which may cover up to 100% of the purchase price for specific water districts. Learn how much of a rebate your qualify for here.

With San Mateo County experiencing increasing extreme rainfall events, it’s more important than ever for residents to be able to capture stormwater. For every inch that falls on a 500-square-foot area, a rain barrel can collect 310 gallons. The 300 rain barrels purchased from our program in the last year alone will capture 93,000 gallons of water each time the barrels are filled!

Rain Barrel Program

This year, the rain barrels will be distributed in person at two locations – one in the Town of Hillsborough and one in the Town of San Carlos.

Get Program Details

Beyond the water conservation and financial benefits, capturing rainwater also improves the water quality of our local creeks, the San Francisco Bay, and the Pacific Ocean. Rainfall funnels into streets, collecting urban pollutants from all surfaces, including roofs. These pollutants then flow into storm drains and nearby waterways without treatment. Runoff is the number one source of pollution in our waterways nationwide. But by capturing rainwater with rain barrels, part of this pollution can be prevented.

“Rain barrels protect our waterways by collecting and storing rainwater for use in gardens, rather than allowing it to runoff properties where it can become polluted with contaminants as it flows toward the Bay and ocean,” said Reid Bogert, C/CAG Sr. Stormwater Program Specialist.

“Importantly, they [rain barrels] can become a vital tool for reducing our use of precious water resources and adapting to a changing climate as we continue to experience more intense though less frequent large storms, and longer periods of high heat and drought. We all should start thinking about rainwater as a resource.”
Reid Bogert, C/CAG Sr. Stormwater Program Specialist.

Flows To Bay is a program of the City/County Association of Governments of San Mateo County (C/CAG). Through the stormwater program, C/CAG helps fund the countywide rain barrel rebate program in partnership with the Bay Area Water Supply & Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) and member water agencies.

Green Infrastructure is one of the most effective ways to manage stormwater runoff sustainably in our communities. By catching, storing, and treating rainwater, green infrastructure (commonly referred to as GI) helps us pave the way to a cleaner, greener tomorrow, whether in the face of larger storms or to build resilience during drought.

What is Green Infrastructure?

Green Infrastructure is a term that loosely refers to nature-based, engineered solutions to minimize stormwater runoff, with pollutant removal and flow control benefits. Operating on scales ranging from sidewalk installations to complete ecosystem restructuring, GI includes a number of infrastructure solutions that work together to improve the environment through nature-based, urban greening, and community enhancement projects.

**GI sites are a cost-effective and resilient approach to managing wet weather and pollutants associated with stormwater runoff.**

Here are some commonly featured components of GI projects and installations:

Biotreatment soil media – specially engineered soils designed to soak up soil relatively quickly while cleaning out pollutants
Mulch – helps retain moisture and maintain plant health
“Curb-cuts” – enable runoff to flow from streets, roads and parking lots into green infrastructure
Specialized vegetation – trees, sedges, rushes, and other perennials uniquely adapted to both wet and dry periods
Rain barrels/cisterns – harvesting and reusing rainwater is a great way for homeowners to reduce pollution, conserve water and minimize stormwater runoff impacts
Permeable/pervious paving – specialized pavers and paving materials that soak up runoff and allow stormwater to stay in place and infiltrate underlying soils or get cleaned up before going down the storm drain
Green roofs – shallow vegetated roof systems can help cool buildings, reduce runoff and beautify our neighborhoods

There are many great design examples in our Green Infrastructure Design Guide. Click to link to view more! www.flowstobay.org/gidg

GI installations filter rainwater that would otherwise flow over permeable surfaces, collecting pollutants along the way before the dirty runoff drains to local water bodies, like creeks, the Bay, and the Oceans. Aside from the core functions of GI, these innovative green facilities also result in environmental health benefits and community climate resiliency by managing flood risks, preparing for drought conditions, lowering heat island effects, and more.

Reducing Stormwater Pollution

GI provides natural filtration which reduces water pollutants from entering water bodies when it rains.

Decreasing Flooding

With the recent storms in San Mateo County and surrounding areas, there is a greater risk of flooding in areas with inadequate drainage networks. Green infrastructure helps mitigate flooding by increasing opportunities to slow the flow of water and improve existing drainage in these areas.

