Residents, businesses, and public sites located within West Basin’s 17 cities and L.A. County Unincorporated areas are eligible to participate in the following programs.  (Please visit West Basin’s service area site map for eligibility, www.westbasin.org)

Residential Grass Replacement Rebate

Residents in the West Basin service area are eligible to apply for grass replacement rebates for projects that conserve water, reduce runoff, and benefit the local environment.

Check out the West Basin Grass Replacement webpage to see the current rebate amount per square foot of grass removed, and to learn more about the application process: Grass Replacement & Tree Rebate | West Basin MWD, CA 

Public Agency Grass Replacement Rebate

This program offers incentives for transforming publicly owned spaces in the West Basin service area. Eligible public sites include city facilities, street medians, schools, parks, community centers, and other public sites.

Click the link to learn more: Public Agency Grass Replacement Rebate | West Basin MWD, CA

Rain Barrels

West Basin provides free rain barrels each year to help residents save water and money. Rain Barrels are a great way to collect rainwater for your plants and gardens.  Also, the use of rain barrels reduces stormwater runoff by collection and reusing rainwater, helping to save residents water and money. Potential program participants must live in the service area and register to receive up to two free 50-gallon rain barrels valued at approximately $100 each.

Visit West Basin’s web page for more information about future giveaway events and rebates for rain barrels.

Rain Barrel Webpage: Rain Barrels | West Basin MWD, CA

Firescaping Workshops

West Basin partners with local cities, fire departments and local water companies to provide free Firescaping Workshops. Firescaping uses landscaping techniques, native plants, and best management practices to protect your home from wildfires. These practices, along with smart irrigation systems, can help safeguard your home, use less water, and save money on your water bill.

Click the link for more information and resources, and to see upcoming Firescaping Workshops near you: Firescaping | West Basin MWD, CA

Free Landscape Classes

West Basin partners with the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) and local cities to provide free landscape classes.  The classes are virtual and in-person and teach on a variety of subjects, such as: landscape design, turf removal, native plants, irrigation equipment, soils, organic amendments, rebates, and other subjects.

Visit MWD’s Bewaterwise website here to learn more about upcoming classes:  www.bewaterwise.com

Water Bottle Filling Station Grant Program

West Basin awards upfront grants to public sites for the purchase of an indoor, wall-mounted station, or an outdoor, pedestal-style station, to public entities within the service area. This program was created to provide access to safe and reliable tap water to refill reusable bottles.

Find more information about criteria for participation and example photos here: Water Bottle Filling Station Grant Program | West Basin MWD, CA

Recycled Water Fill Station

West Basin met all the federal, state and local permitting requirements and launched its Recycled Water Fill Station. By using recycled water on landscapes, residents can help conserve imported water.  Depending on current budgets and resources, West Basin may offer its free recycled water to all residential customers in the service area during drought periods and dry months of the year.

See the most recent updates on the Recycled Water Fill Station at this link: Recycled Water Fill Station | West Basin MWD, CA

Additional Information

West Basin also offers other great educational and outreach programs, so please be sure to visit their web site.

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) also offers great programs.   You can visit their two web sites here, www.bewaterwise.com and www.socalwatersmart.com  

Note:  All of West Basin’s and MWD’s programs are subject to annual budget approvals and can change or end at any time.

• Screens the storm drain system to identify and eliminate illicit connections and discharges—only clean water should be discharged to the storm drain system. 
• Implements a proactive litter abatement program for keeping public rights-of-way, streets, medians, parks, and trails free of litter and debris. All public streets are swept twice per month with accelerated sweeping in the downtown commercial area. 
• Inspects industrial and commercial businesses to ensure that any outdoor activities/storage are conducted in a manner that does not discharge pollutants to the storm drain system and minimizes the potential for contact of pollutants with storm water runoff. 
• Furnishes City parks with pet waste collection stations and requires dogs to be on leash. 
• Prohibits improper disposal of manure by requiring that “Manure shall be kept in an enclosed container designed for such purpose. Manure that is not used for composting must be removed completely from individual properties at least once per week. Manure used for composting must be kept in an enclosed container designed for such purposes.” 
• Parks are maintained with the minimum amount of fertilizer necessary—playing fields are fertilized twice per year and fully composted top dressing is applied once per year.
• Implements integrated pest management practices which call for using physical barriers and controls first and when necessary the least toxic chemical control that is effective, e.g., wood chips are used in lieu of herbicide for weed control on horse trails. 
• Inspects irrigation systems in City parks and recreational areas frequently for broken heads, overspray, and muddy areas. 
• Adopted the Ahwahnee Water Principles for Resource-Efficient Land Use   https://www.lgc.org/resource/the-ahwahnee-principles/
• Requires new landscapes to be designed to conserve water using a water budget approach. These requirements apply to new landscaping for commercial, office and institutional developments and to developer-installed landscaping in residential subdivisions. 
• In partnership with the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy is eradicating invasive/exotic plants and conducting habitat enhancement and restoration of the native habitat in the George F Canyon Nature Preserve. This work is funded under a Riparian and Riverine grant by the California Department of Parks and Recreation 2000 Park Bond Act.

