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
• 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 are currently implementing 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.

Clean Energy

A transition towards renewable energy sources cuts down on harmful carbon emissions and saves money!

• Solar power: The City has updated the lighting in Parking Lot 1, Hyatt Park, and the 38th Avenue Fitness park to solar powered units that use less energy. They are also "off the grid" allowing them to remain lit even if the power were to go out due to a storm or other emergency. 
• Learn how your home uses energy and find energy saving opportunities through PEPCO's Quick Home Energy Check-Up program
• Electric vehicle charging stations: To help reduce resident's dependence on fossil fuels, the City offers electric vehicle charging stations in several public parking lots.
• Electric vehicle fleet: As new vehicles are added to the City's administration, Public Works, and Police fleets, every effort is made to secure electric or hybrid options. Watch a brief video about the City's electric trash truck (the first of its kind in the country!) below and learn more about the HCPD's electric vehicles.