Environmental Tips

The EAC publishes monthly articles in McMail

August 2025

Catch basins are a crucial component of stormwater management systems. Keeping these basins clean is essential for efficient water flow and preventing various environmental and infrastructure problems. Here’s a simple breakdown of why clean catch basins matter and how you can contribute to their maintenance.

Benefits of Clean Catch Basins

Prevents Flooding: Clean catch basins allow water to flow freely, reducing the risk of street flooding during heavy rains.
Improves Water Quality: Removing debris and pollutants from catch basins prevents contaminants from entering local waterways, improving the overall water quality.
Reduces Infrastructure Damage: Proper maintenance helps avoid costly repairs by preventing water from infiltrating roadways and eroding infrastructure.
Minimizes Mosquito Breeding Grounds: Eliminating standing water helps reduce mosquito populations and the spread of diseases they may carry.

Tips for Keeping Catch Basins Clean

Regular Inspections: Conduct routine checks, especially before and after heavy rainfall, to ensure catch basins are free from debris.
Community Involvement: Encourage local residents and businesses to report clogged catch basins and participate in community clean-up efforts.
Proper Waste Disposal: Avoid dumping leaves, trash, or other waste materials near catch basins. Proper garbage disposal can significantly reduce the debris load.
Sweep and Clean Driveways and Sidewalks: Regularly sweeping sidewalks and driveways can prevent dirt and debris from being washed into catch basins during a storm.
Yard Waste Management: Bag and dispose of yard waste properly instead of washing it down the street to the nearest catch basin.

Conclusion

Keeping catch basins clean is a simple yet effective way to protect our water systems, reduce flooding, and prevent infrastructure damage. Let’s work together to maintain clean and efficient stormwater management systems in our communities. Our collective efforts can make a significant impact!

By following these tips and understanding the benefits, we can contribute to a cleaner, safer environment for everyone.

July 2025

Need help lowering your energy costs?

Both Penn Power and Duquesne Light provide free energy electricity audits to their customers through CLEAResult, Inc. Following your application, a representative from CLEAResult will visit your home and do the following:

Perform a full, no-cost walk-through of your home with a qualified Energy Auditor including a visual inspection for any health or safety concerns.
Perform air leak testing to identify doors/windows/wall penetrations that may be leaking excessively. See the following link for info on blower door tests used for this identification: https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/blower-door-tests
Recommend home improvements that may qualify for rebates depending on electric energy savings.
Check the energy rating of home appliances (refrigerator/freezer/AC) and compare those with energy ratings of currently available appliances.
Provide Energy Star® certified LED light bulbs, smart power strips, and other qualifying energy-saving products up to a value of $300 for Penn Power customers and up to $200 for Duquesne Light customers.
Provide a customized assessment report on potential energy savings.

Ready to start saving? Call CLEAResult at 866-787-5237 to reserve your no-cost energy audit. For full details, see https://homeaudit.energysavepa.com/ (Penn Power) or https://www.duquesnelight.com/energy-money-savings/watt-choices (Duquesne Light).

Beyond the energy audit, what can you also do to reduce air leakage?

Independent of the energy audit, here are three representative photos of what one customer did using insulating panels and sealant in the attic and sealant for the wall penetrations in the garage to address air leakage. The first photo shows a Styrofoam® pad that was secured to the inside of the door to the attic. The second photo shows insulated panels and sealant that were added to the wall separating the attic from the adjacent room. The third photo shows sealed penetrations in the garage wall/ceiling.

June 2025

As McCandless gardens and landscapes burst into full bloom this June, not all greenery is a reason to celebrate. Lurking throughout our yards and public green spaces are aggressive invasive plants, blending into the scenery and threatening to out-compete our native species, harm our infrastructure, and damage the local ecosystem. For instance, Japanese Knotweed roots can crack foundations, Japanese Barberry provides shelter for ticks, and garlic mustard releases chemicals into the soil preventing other plants from growing. While some of these plants arrived by accident, many previously common landscape species such as Burning Bush and Callery Pear have since escaped yards and are now overtaking native spaces.