• Achieved 50% reduction in the generation of solid waste since 1990. 
• The City rolled out a new state-of-the-art, three-cart system, making it easy for residents to recycle household plastic and glass containers, cans, and paper, as well as green waste. As a result, there has been a substantial increase in waste diversion, with Rolling Hills Estates residents consistently keeping more than 60% of their waste out of the trash carts and out of landfills. 
• Increased curbside collection of used oil by 160% and used oil filters by 590% under the City’s new residential solid waste collection service.
• The City provides curbside pickup of used oil and filters for recycling along with yard waste and other recyclables. Manure collection and recycling service for horse owners is available through the City’s franchise hauler. The City also provides pickup of bulky items at no extra cost to residents. 
• Most City parks and many transit stops are equipped with separate beverage container recycling collection containers along with trash cans.
• A joint Peninsula cities ad in the Concours d’Elegance program magazine promotes used oil and oil filter recycling to auto enthusiasts. 
• Adopted the Alameda County New Home Construction Green Building Guidelines as a City reference document and encourages the use of the LEED Green Building Rating System for construction projects within the City. http://www.stopwaste.org/home/index.asp?page=487

What is the City doing about reducing air pollution and the emissions of greenhouse gases?

City Council authorized the Mayor to sign the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement pledging to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 7% by 2012—Sierra Club’s Cool Cities initiative.

• New street sweeping contract requires the use of state-of-the-art equipment (Air Quality Management District certified) that reduces the emission of particulate air pollution from paved roads utilizing less polluting vehicles and/or alternative fuel vehicles. 
• Municipal riding rings are equipped with water spray systems for dust control and dust control additives are applied periodically in riding rings to further reduce dust generation. 
• Reduced frequency of solid waste collection to once per week to increase collection efficiency and minimize consumption of fossil fuels, air emissions, as well as wear-and-tear on roads.
• Converted all traffic signal lights from incandescent to energy-efficient LED, a 90% energy savings.

Find out more about what YOU can do to help below:

City-specific links and contacts:

• Rolling Hills Estates Climate Action Plan
• Rolling Hills Estates Energy Efficiency Climate Action Plan
• Equestrian & Horsekeeping - Best Management Practices
• Landscaping, Gardening & Pest Control - Best Management Practices
• Mobile Businesses - Best Management Practices
• Swimming Pool & Spa Maintenance
• www.keepingRHEClean.wm.com

General Environmental Resources: 

• LA County Environmental Programs: www.888CleanLA.com 
• Global and Local Environmental Information www.Earth911.org

Water & Energy Conservation: 

• Southern California Edison Plug-in Electric Vehicles: www.sce.com/residential/electric-vehicles
• South Bay Environmental Services Center: www.sbesc.com 
• LA County Smart Gardening: www.ladpw.org/epd/sg/index.cfm 
• Metropolitan Water District: www.BeWaterWise.com 
• West Basin Municipal Water District: http://www.westbasin.org/ 
• Water Saver Home www.h2ouse.org 
• U.S. Green Building Council: www.usgbc.org 
• California’s Water: A Crisis We Can’t Ignore www.calwatercrisis.org
• Rainwater Harvesting Guide

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW), E-Waste and Universal Waste 

• HHW Permanent Collection Centers: City of LA - SAFE Collection Centers English and Spanish 
• Find location/date of Mobile HHW Events: www.888CleanLA.com 
• UC Davis Integrated Pest Management Online: www.ipm.ucdavis.edu 
• Find out about new restrictions on disposal of U-Waste such as: household batteries, fluorescent bulbs. CA Dept. of Toxic Substances Control-Universal Waste website: www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/universalwaste