You can teach your friends and family about pollution prevention... by your example. You can reach your friends, fellow employees, and family by your example to help prevent pollution. Action by Congress and state legislatures rulings by courts, pronouncements by important people, or wishing alone cannot clean up the environment - or keep it from becoming more polluted. Individual efforts by everyone can make things happen and win the battle against pollution. You are an important person in that battle. Here are suggestions you can use to make a difference - through what you do and what others see you do many people create the unsightly and unsafe litter we see along our highways and streets. The combined effect of many individuals provides the planted trees, the wildlife habits, the successful recycling programs, the low-input agriculture, the clean streams, and the clean parks in other areas. Individuals working alone or cooperating with their neighbors, with schools and colleges, with industry, with government, and with nonprofit organizations are EPA's goal. EPA recognizes the importance of environmental education and active citizen participation. Let us know what you think of our brochure and how we can help you help us. For more information, contact:
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Pollution Prevention (PM-219)
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20460
Recycle paper, glass, plastic, aluminum, scrap metal, motor oil, and yard wastes. Reuse, repair, and recycle as often as possible. Don't throw away what can be used again. Avoid filling landfills with disposables. Consider using reusable mugs, glasses, dishes, cloth towels, and sponges. Save your leaves, grass, and bush clippings and use them as compost. Participate in a recycling program. Encourage your community and your school to begin recycling. Maintain and repair products. Donate usable materials to charities or thrift shops.
Set back your thermostat, insulate your water heater, and buy energy-efficient appliances. Setting back the thermostat not only saves money, it saves energy. It's an investment in yourself and your environment. Insulation conserves our valuable fuel supply and saves you dollars. Consider insulating your buildings with fiberglass or cellulose fibers. Cars. Buy energy efficient automobiles and other vehicles and keep them tuned. Carpool, bike, walk, or use mass transit when possible. A well-tuned internal combustion engine makes your car, boat, or tractor safer for you and the environment. Carpooling and using mass transit, biking, and walking result in less pollution. Disposal of auto waste is another significant problem. Used oil can contaminate water supplies; used auto batteries contain lead, lead sulfate, and sulfuric acid which can leak into soil. Take used oil, auto batteries, and auto tires to a recycling center or an appropriate disposal facility.
Follow instructions carefully. Use natural pest-control methods whenever possible. Pesticides can pollute air, ground, and water. They can harm beneficial insects as well as wildlife, pets, and people. Improperly applied, they can spread beyond the intended area and run into local water supplies. Purchase only the amount needed and follow instructions carefully, minimize use, and reduce run off by maintaining ample grass cover and shrubs.
Reduce smoke, radon, asbestos and other indoor-air pollutants. Americans spend more than 85% of their time indoors, so this is one of the most important areas where you can reduce environmental hazards. One of the most harmful indoor air hazards is radon, a naturally occurring colorless and odorless gas that seeps into homes through cracks in foundations or floors. It is the second most common cause of lung cancer - leading to 20,000 deaths a year. Many stores sell test kits for measuring radon levels. A reading above 4 picocuries per liter could indicate a problem. Another indoor-air pollutant, tobacco smoke, causes problems for both smokers and non-smokers. When combined with radon, it further increases one's chance of developing lung cancer. Formaldehyde-based resins in some new furniture, building materials, and fabrics are other common indoor pollutants, as are pesticides, aerosols, household cleaners, and solvents from dry-cleaning. Asbestos is best handled by professionals. Asbestos removal is not a do it-yourself project. If in doubt about asbestos in your home or work place, check with a professional.
Purchase products containing toxic ingredients only when you cannot avoid using them and buy only as much as you need. Do not buy bulk quantities. Always read product labels to identify hazardous constituents, and pay attention to container and product disposal information. Whenever possible, avoid using products labeled "Danger", "Warning", or "Caution". Use non-toxic alternatives. For example, clean your counter tops with baking soda instead of chlorinated cleaners. Store hazardous products and materials carefully. Recycle unwanted hazardous products such as oil-based paint or find an alternative use. Find out your local community's policy on disposing of hazardous waste. If the product should not go down the drain or into the rubbish save it for a household hazardous waste collection program. If a program is not in place, encourage your community to institute one.
