You
Reducing the amount of particulate matter that gets into our air is not a problem for the government or for science. It is a problem of the residents and visitors living and breathing in Maricopa County. But there is a way to clean our air. There are plenty of easy changes each of us can commit to do to stop polluting. The P-27 Ordinance, Vehicle Parking and Use on Unstabilized Vacant Lots, is intended to prevent parking and operation of vehicles on vacant lots that are not stabilized. The P-28 Ordinance, Off-Road Vehicle Use in Unincorporated Areas of Maricopa County, is intended to prevent off-road vehicle use in unpaved areas that are not designated as open to the public.
Cars, Trucks & ATVs
Exhaust from cars is a significant contributor to the particulate pollution problem. Being the single occupant in a vehicle on a regular basis adds pollution to the air. Further, driving off-road vehicles on dirt and unpaved roads stir up particulate matter that pollutes our air unnecessarily.
Lawn & Garden Equipment
Leaf blowers and gas powered lawn and garden equipment raise large amounts of dust. The best alternative to a dust producing leaf blower is a rake or broom. The use of electric lawn and garden equipment is strongly recommended.
Wood-Burning
Burning wood in fireplaces and wood stoves, as well as burning leaves, trash or other materials, contribute significantly to particulate matter -- specifically PM -2.5. During the December holidays in both 2007 and 2006, the greater Phoenix area experienced extremely high levels of PM -2.5 primarily due to wood-burning fires.
Regulated Industry
Many of the man-made sources of particulate matter are dust from construction activities, vacant lots, dirt roads, off-road areas where people have destabilized soil. Dirt that is tracked-out onto roads by vehicles causes problems because dust then gets constantly kicked by vehicles driving over it. The Dust Compliance Division focuses on these areas, as well as open-burning and fireplaces.