Materials Storage & Spill Cleanup
Non-hazardous Materials Management
- Sand, dirt and similar materials should be stored at least 10 feet from catch basins or storm drains, and covered with a tarp when rain or high winds is forecast.
- Use (but don’t overuse) water for dust control.
- Sweep streets and other paved areas daily. Do not wash down with water!
- Cover and check dumpsters regularly for leaks and to make sure they don’t overflow. Repair or replace leaking dumpsters promptly.
Spill Prevention and Control
- Keep an adequate supply of spill cleanup materials (rags, absorbents, etc.) available at all times.
- When spills or leaks occur, surround, contain and remove them immediately, being particularly careful to prevent them from reaching the gutter, street or storm drains. Never wash spilled material into a gutter, street, storm drain, or creek!
- Place spill kits in accessible locations near the main waste transfer areas and loading docks. Train all employees on the proper use of these kits and proper disposal of used absorbents.
- Report any hazardous materials spills immediately! Call the Richardson Fire Department (911) and/or the Richardson Response Center (972-744-4111) for assistance.
- Never rinse paint brushes or materials onto the ground or in a gutter or street.
- Paint out excess water-based paint before rinsing brushes, rollers or containers in a sink. If you cannot use a sink, direct wash water to a bucket or other container for proper disposal.
- Paint out excess oil-based paint before cleaning brushes in thinner.
- Filter paint thinners and solvents for reuse whenever possible. Dispose of oil-based paint sludge/unusable thinner as hazardous waste.
- For further waste disposal information contact the City of Richardson at 972-744-4111.
- Reuse water for dust control, irrigation, etc. to the greatest extent possible.
- Be sure to call City of Richardson (972-744-4111) before discharging water to a street, gutter or storm drain. Filtration or diversion through a basin, tank or sediment trap may be required.
- Always effectively protect storm drain inlets when saw cutting. Use filter fabric, straw waddles, sandbags, gravel dams or other effective controls to keep slurry out of the storm drain system.
- Shovel, absorb, or vacuum saw-cut slurry and pick up all waste as soon as you are finished in an area or at the end of each workday.
- If saw cut slurry enters a catch basin, clean it up immediately.
Concrete, Grout & Mortar Storage and Waste Disposal
Store concrete grout and mortar under cover and away from drainage areas. These materials must never reach a storm drain.
Wash concrete equipment/trucks at an appropriate off-site location or designate an on-site area for washout (water must be contained). Wash water can never reach the street, storm drain or fresh water sources such as creeks or streams. Prevent rain water from reaching fresh concrete wash out areas.
Any questions should be directed to the City of Richardson Health Department at 972-744-4083.