In order to improve our local ecosystem, as a community we need to come together to increase the elimination of invasive species and promote native plant varieties within our yards. While the Environmental Advisory Committee hopes to have community volunteer events in the future for municipal spaces, here are five steps that you can take now to eliminate invasive species within your yard:

Learn to identify common invaders: Familiarize yourself with the most problematic invasive plants in our region, such as Japanese knotweed, garlic mustard, tree-of-heaven, mile-a-minute vine, and multiflora rose. Knowing what to look for is the first step in getting rid of them. Here is a handy guide for identification in our area.
Remove invasives carefully and consistently: Once identified, remove invasive plants using the proper method—some can be pulled by hand, while others may require cutting and targeted herbicide use. Persistence is key; many invasive species regrow quickly if not fully eradicated or if roots remain in the soil.
Don't compost invasive plant material: Many invasive plants can survive and even thrive in compost piles. Instead, bag and dispose of them with your trash to prevent further spread. Be especially cautious with seed-bearing or root fragments. For more information, please see this article.
Replace with native plants: After removal, replant with native species that support local wildlife and resist future invasion. Plants like blazing star, wild bergamot, and eastern redbud are beautiful, low-maintenance, and ecologically beneficial.
Spread the Word (not the weeds): Talk to your neighbors and community groups about invasive species, or better yet, promote your yard for its ecological benefits! Here is a list of Pennsylvania native yard programs that help to publicly promote your environmentally friendly yard.

May 2025

As McCandless embarks on an ambitious Tree Canopy Challenge to plant and sustain 50,000 new trees over the coming years, we invite every resident and business owner to play a role in growing a healthier, more vibrant community. Whether you're caring for mature trees, planting new ones, or simply deciding what to do with your property this spring—every tree counts.

Here are best practices for spring tree care and planting in our region (Zone 6) to help you make a lasting impact.

🌳 1. Keep Existing Trees Healthy

Healthy mature trees provide unmatched environmental, economic, and aesthetic value. Before planting new trees, give some love to the ones already standing.

Inspect for winter damage: Look for cracked branches, dead wood, or signs of disease. If anything looks risky or unfamiliar, consult a certified arborist.
Mulch properly: Add 2–3 inches of organic mulch around the base (not touching the trunk!) to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature.
Water when dry: Even established trees need watering during dry spells, especially younger ones. A slow, deep watering every 10–14 days is ideal during dry spring periods.
Avoid compacting soil: Don’t park vehicles or store materials near root zones—compacted soil limits root growth and oxygen flow.

🌱 2. Plant the Right Tree in the Right Place

Tree success starts with thoughtful selection and placement. Consider these tips when planting this spring:

Choose native or well-adapted species: In McCandless, great options include red maple, white oak, serviceberry, and Eastern redbud. These thrive in Zone 6 conditions and support local wildlife. Look into Tree Pittsburgh’s heritage nursery types: https://www.treepittsburgh.org/heritage-nursery/
Plan for mature size: Avoid planting large trees under power lines or too close to buildings. Read plant tags or consult resources for spacing guidance.
Dig wide, not deep: Dig a hole 2–3 times wider than the root ball, but no deeper than the root collar (where the roots meet the trunk). Trees planted too deep often struggle.
Stake only if necessary: Most young trees don’t need staking but most require protection from the deer. If used, remove stakes after the first year to encourage natural strength.

✂️ 3. Smart Pruning for Long-Term Health

Prune dead or damaged limbs: Spring is a good time to remove limbs injured by snow or wind.
Use clean, sharp tools: Sterilize pruning tools between trees to prevent disease spread.
Never “top” a tree: Cutting off the top leads to weak growth and long-term damage. Always prune to a lateral branch.

🌎 4. Join the Challenge!

The McCandless Tree Canopy Challenge is more than a planting goal—it's a community-wide movement to protect our natural heritage. You can:

Plant a tree at home or your place of business.
Sign up for our Tree Tenders training at the Town Hall on October 18 2025
Join the planning committee at 50KTreeChallenge@gmail.com.

Trees clean our air, cool our neighborhoods, reduce stormwater runoff, and boost property values. Let’s grow our legacy — one tree at a time.

