Rain barrels reduce the amount of stormwater runoff by collecting roof runoff and storing the rainwater for future use. Want to learn about rain barrels and construct your own to take home for free? Sign up to attend an upcoming rain barrel workshop.

Olathe North High School, through a grant from the Johnson County stormwater program, is offering one-hour rain barrel workshops on April 1 and April 15. Each workshop will include an educational presentation by the Geoscience Academy students about stormwater management and the benefit of rain barrels, as well as instruction on and construction of a free rain barrel for each Johnson County homeowner (one per address). The workshops are offered on a first-come-first-served basis, as there is a limit to 25 free rain barrels per class.

April 1

• Rain barrel workshops at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon
• Additional details and sign up: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080b4aaca823a31-rain4

April 15

• Rain barrel workshops at 9 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon
• Additional details and sign up: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080b4aaca823a31-rain5/

It's super bowl weekend, which means lots of parties, pizza-ordering and yes . . . trash. It can be tricky to remember what can and can't go in your recycling bin, so the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment has put together a handy list of the top 10 most confusing items, published in the most recent issue of JoCo Magazine. Here are some tips that might come in handy this weekend: 

• Pizza boxes? YES. You can remove greasy spots, cheese and other food contaminates first. If your pizza box is clean and doesn’t contain a large amount of grease, it can be recycled in your curbside bin. If it’s too greasy, simply tear off the top for recycling and trash the rest.
• Plasticware and paper plates? NO. Contrary to popular belief, plastic silverware and paper plates are not recyclable, even when clean. They are not suitable for recycling because of the odd shape of plasticware and the low quality of plastic and paper materials. Reduce waste at your next event by using durable, reusable plates and silverware instead.
• Red Solo cups? YES. The forgotten verse of that Toby Keith song: finish your drink, make sure it’s empty and recycle your red Solo cup.
• K-Cups? NO. K-Cups and other single-serve coffees are growing in popularity. While K-Cups are convenient and come in many flavors, because of their size and material components, they should not be recycled. K-Cups belong in the trash.

View the full list on jocogov.org; print it out and post it on the wall near your recycling bin so everyone in your houshold can be in the know!

Oak leaf mites have been plaguing residents for months, but the end might not be in sight, even with a hard freeze.

In some parts of the county the outbreak has been so severe that people have changed their daily routine in an attempt to cope. For weeks, those itching their way through the warm fall months have been hoping and praying for an end to the itch mite bites. 

With a hard freeze, many are hoping for relief. But according to a Kansas State University entomologist, a hard freeze is not always harmful to the mites because they have means of overwintering. What we really need is an extended period of cold weather to lower the soil temperature where the oak leaf itch mites may be located. But a hard freeze followed by two or three days of unusually warm weather? They’re going to come back up. Our only hope is that extended colder temperatures will put an end to our misery. 

According to the Johnson County K-State Research and Extension Office, it is difficult to predict at what temperature the mites will be killed due to a number of factors. These include how low the temperature falls, how long it stays cold, and how well protected or insulated the mite might be from the cold. But most entomologists suggest that a hard freeze, around 28 degrees or lower, should greatly reduce the oak itch mite population.  

Aside from hoping for the demise of pesky oak leaf itch mites, Johnson County residents should also complete other outdoor steps before a hard freeze, including:

• Disconnect and drain sprinklers and garden hoses. Best to store them out of the sunlight for the winter so the plastic vinyl doesn’t degrade.
• Drain and turn off in ground sprinkler systems.
• Bring indoors and store non-frost proof ceramic or concrete containers and garden art. Remove dirt and store in a dry location.
• Drain non-frost proof ceramic and concrete bird baths.
• Disconnect rain barrels and drain. Reconnect downspouts to direct rain water away from foundation.
• Place container growing plants indoors or in a protected place if you want to protect them from a freeze.

Johnson County Governemnt encourages employees to innovate and improve processes through a program called "Project Impact" which recognizes employees who bring their ideas for improvement forward and seem them through implementation. During a recent Board of County Commissioners meeting, three employees from the Department of Health and Environment were presented a Certificate of Recognition from Chairman Eilert. Julie Davis, Kalenna Coleman, and Nolan Kappleman were all recognized for their innovate approach to recycling paint at the Johnson County Household Hazardous Waste Facility. Click here to watch a video that explains how Nolan, Kalenna, and Julie took a program that originally cost the county money to one that now generates revenue.