Pollution Prevention

What is Pollution Prevention?

Across Virginia, people, towns and businesses are finding ways to reduce the amount of garbage they create every year. By making wise choices about things you buy and how you use them, you are preventing pollution before it happens. Pollution is anything that contaminates the environment, usually from waste (garbage or trash that is no longer of use) that is created when people use things or when materials and goods are manufactured . Simply put, pollution prevention is waste prevention. Pollution prevention means you won’t have to throw away or recycle as much.

The best step you can take to make sure the environment stays healthy is by preventing pollution. After Pollution Prevention, recycling and reusing are the next best ways to handle garbage, trash and other unwanted materials. When you have done all you can, the garbage is taken away. The last three steps listed on the green chart show the best ways for garbage to be discarded.

How can I prevent pollution?

Always think before you buy. When you are about to buy an item, look at all the different choices and choose one with less packaging or that comes in a container that you can keep and use again.

Try using cloth napkins instead of paper napkins. After one use, paper napkins become waste, where cloth can be washed and used again.

Take your lunch in a lunch box or nylon bag with tupperwear instead of paper bags and aluminum foil. If you must use foil, take it home instead of throwing it away. You can use it again or recycle it!

Use your head! You can come up with many smart ways to prevent pollution by always keeping in mind that its the best choice for the environment.

As you can see, the easiest, safest and best ways to keep pollution out of the environment are in your hands.