Buy recycled or recyclable products. Seek out reusable, recyclable or returnable packages. Look for the recycling symbol an products you buy. Such symbols identify recycled or recyclable products. Buy durable products, don't buy throwaways. Borrow or rent things you use infrequently. Avoid buying products that use unnecessary packaging - either plastic or paper. Use returnable or reusable containers. Look for pump dispensers containers, and non-aerosol sprays. Buy rechargeable batteries for flashlights, toys, and household items. Use your own reusable shopping bag.
Be careful around surfaces covered with lead-based paint, and be cautious when children are nearby during renovation or rehabilitation of old buildings. Be sure drinking water does not contain harmful levels of lead or other contaminants. Be alert for lead-based paint in older homes, especially those in poor repair or in need of painting. The fine dust from deteriorating old paint and dust created during renovation or rehabilitation of older buildings may contain lead particles. This dust can travel throughout your house and even outside. Keep children away from such areas. Workers should wear protective clothing. Consider contacting an expert before undertaking such renovations. EPA has found unhealthy contaminants in drinking water in some areas. Because lead and other contaminants may cause a health problem, consider having your water tested if your house has lead pipes. Two drinking-water precautions are to run water until it manages temperature and use only cold tap water for drinking and cooking, especially for making baby formula. Lead can slow children's physical and nervous system development and cause other neurological, reproductive, and circulatory problems.
They replenish the earth's oxygen supply. Plant trees or bushes in your yard or neighborhood. Trees in your yard may reduce heating and cooling costs and curb soil erosion. In addition, they beautify your property and may increase its value.
| Prevention(PM219)* 401 M Street SW Washington DC 20460 | * U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Solid Waste Hotline (800) 224-9346 |
| Packaging Coalition Solid West (212) 595-9194 | Environmental Defense Fund Recycling Hotline (800) CALL-ED |
| * U.S. EPA Public ....Cents (M2) 382-2080 | U.S. Department of Energy (215) 597-3890 |
| Your utility company | Conservation and Recyclable Energy Inquiry Id Referral Services (800) 523-2929 |
| U.S. Department of Energy (215) 597-3890 | Local Chambers of Commerce and local Nonprofit organizations |
| Your State and Local Environmental Agency | Your Local Chapter of the American Lung Association |
| Urban Mass Transportation Administration (202) 366-4040 | U.S. Department of Transportation (202) 366-4000 |
| U.S. EPA Office Of Pesticide & Toxic Substances Washington DC 20460 | National Pesticide |
| Toxic Substances (800) SM@7378 | National Pesticide .... System (317) 4..-..14 |
| Local .... | U.S. EPA, Public Information ... Washington DC 20460 (202)382-2080 |
| National Institute of .... (800)4n@237 | TSCA .... Hotline (202) 554-14.. |
| U.S.EPA Solid Waste - Hotline (800) 424-9346 | * Your state and local Agency |
| U.S. EPA Solid Waste - Hotline (800) 424-9346 | * Your State and Local Agencies |
| Solid Waste Hotline (800) .42-.791 | City and Local .... |
| * .... (....forest,....) (800)667-33.. | National Wildlife Habitat Program 1400 16th St. NW Washington DC, 22036 (202) 447-5667 |
| EPA Regional Public Affairs Boston, MA (617) ..5-3424 New York, NY (212) .2.-2515 Philadelphia PA (215) 597-9... Atlanta GA (404)347-...4 Chicago, IL (312) 353-2072 Dallas, TX (214) 655-2200 Kansas City, KS (913) ...-...3 Denver, CO (303) ...-1692 San Francisco CA (415) 7.4-1171 Seattle, WA (206) 442-1465
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Last Updated: January 16, 1996