Need help getting started? Reach out to 50KTreeChallenge@gmail.com for free planting guides, species suggestions, or volunteer opportunities.

DONT FORGET ...

Join us on Thursday, May 22 at 7:00 p.m. at Devlin Park pavilion as Joe Stavish of Tree Pittsburgh introduces the meaning of community forestry.

April 2025

Happy migration season, everyone! Each spring and fall, millions of birds pass over Pittsburgh, moving under the cover of night. You can help birds migrate safely by turning off unnecessary lights during peak migration and using bird-friendly window covers to reduce reflections.

From March 15 to May 31, turn off unnecessary indoor and outdoor lighting from midnight to 6 a.m. to reduce risks. Learn more and join BirdSafe Pittsburgh’s Lights Out Movement at https://birdsafepgh.org/.

Track real-time bird migration with BirdCast's Allegheny County Migration Dashboard or the Nationwide Bird Migration Forecast Map. You can also support conservation efforts by logging any signs of breeding birds (like nests, singing males, or fledglings) on eBird.

ALSO ... we have an upcoming program in May!

Join us on Thursday, May 22 at 7:00 p.m. at Devlin Park pavilion as Joe Stavish of Tree Pittsburgh introduces the meaning of community forestry. Learn about the environmental services provided by trees, common stress issues, pests, diseases and more. Discover Tree Pittsburgh's Heritage Nursery and discuss some great local native trees and learn how you can participate in your community forest. Register for this free program online at CivicRec (find it under the EAC Programs tab).

March 2025

Baseball’s spring training has begun and Easter is right around the corner. We all know what this means – SPRING CLEANING, or as we call it in Pittsburgh, “Redding Up.”

We traditionally focus on the inside of our homes but what about our outdoor space. Here are a few tips:

Raking: Dormant grass is easily flattened and matted down by months of snowfall and rain. Gently rake your lawn to remove dead grass, leftover leaves, perk up the dormant blades, and give your lawn a boost.

Weeding: Removing weeds is much easier when they're small, and the soil is moist with spring rain. To minimize the reappearance of weeds, consider using weed control fabric or tarp in your garden or flowerbeds

Uncover Plants: If you use covers to protect delicate plants, remove them as soon as the danger of frost has passed. Remove any matted leaves to improve the health of your plants and shrubs.

Pruning: Spring is a fine time to prune trees and shrubs. When you're pruning, consider their overall size and shape, and recycle the clippings in a brush pile for the birds or by creating mulch or compost.

Mulch: Rake the mulch in your garden and flowerbeds to mix air closer to the soil and refresh the color of the mulch.

Litter: The quickest way to a beautiful landscape is to pick up any litter and dispose of it properly. Remember to check underneath trees, shrubs, and bushes as well.

And speaking of “Redding Up,” the annual McCandless Roadside Cleanup is scheduled for April 12 at 8:30 a.m. The winter and the 2024 roadwork have been especially hard on our neighborhood roads. This will be our 7th annual community roadside cleanup and we have collected approximately 2,300 bags of litter to date. Last year, we had over 100 participants join us with over 200 bags of litter collected!

McCandless Needs You!

Do not assume your neighbor or the Town will take care of the litter. We need a caring community to respond.

Roadside beautification builds community spirit, shows pride in your township, protects receiving waters (especially Pine Creek), increases property values, and makes McCandless an example for a community that cares about how it looks to residents and visitors.

Safety vests, gloves and bags will be available for participants. Participants will meet in the Department of Public Works garage (9957 Grubbs Road) at 8:30am for a continental breakfast before heading out.

Be part of the solution!

February 2025

There have been some big changes as far as how our bulk items are being picked up by Waste Management. On the recycling front, there is at least one new change.

Glass is back!

As of January 1, McCandless residents can dispose of glass again in their blue-top recycling carts. Major updates at the Greenstar recycling facility on Neville Island (where our recycling is taken to after pickup) have allowed for the return of glass to our stream.

Three rules for recycling

When it comes to the basics of recycling, there are three solid rules to follow:

Recycle bottles, cans, paper and cardboard
Keep food and liquid out of your recycling
No loose plastic bags and no bagged recyclables

For more recycling tips, check out www.wm.com/us/en/recycle-right.

