How to Control the Measure of Land & Water Pollution

In today's society, technology has provided a plethora of methods to control the measure of land and water pollution. However, this does not absolve you from the same responsibility. Every time you do not dispose of waste properly, you put the land and water at risk. Naturally, personal and environmental health is an area of concern. If you understand how to control the measure of toxins in your area, you can help hinder, or even reverse, the effects of this pollution.

Things You'll Need

• Recycling box
• Composter

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Instructions

Land Pollution

• 1

  Do not litter. Common sense dictates that if you make it a habit to drop garbage on the ground, it will accumulate, leading to more and more pollution. As an individual, you can abstain from doing this. However, if you wish, you can also work with schools, non-profit organizations or public officials to help raise awareness about this issue.

• 2

  Dispose of organic waste properly. There are two ways to do this. One option is to simply throw it away, so that it can be disposed of in a garbage facility far away from your home. Another measure is composting. In places such as hardware stores, you can buy special composting containers in which organic waste will decompose. In turn, this saves space in garbage dumps. However, do not throw meat or pet waste into the compost. Any other food scraps are acceptable. You can also use it for yard waste, like leaves or grass, as long as it was not treated with pesticides or other chemicals.

• 3

  Recycle. Reusing things like plastic, glass, cardboard and paper saves a great deal of space in landfills, making it an effective measure against land pollution.

Water Pollution

• 4

  Purchase chemical products responsibly. Although water treatment technologies are effective in filtering out harmful pollutants, you can contribute as well by filtering what you buy. Use chemicals sparingly and find organic alternatives if possible.

• 5

  Dispose of waste properly. This goes beyond simply avoiding dumping your garbage into a lake. Chemical waste is also a major threat to the water supply. Household chemicals, such as oil and paint, need to be disposed of in special facilities. Pouring them down the drain is not an option. Not only is this bad for the water, but it is bad for your health as well. Trace amounts can linger in bodies of water, possibly causing you to consume them later on.

• 6

  Recycle. Failure to recycle can increase water pollution just as easily as with land. In this case, plastic, glass and other recyclable products can float into lakes, rivers and oceans. Every item you recycle is one less product that could end up floating in the water supply.