Preparing for Drought and Storming

When GI projects can absorb water, the retained water replenishes groundwater reserves. In some areas, during storm events, GI can absorb significant volumes of water, while excess runoff.

Supporting Wildlife

Green infrastructure projects also increase the natural habitat for wildlife – which helps the ecosystem thrive and maintain balance.

Lowering the Heat Island Effect

Adding trees and plant life to urban areas reduces “urban heat island” impacts where predominantly hardened landscapes and development cause radically warmer ambient air temperatures, especially during high-heat days. GI can naturally cool these areas, resulting in more comfortable living conditions.

Adding Beauty to San Mateo County

There’s no denying that green infrastructure beautifies the landscape, adding life and vibrancy while combating stormwater pollution and increasing climate resiliency.

**Green Infrastructure at Washington Park in Burlingame**.

**Stormwater improvements along Old County Road by the East Side Connect Project in Belmont**.

**Stormwater improvements to Colma Town Hall.**

GI Is A Game Changer In Stormwater Pollution Prevention

As we experience an increase in downpours, our existing green infrastructure projects in San Mateo County are working to effectively capture stormwater. When drought conditions re-emerge, the captured stormwater will help us through the dry spell.

GI is a game changer when chaotic water cycles present themselves. Water that might otherwise flood structures, contaminate water sources, or flow out to the Bay or Ocean unused is instead put to use for our communities in a variety of ways.

Latest Additions In GI Across San Mateo County

Some of the latest completed GI facilities in San Mateo can be found along San Mateo Dr. The project sits between the sidewalk and bike lane and collects stormwater, assists with flooding, and increases safety for cyclists and pedestrians by adding a buffer to the sidewalk and more visibility along the roadside.

New GI Project on San Mateo Dr. in San Mateo

We welcome you to explore our GI story map where we showcase additional areas of green infrastructure throughout our beautiful county. This map will help you locate green infrastructure projects near you.

The Benefits of California Native Plants

Maximize the Power of Native Plants with Your Very Own Rain Garden!

Have you heard about rain gardens? Do you know how they work? If not, we’ve got you covered!

To see if you’re part of a BAWSCA member agency and for more information about the “Lawn Be Gone” rebate with rain garden addition, visit our “Rain Gardens & Rebate Program” web page here.

Support Our Waterways and Your Wallet through Rainwater Harvesting

Use Your Winter Garden to Improve San Mateo County

To learn more about stormwater pollution, native plants, rain barrels, and rain gardens, visit flowstobay.org.

Illegal dumping and littering have big consequences that small actions can avoid.

The consequences of illegal dumping are much more than a $10,000 fine; local governments in California spend tens of millions of dollars to remove illegally dumped materials. But even then, the cost to human health and the environment is immeasurable.

What is Illegal Dumping and Littering?

At the most basic level, illegal dumping and littering refer to the act of discarding waste where it doesn’t belong. Typically, “illegal dumping” refers to improperly discarding large volumes of material while “littering” refers to improperly discarding smaller volumes. Whether it be mattresses left on the sidewalk, appliances left on the highway, or plastic bottles left on the ground, littering and illegal dumping are huge issues for the health of our waterways and community.

Choking Our Waterways

Aside from the visual impact of illegal dumping and littering, many illegally dumped materials and litter contain:

Chemicals like PFAS (long-lasting chemicals that break down very slowly and have been linked to many health problems)
Heavy metals
Pesticides
Other toxins

When discarded items are left outside on streets, sidewalks and vacant lots, sun exposure, wind and rain can cause these things to break into smaller fragments that are more easily mobilized and carried to storm drains and waterways. Toxins can also leach into water and may travel through the soil into underlying aquifers.

Additionally, marine life is known to ingest microplastics, which are small particles that humans may consume when we eat seafood. Non-aquatic wildlife may also mistake debris for food, and the overall ecosystem can suffer. Even If not consumed, a wide array of pollutants can end up in the same waterways that provide the fish that we eat and the recreational opportunities we all enjoy.