What happens to our recyclables?

If you’ve ever wondered where your bottles and cans after they go in the truck, check out this video to see what happens at the recycling facility on Neville Island.

January 2025

Got trees on your property that need a little maintenance? The best time to prune your fruit trees is January and February. Pruning during a tree’s dormant period means there is less of a chance for disease.

Additionally, oak trees should be pruned during this dormancy because of oak wilt disease, which will kill the oak tree if infected and can then spread to other oak trees through the root contacts. Oak wilt disease is caused by a fungus and usually infects trees mid-April through mid-July. By pruning during the winter, this prevents the disease from infecting the pruned areas in the spring.

Before getting out the pruning saw, you will want to first evaluate the tree to see what pruning may be needed. Start by looking for dead, dying, or broken branches, as well as rubbing or crossing branches. Dead and dying branches should be pruned out, and broken branches pruned back to an appropriate location below the break. Where there are rubbing or crossing branches, it is a good idea to remove one of the two branches in contact with each other. Left as is, continued rubbing can wear through the bark, providing a pathway for pests or disease to enter the tree.

Once you evaluate your trees in the winter, you might decide they need to be pruned, either by a professional arborist or yourself, as long as you can do so safely. Never climb a tree unless you have been trained to do this work and are using ropes and safety equipment. As a good rule of thumb for safe pruning, if you can’t reach it from the ground, you should call a professional arborist. If you plan to prune your trees yourself. Some worry about species, such as maple, birch, beech, and elm, which "bleed" when pruned in the winter, but only sap flows from the pruning, and it does not harm the tree.

If you don't feel confident in your own evaluation, winter is also a good time to have an arborist evaluate and prune your trees, as it is their slower season. Who knows, you might even get a better price during the winter months. Just make sure you find someone who is knowledgeable, like an ISA Certified Arborist, and will not "top," "shape," or otherwise damage your tree.

December 2024

The holidays are quickly approaching, which means food, fun, and festivities with family and friends! But as welcome and well-deserved as our celebrations are, they can often lead to more waste, energy use, and overconsumption in general. This year, why not introduce a few changes to make your celebrations a little more sustainable? Here are a few tips that can help reduce your environmental impact around the holiday season:

Eco-Friendly Gift Giving

Consider gifting experiences like a membership to a museum or tickets to a show, sporting event, or cooking class instead of physical items.
Share a handmade, recycled, or repurposed gift.
Acquire gifts from second hand stores, garage sales, local buy-nothing groups, or other second-hand sources.

Sustainable Gift Wrapping

Avoid purchasing new wrapping paper or gift bags - use what you already have and save what you receive.
Wrap presents with materials found around the house - consider decorating with fabric, paper shopping bags, or reused packaging from food boxes and Amazon boxes. Get creative and decorate them yourself)!
Consider gifting without wrapping - after all, the gift is the most important part!

Festive Decorations

Reuse decorations each year instead of purchasing new ones.
Use LED lighting when possible, and use timers for decorations to save energy.
Create your own decorations using materials found around the house or natural materials found outside.
Consider a locally sourced live tree that can be planted or composted after the holiday season. If you prefer an artificial one, spend a little more for a higher quality product that will last longer!

Food and Meals

Plan your meals carefully to avoid food waste.
Save and use leftovers creatively. Turkey sandwiches with stuffing are delicious!
Opt for reusable plates, cups, and cutlery when possible instead of using single-use disposable items.

Sustainable Traditions

Volunteer as a family at local food banks, shelters, or other organizations to create a new annual tradition.
Plan an outdoor adventure to spend time in nature - a special event can be repeated year after year!
Plan a green New Year’s resolution! Consider incorporating an eco-friendly goal as part of your 2025 year, such as a commitment to buy less, reduce your food waste, or carpool one day a week.
By incorporating even one of these simple tips, you can help make a difference and have a more sustainable holiday season!

November 2024

As autumn brings falling leaves, effective leaf management becomes essential. Proper care not only keeps neighborhoods beautiful but also supports environmental sustainability. Here are some best practices for township residents to manage leaves responsibly.

