Excessive winter rains produce excess moisture. Moisture can cause mold to grow when mold spores are present. Mold spores occur naturally in the outdoors and easily enter a home – we cannot eliminate them. Mold spores need one thing only for mold to grow: moisture! Once mold spores make contact with a damp surface, mold grows easily. 

If you observe mold, or even detect moldy or musty odors, address the source of the moisture first. A few ideas: 

• Keep the surfaces in your home dry 
• Increase ventilation: always use fans and open windows while cooking and bathing 
• Check for leaks under the sink 
• Report all leaks to the property owner if you rent your home 

💡Helpful hint: It’s not necessary to remove mold with chlorine bleach. Try hot, soapy water and be prepared to DRY THE AREA THOROUGHLY. If you do not dry the affected area, the mold will most likely grow back if the surface is still wet and there is moisture in the air. 

Rooms and closets need to breathe too! A few more considerations: 

• Leave at least 6 inches between furniture and the wall. 
• Look behind and under cardboard boxes, which attract moisture and pose conditions for mold growth, mainly due to lack of ventilation and the organic material they are made from. 
• Boxes that are stacked, pushed up against a wall, or stored in a closet inhibit air circulation. 
• Replace cardboard boxes with plastic containers. 
• Any item that makes contact with the wall or floor could trap moisture, potentially causing mold. 
• If you observe mold on the ceiling, address potential leak, gutter, or downspout issues; rainwater must drain away from the building. 

Bathrooms require ventilation. If your bathroom walls stay damp, dry them regularly.  

When you see moisture on a surface like a window, dry it! 

Check our healthy homes resources, as well as California Department of Public Health’s highly informative mold reduction and prevention resources. 

Did you know that not all sport-caught fish are safe for all ages and sexes to eat? Some fish have higher levels of toxins in their bodies due to where they live and how fast they grow. Because of this, some fish are not safe for children or younger women to eat, especially if these women are pregnant or breastfeeding.  

Luckily, San Mateo County Environmental Health Services’ Fish Smart Program has you covered! We have resources for the safest sport-caught fish to eat in the area, as well as signs posted at favorite local fishing spots to help you identify who can eat your catch-of-the-day.  

Two fish that are safe for all age groups and sexes to eat are American Shad and many surfperches. Keep in mind that not all surfperches are safe for all ages and sexes, refer to the Bay Area Safe-to-Eat Guide for details. Below we’ve included two recipes to inspire you to cook your sport-caught fish with your family’s health in mind.  

The Healthy Table has a simple and delicious Baked Ocean Perch Recipe to try the next time you catch surfperch on your day out at the ocean.  

The Food Network has a tasty and healthy recipe for Sauteed Shad Fillet with Lemon that’s perfect for the whole family.  

For more information about the Fish Smart Program and safe-to-eat fish in the San Francisco Bay and Pacific Ocean, visit smchealth.org/fishsmart. 

Household Hazardous Waste does not belong at home – find a drop-off event near you. 

Spring is here and it’s time to clear out old products that are potential hazards to your family and home. The 2024 household hazardous waste (HHW) drop-off events schedule features weekly events in San Mateo and periodic events in Redwood City, Daly City, Menlo Park, South San Francisco, and Pacifica. All who live in San Mateo County are encouraged to participate! Make a free appointment at an event near you. Pedir una cita en la ciudad más cercana suya. 

Interested in reducing the use of hazardous products? Check out the safer cleaning video and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBPeZ5_yRSYsafer cleaning products! 

Got Paint, Household Batteries, or Fluorescent Lights? 

Neighborhood retail partners make it easy to safely dispose of paint, batteries, and fluorescent lights. They increase opportunities to clear our homes of hazardous waste because this waste does not belong in homes! If you have paint, household batteries, or fluorescent lights only, check out these convenient neighborhood and retail take back locations.  

Used Motor Oil & Filters Need Recycling Too!  

Three Easy and Free Ways to Recycle Used Motor Oil and Filters 

Do you or someone you know change their vehicle’s motor oil? If you’re a DIYer, read on to find out about your recycling options.  

1. Recycle at a collection center – Over 50 drop-off options to choose from.  

2. Recycle at the curb – Never leave home.  

3. Recycle through the County’s Household Hazardous Waste Program – Clean out your garage and safely get rid of all your hazardous products that are expired or unwanted at the same time – bring your used oil too!   