Provide Solutions, Not Pollution

We must all be diligent to protect our waterways against litter and illegally dumped materials and hold our community accountable. Here are some ways you can be part of the solution:

Remember that ONLY water should go down the storm drains. Never drain wash water, chlorinated pool water, automotive fluids, paints, or other contaminants down the storm drain system.
Stay vigilant and properly dispose of your items. Learn what items are household hazardous waste (HHW), and find your nearest HHW disposal center here.
Participating in a community cleanup is a great way to get involved. Check out our event calendar for the next cleanup near you.
Whenever possible, go reusable. Carry a refillable water bottle when you’re out and about, ask for a reusable cup when enjoying coffee at a cafe, and shop at bulk goods stores that allow you to use reusable containers. We featured one such local zero-waste shop in a recent blog post.
If you witness or discover illegal dumping, the best thing you can do is report it.

City-Specific Resources to Report Illegal Dumping

Municipality	Number(s) to Call	Email, Form, or App	Report Illegal Dumping In Progress
Atherton	(650) 363-4125
Belmont	(650) 595-7425	pworks@belmont.gov
Brisbane	(415) 508-2130
Burlingame	(650) 558-7670	accessBurlingame	Police Department: (650) 777-4100
Colma	(650) 757-8888 after hours: (650) 997-8321	Online Form
Daly City	(650) 991-8200	Daly City iHelp App	Police Department: (650) 992-1225
East Palo Alto	(650) 853-7253	Online Form	Police Dispatch: (650) 321-1112
Foster City	(650) 286-3238	Foster City Access App
Half Moon Bay	(650) 726-8288
Hillsborough	(650) 375-7444 (650) 330-6600	ACT Menlo Park App	Police Department: (650) 375-7470
Millbrae	(650) 259-2300
Pacifica	(650) 738-7344 (650) 738-3760	Online Form	Police Department: (650) 738-7314
Portola Valley	(650) 363-4911	PV Connect
Redwood City	(650) 780-7464	myRWC App
San Bruno	(650) 616-7160	Online Form
San Carlos	(650) 802-4261	Online Form building@cityofsancarlos.org
San Mateo	(650) 522-730		Police Department: (650) 522-7700
South San Francisco	(650) 829-3848		Police Department: (650) 877-8900
Unincorporated SMC		Report It! SMC
Woodside	(650) 372-620

More information:

County of San Mateo Office of Sustainability: Information about reducing, reusing, recycling
Recology San Mateo County: Bulky item disposal
Caltrans: Dumping on freeways or off-ramps

Did you know that over 10 million tons of plastic are dumped into the ocean yearly? Our oceans and marine life are drowning in plastic – most of which are single-use materials. On the bright side, big changes are coming to address this massive issue. On June 30th, Senate Bill 54 (SB 54) was signed into the California State Legislature. Specifically addressing plastic production and producer responsibility, this bill can shift the tide regarding plastic pollution and its impact on our waterways

What is SB 54?

The Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act, or Senate Bill 54, sets stringent timelines to reduce and eliminate the production of single-use plastics in California. With the timelines requiring a transition to recyclable or compostable packaging, this bill ensures that the packaging industry takes action towards a pollution-free environment. The bill sets the following goals:

By 2032, 25% less plastic packaging will be produced. Of the single-use plastics still being made, 65% must be compostable or recyclable.
A Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) will be created to oversee and enforce regulations on single-use plastic producers.
Single-use plastic producers will be required to pay an annual mitigation fee of $500 million, all of which will go towards mitigating the effects of single-use plastic on the environment and human health

Why SB 54 Is a Win for Stormwater

90% of plastic in the ocean is windblown and waterborne from urban areas, meaning that stormwater is one of the most common ways plastic gets transported to larger bodies of water. When plastic enters bodies of water, animals may entangle themselves in plastic materials or mistake plastic for food. Additionally, plastic products may break into smaller and smaller pieces, which are considered microplastics when they reach less than 5 millimeters in size. When marine life ingests microplastics, human health is at risk because we eat the seafood that has ingested microplastics! With less plastic produced, less plastic will enter our waterways and pollute our ecosystems and community.