1. Composting Leaves

Composting is a sustainable way to handle leaves. Instead of bagging leaves for disposal, or curb collection, compost them to create nutrient-rich soil for gardens. Shredding leaves speeds up decomposition, and combining them with food scraps or grass clippings balances carbon and nitrogen for optimal composting. Composting reduces waste and provides valuable organic material for gardening.

2. Mulching with Leaves

Mulching leaves is another eco-friendly option. Shred leaves with a mulching mower and leave them on the lawn or spread them in flower beds. Mulched leaves decompose over time, enriching the soil and promoting healthy plant growth. This approach eliminates the need to collect leaves and reduces fertilizer use, keeping your lawn naturally nourished.

3. Raking and Collecting

Raking is a traditional but effective method for managing leaves. Regularly raking prevents leaves from accumulating on pavement, which can become slippery hazards. If left on the lawn, leaves can block sunlight and trap moisture, damaging grass. Avoid raking leaves into storm drains to prevent clogs and flooding when placing on the curb or use biodegradable bags following the township’s leaf collection schedule through November.

4. Avoiding Leaf Burning

While burning leaves may seem like a quick solution, it releases harmful pollutants and will violate local regulations. Burning also poses fire risks and contributes to respiratory issues. Instead, opt for composting, mulching, or township leaf collection services for safer, eco-friendly alternatives.

5. Leaf Pickup Program

McCandless offers leaf pickup services, either curbside or biodegradable bags making it easier to dispose of leaves responsibly. Collection dates run through November, with likely extension through mid-December. These services help reduce landfill waste and ensure that leaves are processed sustainably.

6. Leaf Angels: Helping Neighbors

One of the best ways to foster community spirit during the leaf season is by helping neighbors with their leaf care. Some residents, particularly the elderly, those with disabilities, or busy families, may struggle to manage the leaves on their property. In these situations, residents can act as “Leaf Angels” by offering assistance. Leaf Angels can:

Help rake or blow leaves from their neighbors’ yards.
Offer to compost or mulch leaves for those without the tools or capacity.
Organize neighborhood leaf care days where groups of neighbors pitch in to clean up multiple properties together.

Being a Leaf Angel doesn’t just benefit the person receiving help—it builds a stronger sense of community and neighborly support. For residents, participating in these acts of kindness can make a significant difference, ensuring that everyone’s yard is maintained, regardless of individual capacity. Residents can also create informal leaf care teams or post offers to help on neighborhood social media platforms. Many hands make light work, and by collaborating, communities can keep their neighborhoods looking their best while making a positive environmental impact. Trees are good neighbors, too.

7. Maintaining Yard Tools

Keep rakes, leaf blowers, and mulching mowers in good condition for efficient leaf care. Electric or battery-powered blowers reduce noise and emissions, making them environmentally friendly. Sharing tools within neighborhood can also ease the burden of leaf management.

The Value of Trees

Trees are invaluable to our environment, providing clean air, shade, and natural beauty while supporting local ecosystems. Caring for the leaves they shed is a small way to ensure these benefits continue for McCandless residents and future generations.

September 2024

There is an increasing volume of evidence showing how light pollution is harming plants, animals, and human health. If you would like to minimize the harmful effects of your lights, here is what you can do.

First, evaluate each outdoor light on your property using the following criteria.

Useful: Is it useful? Before adding or replacing a light, determine if it is needed and its effect on the surrounding environment.

Targeted: Light should be directed only where it is needed. Use dark sky friendly light fixtures, shielding, and careful aiming so that the light beam points downward and does not spill beyond where it is needed or wanted.

Low Light Levels: Use the lowest level of light required. To check how bright a light is, find its lumen rating, usually found on the light's "nutrition" label. If you are used to watts, the old 100-watt standard light bulbs were between 1100-1300 lumens. With thousands of lumens available in a single affordable light bulb, it is easy to buy one extremely bright light (unleashing vast amounts of light pollution into your local environment). Instead, use multiple light sources at lower lumen levels and use high lumen light only as needed.

Controlled: Use timers and motion detectors to ensure that light is available when needed and turned off when not needed. Avoid using lights that use a light sensor.