Thanks for reading. Now enjoy a Used Motor Oil and Filter Recycling video! 
 

⚠ Reminder! Used motor oil mixed with anything else can’t be recycled and must be managed through the County’s Household Hazardous Waste Program. If you have contaminated oil, make a free appointment for safe disposal.http://www.smchealth.org/hhw-appt. See the drop-off event schedule above! 
 

Did We Say Giveaway? Yes! 

Many items collected at San Mateo County’s household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection facility are in good, usable condition. Products may include home and heavy-duty cleaners, solvents, auto supplies, pesticides, fertilizers, adhesives, paint, and stains. The Product Give Away Program redistributes these products for free each Thursday, Friday, and most Saturdays from 2-3 p.m. at the San Mateo County HHW Facility. Stop in to see what treasures you find so they don’t become trash.  

Environmental Health Services (EHS) is transitioning to My EHS, a new online portal to streamline services for the public and regulated businesses.  

San Mateo County residents can: 

• ✏ File a complaint 
• ↗ Track a complaint  
• 📄 Request public records  

 EHS regulated business can:  

• 💳 Pay their invoice online 
• Additional portal features are rolling out later in 2024 including managing existing permits and applying for new permits  

Recreational shellfish harvesting is a hobby and livelihood for some in San Mateo County, but it can pose serious health risks if not done responsibly.  

Approximately every two weeks, Environmental Health Services (EHS) staff collect mussel and phytoplankton samples along San Mateo County’s coast. These samples are sent to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and tested for unsafe levels of biotoxins. Certain species of algae naturally produce biotoxins that can become too abundant in shellfish, like mussels. Biotoxins are dangerous and can cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) and domoic acid poisoning. Mussels are at higher risk of having these toxins present in their flesh than other shellfish because they more readily store these biotoxins.   

💡 Tips for staying safe:  

• 🔗 More Information  
• Visit smchealth.org/shellfish for more information on the Mussel Sampling Program.  
• Do you enjoy fishing in San Mateo County? Learn which fish are safe-to-eat at home from the San Francisco Bay and Pacific Ocean at smchealth.org/fishsmart 
• If you swim or surf, visit smchealth.org/beaches for weekly beach monitoring updates based on bacteria samples.  

Spring cleaning🌷is just around the corner, here’s how San Mateo County’s  Environmental Health Services’ (EHS) Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Team can help you this season and all year-round 📆.  

First, let’s define household hazardous waste. Many people already know that batteries🔋, paint 🎨, pesticides 🐜, chemicals ⛽, and fluorescent bulbs 💡 are HHW, but many other household cleaners and personal products also fall under this category like nail polish 💅 and remover, soap 🛁, toothpaste 👄, lotion ✋, and almost anything else you purchase at a drug store 🏥or home supply store 🔨.  

The aforementioned items cannot be disposed of curbside or in the regular waste stream, so San Mateo County’s HHW Team is here to help you safely dispose of these items. Here’s how:  

• 📦Safe Collection: San Mateo County Environmental Health Services collects household hazardous waste year-round at their permanent location in San Mateo as well as at temporary events around the county. Make a free appointment at the most-convenient location and time for your schedule. SMC collects HHW on Thursdays, Fridays, and most Saturdays with the exception of some holidays. Please note, there is a 50-pound OR 10-gallon limit and a limit of 10 fluorescent bulbs per appointment.  
• 🏪Visit a Partner Location: San Mateo partners with local businesses and agencies to offer collection of some of the most-common HHW items (paint, bulbs, and batteries) with no appointment needed for these drop off locations.  
• 🔄Safely Dispose of and Reuse Items: The collected items are safely disposed through state-approved agencies and usable items are saved and given away for free through our Free Product Give Away Program.  

You don’t have to be part of the EHS team to help reduce HHW in our community! 

• 🌱Switch to Less Toxic Products. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has great resources for identifying and switching to more “green” cleaning.  
• 🦄Get Creative: Cleaning recipes with items you already have in your home, product descriptions, and more are found on our safer cleaning website.  
• 📒Educate: Sign up for a San Mateo County employee to be a guest speaker in your middle school or high school class to teach students about HHW and how to safely dispose of, and reduce, HHW waste in homes.  

Interested in a career that protects people 👪 and the environment 🌄? Explore San Mateo County Environmental Health Services careers here. Want to learn more about our HHW Team? Visit the HHW website at smchealth.org/hhw.