“True Source Control (the elimination of a pollutant at its source) and the use of alternative products offers the most effective and economical approach to the elimination of many pollutants that impair the beneficial uses of California’s waterways.”
Karen cowan, Executive Director of the California Stormwater Quality Association

Zero-Waste Initiatives Near You!

San Mateo County agencies and businesses have already been taking steps to cut back on single-use plastics!
In a recent blog, we share the story of Byrd’s Filling Station, San Mateo County’s first zero-waste store. Here, you can bring reusable bags and containers to fill up on bulk foods and household items. Additionally, Reusable San Mateo County partners with local food businesses to incorporate reusable containers in lieu of single-use plastic. Find locations implementing reusable/non-plastic practices near you using this map!

“Waste” No Time- Stay Updated

As the transition away from single-use plastic continues, see the change for yourself and try taking small steps to introduce zero-waste behaviors into your lifestyle. Share your efforts with us on social media!

Byrd’s Filling Station is clearing the way to a low waste future right here in San Mateo County!

Laura Porter, owner of Byrd’s and our newest community champion, is helping residents conveniently reduce waste while minimizing the harmful impacts plastic can have on our health, wildlife, and our waterways. As Laura notes, plastic unfortunately comes with an immense amount of pollution, from its fossil fuel beginnings all the way to the leaching of chemicals into our soil, air, water, and even our bodies. Meanwhile, many of us are reliant on plastics in our day-to-day lives despite our best intentions!

“Byrd’s Filling Station was created to make it easy to replace items that would typically come in single-use plastic packaging with reusable or more sustainable alternatives, as well as offering a way to refill those containers over and over with consumable household goods.”
— Laura Porter

Laura’s Low Waste Lifestyle Journey

Laura’s determination to reduce plastic waste all started back in 2018 with the “Plastic Free July” movement. After hearing about other people’s zero waste efforts (like fitting a year’s worth of garbage in a mason jar!) Laura set out to do a week’s worth of grocery shopping for her family of four with a commitment to zero plastic. “I walked out of the store that day with a baguette, a dozen eggs, and a little bit of fresh produce. That was when I noticed that there was a need in the community for a store that offered better packaging alternatives.”

After a ton of dedicated research and sampling of plastic-free products, Laura’s efforts quickly blossomed into a desire to help not only to her own family, but also to the local community. Laura began by selling plastic-free products at farmers markets and eventually switched over to home delivery during the pandemic. In June 2022, the Byrd’s Filling Station storefront opened.

Clean Products, Inside & Out

The efforts of Byrd’s Filling Station help keep our waterways clean by offering products that are free of toxins and plastic packaging–both of which sadly end up as water pollution more often than not.

As Laura says, “plastic is a lightweight material that can very easily become airborne and accidentally become a pollutant.” Laura went on to explain how even if someone properly places a plastic water bottle in a blue recycling bin, it can easily fall out if the bin is disturbed by wildlife, winds, or the process of a hauler emptying and transporting it to a recycling center. “In all of those scenarios, that bottle is almost guaranteed to end up in our waterways eventually… and that is assuming someone was well-intentioned and did it correctly!”

Aside from the plastic-free packaging, the products that Byrd’s sells are safe for both our little ones and our precious waterways. Laura notes, “While I have cut out products that directly expose me and my family to carcinogenic chemicals, it’s also important to understand the impact that our chosen products have as they continue downstream after we use them. That’s why at Byrd’s Filling Station, we’re picky about the products just as much as we are about the packaging, and all of our refillable laundry detergents are greywater safe!”

Taking the First Steps

Going “zero waste” may seem incredibly daunting, and may not be 100% realistic for everyone depending on lifestyle, family needs, and access to low waste products. Even the state of California is committed to reducing plastic pollution with a recently signed piece of legislation that requires all packaging to be recyclable or compostable of 2032.

While Byrd’s Filling Station has already met that goal, even Laura admits that “Zero waste is really an ideal, or a philosophy…. but what’s important is to make an effort.”

