How Can I Combat Pollution as an Individual?

The Earth's environmental health is an issue that affects everyone. You don't have to be an activist or a gigantic corporation to fight pollution. You can combat it effectively and make a difference for you and for others as an individual. You can join a task force or group, but you can also fight pollution yourself. Start by making simple changes at home, as even small changes will help lessen pollution and its adverse health effects.

Things You'll Need

• Non-toxic pesticides
• Water-based paint

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Instructions

• 1

  Use non-toxic, organic pesticides in your lawn or garden. This reduces the chemicals that flow from your lawn and into drainwater with the rain. These chemicals eventually reach waters that fish and other wildlife inhabit.

• 2

  Dispose of your household hazardous waste, such as pesticides, at a local collection center. Consult your local Yellow Pages for contact information and location. Dispose of used motor oil, antifreeze and filters in the same way at the appropriate recycling centers, instead of dumping the oil and antifreeze from your car out yourself.

• 3

  Take aluminum cans, plastics, paper, glass, cardboard and electronics to a local recycling center instead of tossing these items into the garbage.

• 4

  Save gasoline and reduce air pollution by using public transportation whenever possible. Walk to nearby locations, or ride a bike to help both the environment and your own personal health. Also, park your vehicle and go inside an establishment, such as a fast food restaurant, instead of waiting in a long line with your vehicle idling.

• 5

  Dispose of cigarette butts and other litter in outside trash cans instead of tossing them into street gutters or on sidewalks, where rainwater transports them into the stormwater system.

• 6

  Clean up after your pets, whether from your own lawn or the sidewalk, to prevent animal waste, which contains bacteria, from entering into the stormwater system.

• 7

  Use water-based paints instead of oil-based paints, which are toxic and harder to dispose of.

• 8

  Dispose of yard clippings in city-issued containers, where applicable. Also, maintain the cleanliness of your rain gutters and drains, so that leaves and other debris do not clog the system and cause flooding.