What Actions Can People Take to Stop Land Pollution?

The New World Encyclopedia defines land pollution as "the degradation of earth's land surfaces often caused by human activity and its misuse." Government and environmental groups mandate and encourage consumers to engage in activities that diminish waste disposal to maintain healthy, natural habitats for all creatures to enjoy. Each person can engage in simple activities that contribute to a healthier, cleaner Earth.

Anti-Litter Campaigns

• Cigarette butts are hazardous to wildlife.

  Litter that does not find its way to proper disposal sites harms creatures and soils the beauty of this country. For example, plastic bags, cigarette butts and six-pack rings pose threats to wildlife. Communities across the United States have implemented anti-litter campaigns. You can organize one in your own neighborhood by initiating a volunteer litter pick-up day once a month.

Reduce Packaging

• Kenneth Berger, an assistant professor at the Institute of Food and Agricultural Science at the University of Florida in Gainesville, estimates that about a third of the trash filling landfills in the U.S. consists of packaging materials. In response to consumer demand and governmental influence, manufacturers have uncovered different ways to reduce packaging such as eliminating outer cardboard packaging, providing refillable containers and using recycled materials for packaging. Consumers can do their part to reduce the packaging crowding landfills by buying bulk items, purchasing goods packaged in recycled containers and using reusable shopping bags.

Recycle

• Some U.S. cities provide receptacles for recycling aluminum cans.

  Recycling reduces the amount of trash transferred to landfills. The items you recycle, after a processing period, become usable again. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) describes four methods to recover items for recycling, including curbside receptacles and buy-back centers. Items you can recycle include paper, aluminum or tin cans, glass and plastic bottles.

Purchase Recycled Products

• You can find this symbol on the packaging of recycled products.

  The US Environmental Protection Agency suggests that you can keep trash from piling up in landfills by buying items that have been recycled. By choosing products marked with a "recycled" symbol, the consumer motivates and supports recycling programs. Manufacturers will respond to increased demand for recycled products by producing higher quality recycled items. Manufacturers can reprocess the raw materials in recyclable items such as paper and aluminum cans to create recycled paper and aluminum cans.

Reuse

• Teachers can use old magazines in their classrooms.

  Used items that normally would end up in landfills can serve other purposes. You can donate used---but still wearable---shoes and clothes to thrift stores. Some community collection sites accept donations of old eyeglasses. Well-worn tee-shirts and socks may supply you with an assortment of cleaning rags. The CalRecycle program of the State of California points out that teachers are constantly on the lookout for old magazines and newspapers to supplement lesson plans and art projects.