Hampton Roads residents will soon be able to apply for a free pet waste station through a new grant program from askHRgreen.org. Pet waste stations encourage residents to pick up after their pets by making it easy and convenient to do so.  They are also one small thing a community can do to help keep our local waterways clean.

Starting in December, askHRgreen.org will be offering free pet waste stations all over Hampton Roads through the new grant program. If your neighborhood, home owners association, or civic league is ready to make scooping the poop a priority, then you’re invited to apply.  How does it work?  askHRgreen provides the pet waste station and you keep it up! Each pet waste station comes ready to install and includes a post, sign, bag dispenser, waste can, hardware, 400 dog waste bags, and 50 can liners. All your group needs to do is regularly empty the trash and replace the bags.  That’s not much to ask for a cleaner community and healthier waterways!

Pet waste may be unsightly and gross, but it is also a major source of nitrogen and bacteria pollution in our local waterways.  When it rains, pet waste washes into our storm drains and eventually flows into rivers and streams.  This excess nitrogen and bacteria transform the water into a cloudy, green, foul-smelling mess that lacks oxygen and becomes an aquatic dead zone.  The same pollution is responsible for beach closures, fishing restrictions and warnings on eating local seafood.  Installing a pet waste station is one easy way to combat water pollution in your community.

askHRgreen.org will begin accepting applications for the pet waste station grant program later this month and supplies are limited, so be sure to apply early.  For more details on the program or to learn what else you can do help improve water quality in Hampton Roads, visit askHRgreen.org.