Color: Check your light's color/color temperature. Use warm white or lights with a color temperature rating of 2700K or lower. Avoid cool white or higher color temperature light to reduce the amount of high energy blue light.

Next, adjust your lighting accordingly.

Finally, check sites like DarkSky.org for more information about light pollution.

August 2024

From July through September is the optimal time to remove Tree of Heaven (TOH). TOH is problematic for many reasons — the wood is weak, it reproduces rapidly via seeds and suckers that pop up from a root system that can extend up to 50’ from the parent, and it produces a toxin that inhibits the growth of other plants. Except for webworm, no native bugs feed from TOH. Finally, TOH is a preferred habitat for the invasive spotted lantern fly.

Cutting TOH will cause numerous stump sprouts and suckers. Instead, you must attack the root system by applying a systemic herbicide when the tree is moving sugars down into its root system, any other time of year results in injury to above-ground growth but not the roots.

TOH looks like black walnut or staghorn sumac, among others. Two key identifiers that separate TOH from look-alikes are the smooth edges of its leaflets and the smell of cat urine or burnt peanut butter when the leaves are crushed.

There are 2 effective methods of removal homeowners can use. If trees are small and you can spray the herbicide on the leaves, this is the foliar application method. If trees are 1” in diameter or larger you can make downward-angled cuts, or hacks, evenly around the circumference of the tree using an ax, and apply an herbicide to the cuts, this is called the hack and squirt method. Glyphosate and triclopyr are commonly recommend for foliar application. Triclopyr is most recommend for the hack-and-squirt method. Both chemicals have low soil activity posing little risk to groundwater. Allow 30 days for herbicide to take effect. Only after the tree is dead should it be removed.

June 2024

Did you know that McCandless was certified a Gold Sustainability Community in 2019? Do you know what this means?

The Oxford Dictionary of English defines sustainability as: "the property of being environmentally sustainable; the degree to which a process or enterprise is able to be maintained or continued while avoiding the long-term depletion of natural resources."

Depending on where you live, urban, suburban or rural, that could mean many different things.

Expanding and maintaining housing choices and ensuring everyone has access to adequate, safe, and affordable housing and other essential services.
Ensuring everyone has access to safe, affordable, accessible, and sustainable transport systems. Improving road safety with a focus on the needs of vulnerable populations, pedestrians, bicycles, and those using mobility aids.
Providing universal access to safe, inclusive, and accessible, green and public spaces, for all members of the community.
Supporting positive economic, social, and environmental links between urban, suburban, and rural areas by strengthening regional community development planning.

The best definition for McCandless residents may be:

"Reducing the adverse environmental impact of businesses, residents, and others within the community, by paying special attention to energy use, transportation, land use, and waste and materials management."

McCandless Township’s adoption of ‘smart’ traffic signaling, LED streetlights and greenhouse gas tracking indicate a commitment toward efficient energy usage. Support for public safely, preserving wetlands and hazardous waste recycling are some of the other traits where McCandless scored high.

PA Sustainability adopted a newer and higher set of standards in 2023 and the EAC and municipal staff are currently working together toward Gold recertification.

If you want to see the complete breakdown of the McCandless responses, visit: Participating Municipalities - Sustainable Pennsylvania (sustainablepa.org)

April 2024

There’s a huge misconception that most teens don’t care about the environment when in truth, they do. In this month’s collection of tips, K-12 students are encouraged to find new ways to support their communities in protecting the environment.

#1 - Go Outside: Perhaps the simplest of tips, logging off from the digital world and taking a bike ride outside or even gardening can help us see the varying benefits of our planet.

#2 - Join Clubs & Activities: By taking part in your school’s environmental club, you can plant trees, attach catch basin decals, and clean up your community!

#3 - Partake in EAC Community Events: Here at the EAC, we host clean-up days and serve to further educate our youth on the importance of recycling and conserving energy.

#4 - Pick Up Trash: If you ever find a piece of trash just laying on the ground, pick it up and responsibly throw it away.

#5 - Talk About It: One of our growing concerns with environmental change is that much of our young population isn’t aware of the damage being caused. Spread the word to your friends & family and have them get involved!

We hope these tips motivate you to start your April Activism!