The city of Gainesville and Alachua County want you to scoop the poop.
Alachua County commissioners approved a $40,655 addition to the Alachua County Environmental Protection Department's budget Tuesday for a pet waste public education program.
"Scoop it, Bag it, Trash it!," aims to encourage residents to clean up after their pets and to educate them on the environmental and health dangers of not doing so, according to the agenda item.
The campaign will spread the word through commercials, posters, veterinarian offices and bag dispensers at public events.
The city of Gainesville is funding the project, according to the county's Web site.
Throughout the county, pet waste has become an environmental concern because of the fecal coliform bacteria that is spread to waterways through runoff, according to the agenda item.
Fecal coliforms live in the warm intestines of animals and are a strong indicator of the presence of fecal matter in water. Total maximum daily loads for the bacteria have been found at Hogtown Creek, Sweetwater Branch and Tumblin Creek, according to the agenda.
In addition, Hatchet Creek, Little Hatchet Creek and Possum Creek are on the 2008 Impaired Waters List for fecal coliform.