We asked Laura for a few pieces of advice she would give to someone wanting to start their own low waste or plastic-free journey:

Small steps count: “The best suggestion for changing habits is to do it slowly. Trying to change everything in your life at the same time can feel overwhelming or complex, and lead people to give up on even trying. So swap out one or 2 things at a time, and then choose the next swap once that feels normal.”
Choose where you shop wisely: “And secondly – shop at places that make it easy! Shopping at Costco or Target just guarantees lots of plastic packaging – so pick another retailer for your needs, and be intentional about what you buy and where you shop.
Use social media: Plug #zerowaste or #plasticfree into social media a couple times and let the algorithm bring inspiration to you.”

While we don’t all need to fit an entire year’s worth of household trash in a mason jar, we can certainly do our part in reducing the amount of plastic in our lives. Byrd’s Filling Station is a fantastic example of how one person can inspire many to get involved in keeping our environment and health safe without sacrificing convenience or quality. By making simple swaps and starting small, every simple action adds up to a cleaner San Mateo County.

On Saturday, January 29, 2022, Flows To Bay held an event to distribute 396 pre-purchased 50-gallon rain barrels to San Mateo County residents. Residents from 17 of the county’s 20 cities and towns and unincorporated areas picked up their barrels at Lyngso Garden Materials in San Carlos.

We distributed 396 50-gallon rain barrels.

This was Flows To Bay’s second rain barrel distribution event in three months and was organized to accommodate residents’ unexpected enthusiasm for rain barrels. This program was initially launched as a pilot program in September 2021 as an effective water capture and conservation strategy against California’s ongoing drought condition. Flows To Bay distributed 330 purchased rain barrels at the first event on November 13, 2021. After this initial event, there were still nearly 200 residents on the waitlist for a rain barrel, prompting a relaunch of the program once inventory became available.

“This program aimed to educate residents about the water conservation and pollution prevention aspects of rain while providing an easy and affordable way to take action. The countywide rain barrel rebate funded by the City/County Association of Governments of San Mateo County and agency partners coupled with this rain barrel program is just one way that we hope to underscore just how valuable water is as a resource. Clean water, a healthy community—it’s truly a team effort!”
REID BOGERT, C/CAG STORMWATER PROGRAM SPECIALIST

The countywide rain barrel rebate program that provides a minimum $50 rebate per rain barrel. Residents can take advantage of the rain barrel rebate program with any qualifying rain barrel purchase and can get additional information at flowstobay.org/rainbarrel.

Beyond water conservation, capturing rainwater also improves the water quality of our local creeks, the San Francisco Bay, and the Pacific Ocean. Rainfall funnels into streets, collecting urban pollutants from all surfaces, including roofs. These pollutants then flow into storm drains and nearby waterways without treatment. Runoff is the number one source of pollution in our waterways nationwide. Rain barrels help reduce the number of pollutants that reach our waterways.

Reid Bogert, C/CAG Stormwater Program Specialist, loads rain barrels into a truck bed.

Just how much of an impact did this program have?

At 50-gallon capacity a piece, the combined 726 rain barrels purchased from this program will be able to capture 36,300 gallons of water each time the barrels are filled. This also means 36,300 gallons of runoff that won’t enter our waterways, reducing the amount of pollutants that reach our waterways.

This program far exceeded its initial goal of selling 100 rain barrels. San Mateo County residents showed such enthusiasm for conserving water with rain barrels that several individuals waited until after the distribution event ended for the possibility to buy unclaimed rain barrels.

“It’s very exciting and encouraging to see such enthusiasm and increased demand for this bulk discounted rain barrel program, as we approach our second event. C/CAG works on various issues that affect quality of life in San Mateo County, including addressing stormwater runoff and planning for climate change, among others. This rain barrel program attempts to address water resilience from a holistic standpoint, while bringing accessible and affordable options into our communities. This is exactly the type of impact we strive to make. We could not be happier with the results of this program and look forward to expanding it in years to come.”
MARIE CHUANG, CHAIR OF THE C/CAG BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND COUNCILMEMBER, TOWN OF HILLSBOROUGH

Residents may still take advantage of the rain barrel rebate program with any qualifying rain barrel purchase. To learn more visit flowstobay.org/rainbarrel.