April 2026 Greener Davis Environmental News
| |
Yard Material Spring Collection
Mark your calendars, the spring, one-time, on-street yard material pick-up will be the week of May 4. However, yard material piles can only be placed in the street up to 7 days before a scheduled collection. There should not be any piles placed in the street at this time!
The on-street yard material pick-up is for excess yard materials that do not fit in the organics cart. Yard materials can always be placed in the organics cart where they are collected once per week.
More information on yard material collection
| | |
Sprinkler Spruce-Up
As irrigation is being turned back on (or increased), it is the ideal time to do a sprinkler spruce-up. Check your irrigation for spray heads that could be missing or cracked. Check drip irrigation for cracks and holes in the drip line and for clogged emitters. Also remember to check your irrigation controller programming and the battery back-up (which protects against power outages that can cause a controller to reset).
Sprinkler irrigation is currently limited to a maximum of three days per week year-round. These restrictions only apply to sprinkler/spray irrigation and do not apply to other methods of irrigation such as drip systems and hand-watering.
Irrigation Tips
| | |
Invasive Mosquitoes Detected in the Area
Invasive Aedes aegypti mosquitoes have been detected in the city of Davis. Unlike many other mosquitoes, this species is most active in the day and poses a serious health concern because it can transmit diseases, such as Zika, dengue and chikungunya. What makes Aedes aegypti especially challenging is that they thrive in small backyard water sources and can even breed in as little as a teaspoon of water.
These mosquitoes are “container breeders,” laying eggs on the sides of buckets, plant saucers, bird baths, pet bowls and other small water sources around homes. Their eggs can survive for months, making them difficult to control. To reduce their spread, residents are urged to:
- Dump and scrub outdoor, water-holding containers weekly.
- Cover buckets, bins and tubs with tight-fitting lids.
- Empty and refill bird baths, fountains and outdoor pet water dishes every three days.
- Keep rain gutters clear and redirect sprinklers away from containers.
The Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito & Vector Control District encourages residents to inspect their yards regularly and do their part to eliminate mosquito breeding. Free home service inspections are available for outdoor areas to help identify any issues. To schedule an inspection or to sign up for email notifications from the Vector Control District, visit www.FIGHTtheBITE.net. Together, we can help protect our community from invasive mosquitoes!
| | |
Garden Pest: Aphids
Aphids can produce both live young and fertilized eggs throughout their lifecycle, making management challenging. Aphids are soft-bodied insects that feed on new plant growth using their piercing mouth parts. They excrete a sweet, sugary and sticky "honeydew" substance, which may result in sticky surfaces underneath where they feed. While complete eradication of the aphids may be unrealistic, aphids can be managed through ecologically safer methods rather than using conventional pesticides. These methods include using a forceful stream of water to knock existing aphids off plants, creating a landscape that supports beneficial insects, avoiding over fertilizing and over watering plants, and using nonpersistent horticultural oils and insecticidal soaps.
| | |
Bulky Waste Voucher - Save the Date
The one-time bulky waste landfill voucher for 2026 will be arriving in the mail at the end of April. The voucher will be valid from May 1 to October 31, 2026. The voucher allows Davis residents to dispose of one free load of bulky waste at the Yolo County Central Landfill. Commercial haulers and business materials will not be accepted as part of this program. Bulky waste includes appliances, toilets, sinks, scrap metal, furniture, electronics and more.
Bulky waste includes appliances, toilets, sinks, scrap metal, furniture, electronics and more. Learn more on the the City's website or on the Recology Davis bulky waste voucher page.
| | |
Let's Sort This Out - Checking in on Waste Sorting in Davis
As required by State law, the City will soon be starting waste bin contamination checks, a process to see how well waste is being sorted when placed in the trash, recycling and organics containers for collection. To perform this task, the City has hired APTIM, a private company that specializes in this type of work. APTIM staff will be wearing safety vests with the APTIM logo as well as ID tags that identify them as an APTIM employee working for the City of Davis.
APTIM staff will be checking over 1,000 trash, recycling and organics containers that are set out for collection by Recology Davis. APTIM staff will lift the lid of containers to see the contents. Bagged waste will not be disturbed and only the material at the top of the container will be reviewed. If waste materials are sorted correctly in that container, they will leave a “congratulations” tag to thank the customer for doing a good job. If the container has contamination (items inside that should not be there), APTIM staff will leave a “let’s sort this out” tag, encouraging customers to place waste into the correct container. Both tags will also have a waste sorting guide on the back to show what goes in each container. These State-mandated contamination checks are not punitive and the tags left by APTIM are not citations, fines or any other notice of violation.
