Category Archives: Neighborhood Safety

EXTREME Spring Cleaning! We’ve got it all right here in WB THIS SATURDAY!

FREE Drug Disposal
April 13 • 8am-Noon
Wells Branch Maintenance Yard13905 Thermal

Need to clean out those bathroom cabinets? Wells Branch is offering a safe and easy way to dispose of your excess, expired or unwanted prescription AND over-the-counter medication, including vitamins.

Stop by the Wells Branch Maintenance Shop on Saturday, April 13, from 8am-Noon to safely get these medications out of your
house, away from children and kept out of our water supply.

According to experts, these type of Take-Back initiatives help to address a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high — more Americans currently abuse prescription drugs than the number of those using cocaine, hallucinogens, and heroin combined, according to the 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. People can check Pacific Ridge offering alcohol treatment programs in Portland for the best drug abuse centers.

More information on how to properly dispose of medication can be found at www.dontflushdrugs.org.

Extreme Clean!  Saturday, April 13 • 8am-5pm • MUD Maintenance Yard • 13905 Thermal

Bulk Trash Drop Off • Hazardous Waste Collection Site • Drop Off for Habitat for Humanity & Easter Seals (8am-5pm)

Document Shredding (8am-2pm)

Spring is upon us! Now’s your chance to clean out that garage or shed before it gets really hot outside! We have a way for you to dispose of bulky trash as well as items that can be re-purposed rather than sent to the landfill. And, for the first time ever, we’re offering document shredding services, all free of charge!

Bring your old batteries, oil, paint, and antifreeze to the WB MUD Maintenance Facility at 13905 Thermal Drive, Saturday, April 13, from 8am-5pm. The MUD is providing a trailer and staff to transport these items to the Hazardous Waste Facility in far South Austin as part of our continued Keep Wells Branch Beautiful efforts.

There are restrictions as to what can be collected and transported. Oil, paint and anti-freeze need to be in closed containers.  If bringing car or boat batteries, a cardboard box would be appreciated (but not necessary). We cannot take light bulbs, fertilizer or other chemicals at this time.

In addition to the usual bulky trash collection, Ed & Kay Peterson have arranged to have a manned truck from Habitat for Humanity on-site for collection of re-usable materials. Easter Seals is also sending a truck at 4:30pm to pick up donations of clothing, pots & pans, household goods, etc. as well.

New to our recycling efforts, Progressive Waste (formerly IESI) will be providing Wells Branch with FREE document shredding services.  In a nutshell, this is how it works:

A CT Secure Shred Mobile Unit will be on site for the day to collect documents and materials delivered by WB residents to be securely shredded by Central Texas Secure Document Destruction group located in Pflugerville, TX.
Shred certified employees will collect and load the boxes/paper bags onto the enclosed truck for transport and will provide a chain of custody document to verify the inventory of boxes delivered and loaded onto the truck and CT’s receipt and responsibility to transport and shred the documents will be provided prior to transporting to the CT Secure Shred facility.

All of the shredding is done behind locked doors in their secure plant to ensure that document security is completely protected.

After the documents have been commingled, compressed, shredded, baled and sealed for shipment to the paper mills, CT Shred will provide a signed Certificate of Destruction verifying that the documents have been securely managed and shredded in accordance with NAID (National Association of Information Destruction) regulations. For more detailed information on the IESI Central Texas Secure Shredding and Recycling Facility and the process itself, visit: www.ctshred.com.

Questions on hazardous waste?  Call Debby at 512-656-0654

Download WB Clean Up Flyer.

AARP Safe Driving Class in Wells Branch – Sign Up NOW!

Tuesday, March 19, there will be an AARP Safe Driving Class held in the Recreation Center from 10 AM to 2 PM.  Cost is $12 for AARP members and $14 for non-members.  You will receive a Completion Certificate and a book of the information contained in the class.  This class is accepted by many insurance companies for a discount on your auto insurance premium.   Check with your insurance agent to see if you will qualify.

Contact Ron Robinder at Robinder@sbcglobal.net to register, or register at the door.  Space is somewhat limited, so early sign-up is recommended.

Firework Safety from the Travis County Fire Marshal’s Office

Submitted by: Travis County Emergency Services PIO Lisa Block, Tel: 512-854-7954

Fireworks are legal for sale in Travis County tomorrow, December 20, through midnight on January 1, but the Fire Marshal’s Office reminds residents that fireworks can cause severe injury and damaging fires. A red flag warning for tomorrow also brings high winds and added fire danger.

“Dry vegetation, high winds and low humidity increase our chances of experiencing wildfire, and fireworks could provide the spark that starts a fire,” said Travis County Fire Marshal Hershel Lee. “We ask that you refrain from using fireworks due to these conditions. If you insist on using fireworks, please follow recommended safety precautions.”

The Travis County Fire Marshals’ office recommends following these safety tips:

  • · Do not consume alcohol and use fireworks because it’s a dangerous combination.
  • · Do not use fireworks on high fire danger days, such as red flag days.
  • · To detonate fireworks, find a flat surface, away from buildings, dry leaves and grass.
  • · Have water on hand in case of a fire.
  • · Insist on adult supervision when buying or setting off fireworks.
  • · Be sure other people are out of range before lighting fireworks.
  • · Never try to re-Iight fireworks that have not fully functioned.
  • · Never give fireworks to small children; even sparklers can cause serious burns.

In 2010, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 8,600 people for fireworks related injuries. The risk of fireworks injury was highest for children ages 5-14. Many of these patients required hospital beds for recovery after treatment. To support their healing process, it is important to explore adaptive care surfaces for enhanced home recovery.

The NFPA also reports that in 2010 fireworks caused an estimated 15,500 reported fires that resulted in eight reported civilian deaths, 60 civilian injuries and $36 million in property damage.

The sale and use of skyrockets with sticks and missiles with fins are prohibited in unincorporated parts of Travis County due to the extremely dry conditions and risk of wildfire. The sale and possession of fireworks are prohibited within the city limits of Austin. In addition, fireworks are not allowed in Travis County Parks and parks managed by Travis County.