Sustainability & Protecting the Environment

Protecting trees and waterways

The City of Hyattsville has been recognized as a Tree City by the Arbor Day Foundation for over 30 years. To protect our urban forests and the Anacostia River watershed, the City has comprehensive tree care and stormwater management practices. 

• Download our Residential Tree Care brochure
• View the Tree Care web page for information about Hyattsville's tree care programs and Urban Canopy Report
• The Chesapeake Bay Trust's Rain Check Rebate Program offers rebate incentives to homeowners, businesses, and other property owners who implement strategies to improve stormwater runoff quality. Items eligible for rebate include: rain barrels, cisterns, rain gardens, urban tree canopy, pavement removal, permeable pavement, and green roofs. Learn more about eligibility and apply for your rebate!
• The City is working towards implementation of stormwater pollution and flooding mitigation strategies suggested in the Lower Ward 1 Resilient Stormwater Systems Planning Study. In 2023 the City installed an innovative, engineered wetland at Charles Armentrout Drive and 42nd Place to reduce stormwater runoff issues in that area.
• Every year, the City sponsors residents to participate in the Anacostia Watershed Society's Watershed Stewards Academy. Residents receive an in-depth education in pollution prevention and implement local projects to improve the quality of our waterways.
• The City participates in an organic landscape management program for pesticide free maintenance of City parks, plantings, and playing fields. This prevents pesticide run-off into our local waterways and protects beneficial pollinators like bees, birds, and butterflies.
• Volunteers help clean-up City parks and streams and remove invasive plant species from our forests. Find volunteer opportunities at the bottom of this page!

Responsible waste management

Everything that we own and use has a lifecycle. Throwing things in the trash does not mean they disappear! Following the simple tenants of reduce, reuse and recycle keeps materials out of landfills where they can take decades to decompose and produce gases harmful to people and the planet.

• Reduce & Reuse: Be thoughtful about every purchase! Consider purchased gently-used items instead of increasing the demand for new products. The City supports annual Yard Sale Days in the Spring and Fall to encourage neighbors to exchange goods. Sign up for City notices for updates on Yard Sale Days or request a Yard Sale Permit to host your own. You can also donate your used items to one of many local re-use organizations in our area!
• Recycle & Compost: Before putting household items in the garbage, see if they can be recycled or composted! Visit the City's waste management web pages for details on recycling and composting services. The City collects weekly recycling and compost, offers motor oil and antifreeze disposal at the DPW Operations Center, and hosts an annual electronics recycling day.
• Not sure how to recycle something? Check out the list of suggestions at Earth911 to recycle everything from textiles to furniture.
• Save the Environment One Fork at a Time! On August 31, 2023, the Prince George’s County Department of the Environment joined the City of Hyattsville to host an informational session to discuss the new County bill CB-014-2022 to reduce single-use disposable foodware at food establishments and businesses. Compliance with the new law will be effective on October 1, 2023. Learn more by watching the session below. Click here to access the slides.