When route monitoring was performed last year, 88% of the surveyed trash, recycling and organics bins were found to have correct sorting! The most common contaminates found in recycling and organics bins were plastic bags, which are neither recyclable, nor compostable.
More Information on 2026 Waste Sorting Monitoring
| | |
Have You Herd? Grazing Livestock Lending a Hoof
As part of the City’s Integrated Pest Management Program, from April to July grazing livestock will be used in City-managed areas, such as greenbelts, parkways, basins, channels, etc., as a non-chemical weed control and fuel-reduction tool.
If you see livestock, use caution. Please stay on the trails and be aware of the fence netting that is in place to keep grazing animals secured in a specific area. The fence is low voltage and may be electrified in some sections.
Professional shepherds and guard animals will monitor the grazing flocks. If you have questions or concerns, please contact the Public Works Utilities and Operations Department.
|
Upcoming Events
Saturday, April 18 -- Earth Day Celebration from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Yolo County Central Landfill Big Blue Barn Thrift Store, 44090 County Road 28H. Meet industry experts and learn new tips on how to compost, recycle and repurpose for a more sustainable future! During this event, most items at the Thrift Store will also be 50% off. Big Blue Barn Information
Saturday, April 26 -- California Duck Days from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Headquarters, 45211 County Road 32B. Visit the City’s table at Duck Days for information on urban wildlife and environmental programs in Davis. This outdoor festival is open to all ages and includes activities like nature themed arts and crafts, live animals, wetland science activities and wildlife area tours. Entry fee of $25/car. California Duck Days Information
Saturday, May 2 -- Recology Davis Shred Event from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. (or until the trucks fill up!). Come by to drop off papers and confidential documents that you’d like shredded. There is a limit of four 11” x 14” file boxes per customer. This event is open to Davis residential customers only. Recology Davis Shred Event
Sunday, May 3 -- Loopalooza from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The City of Davis in collaboration with Bike Davis invites you to participate in Loopalooza, an all-ages event around the famous 12-mile Davis Bike Loop from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sign the waiver and see a map
|
Help Shape Yolo County's Clean Transportation Future
Yolo County is inviting residents, community members and local stakeholders to participate in two upcoming public workshops to help shape the County’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Action Plan.
The ZEV Action Plan will identify priority locations and strategies for expanding electric vehicle charging and clean mobility options across Yolo County. Community input will help ensure the plan reflects local priorities and improves access to transportation—especially in rural and historically underserved communities. Your input will directly shape how clean transportation is implemented across Yolo County!
- In-Person Workshop: April 9 from 3:30–6:30 p.m. at TANA Taller Arte del Nouveau Amanecer,1224 Lemen Ave. in Woodland. Free food and childcare will be provided.
-
Virtual Workshop: April 14 from 12–1 p.m. via Zoom: https://yolocounty.zoom.us/j/81207016766
At these workshops, participants will:
- Review proposed EV charging and mobility hub locations
- Learn how community input has shaped recommendations
- Share feedback on priorities like cost, safety, access and reliability
- Help ensure the plan reflects real community needs
Learn more
| | |
Ask Greener Davis
If you have a question that you feel would be of interest to the community, please email it to PWWeb@CityofDavis.org, and you may see it featured in an upcoming e-blast or social media post.
Q. What do I do if I see a swarm of bees on my property?
A. During this time of year, you may notice swarms of bees clustering or flying as new queen bees split from their old hives along with many worker bees to form a new hive.
Although it might be a bit alarming to see or hear thousands of bees clustered on a tree branch or on a building, there’s nothing to worry about. Bees play an essential role in agriculture and gardens and without the pollination of bees, farmers and gardeners would not be able to grow much of the food we eat. Never spray a swarm of bees with water or pesticides!
If you find a swarm of bees, you can check in with the California Master Beekeeper Program or do an internet search to find a contact for a local bee-keeper. Bee-keepers can remove the bees carefully and direct them to a hive where the bees can do their work safely.
More information on bee swarms.
Q. I'm interested in doing research on city properties, what is the process?
A. Anyone interested in performing research on City property should submit an online application to receive a research permit. The City supports scientific research in public spaces as it gives the community insight into the plant and animal species that call Davis home. As such, there is no cost for this permit but we ask that you share the results of your research with us.
Any research being conducted on City property that involves material collection, interaction with wildlife, utilization of City resources for staging (including trees), or has the potential to damage, remove or modify City property (i.e. disruption of vegetation, staking or digging, vehicle use in parks or greenbelts, etc.) requires express written permission from the City. Please fill out and submit the research permit application below with the materials requested and City staff will evaluate your project proposal. Should your proposal be approved, you will receive a letter from the City outlining your permit approval, and any conditions of your permit.
City of Davis Research Permit Application
| | | | | |
