|
Pollution Solutions
Listed below are pollution solutions for the following categories:
CLEAN AIR TIPS
GOVERNMENT
INDUSTRY
INDIVIDUALS
THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP KEEP THE AIR CLEAN:
 |
1 Carpool
|
 |
2 Ride the bus
|
 |
3 Take Tri-Rail
|
 |
4 Walking is good for you and for the air.
|
 |
5 Ride your bike.
|
 |
6 Rollerblade if you aren’t traveling too far.
|
 |
7 Walk inside restaurants instead of using the drive thru.
|
 |
8 Plan ahead and do all your errands in one trip.
|
 |
9 Turn the lights off when you leave the room, it saves electricity.
|
 |
10 Buy energy efficient appliances.
|
 |
11 Turn your thermostat up when you are not at home.
|
 |
12 Buy energy efficient light bulbs.
|
 |
13 Don’t keep the refrigerator door open.
|
 |
14 Using rechargeable batteries saves energy.
|
 |
15 Pump gas after 6pm.
|
 |
16 Mow your lawn after 6PM.
|
 |
17 Use electric lawn and landscaping equipment.
|
 |
18 Keep your car properly tuned up.
|
 |
19 Keep your car’s tires properly inflated.
|
 |
20 Plant trees, they are good for the air.
|
 |
21 Buy non-aerosol products.
|
 |
22 Recycle, reuse and buy recycled products.
|
 |
23 Teach your children about the importance of good air quality.
|
 |
24 Report smoking vehicles by calling 954-519-1499.
|
 |
25 Spread the word about protecting the air quality.
|
GOVERNMENT:
The government can pass laws to make sure that we won't do things to hurt the environment and that we will do things to help it. Many laws have been passed. For example:
 |
1 The Clean Air Act . . .
sets limits for how much of certain pollutants are allowed into the air. It also can control fuels for cars. This act has caused almost all gasolines to now be made without lead which was a major pollutant in the 70's.
|
 |
2 The Clean Water Act . . .
requires that all wastewater from cities be treated before being released into water. The Act sets requirements on how clean the water must be before being released.
|
 |
3 The Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act . . .
which applies to all boats and ships, prohibits dumping any plastics at sea. It also controls what garbage from ships can be dumped into the ocean, and it requires all ports to have facilities for garbage disposal.
|
 |
4 The Resource Conversation and Recovery Act . . .
requires all hazardous waste be sent to special places for treatment, storage, or disposal.
|
 |
5 Superfund . . . . .
is a law that helps identify and clean toxic waste sites that threaten human health or the environment.
|
 |
6 The Toxic Substance Control Act . . .
requires manufacturers to test the substances they produce to determine if they can harm human health.
|
|
7 The National Appliance Energy Conversation Act . . .
sets requirements on how much energy can be used by heaters, air conditioners, refrigerator, freezers, and other appliances in new homes.
|
 |
8 The Energy Policy and Conversation Act . . .
sets fuel efficiency standards for automobiles. Cars made in 1988 and after must average 27.5 miles for each gallon of gasoline. This is the average for all cars an automobile manufacturer makes; some cars use more than 27.5 miles per gallon, and some cars use less.
|
 |
9CFC Ban . . .
prohibits the use of CFC’s in aerosol sprays in the United States.
|
These are all national laws. States and even cities can pass their own laws on the environment.
INDUSTRY:
The lights in your home, the car you ride in, the clothes you wear, all products you use come from industry. Some of these products are necessary for us to live, and others make our lives easier or better. But making and transporting all these products contribute to pollution - emissions go into the air, chemicals go into the ground, and waste goes into the water. Much has been and is being done to help the environment. For example:
 |
1 CFC Substitutes
Manufacturers of CFCs are developing non-toxic substitutes to use in aerosols, refrigerators, cleaning fluids, and plastics.
|
 |
2 Electric Vehicles
The electric utility industry and the automobile industry continue to develop and test new battery powered vehicles. The batteries in the vehicle are plugged in to recharge at night.
|
 |
3 No Pilot Lights
Companies have developed natural gas appliances, such as stoves and clothes dryers, that don’t require a pilot light to burn all the time.
|
 |
4 Recycled Toxic Waste
Many industries are recycling or reusing toxic waste instead of disposing of them in the ground and water or at toxic waste sites.
|
 |
5 Cleaner Gasoline
Oil companies are “reformulating" gasoline so that fewer emissions go into the air when it is burned. Also, natural gas, a cleaner fuel is being used in specially designed vehicles.
|
 |
6 New Solar Cells
Companies are working on new cells and other technologies that make using solar energy cheaper and easier.
|
 |
7 Non -Toxic Alternatives
Companies are developing and using alternatives to toxic chemicals used to manufacture products and to clean machinery. Many non-toxic products are also being developed as alternatives to hazardous household products, such as cleaners, polishes, insecticides.
|
 |
8 Fewer Paint Fumes
New painting methods are being developed and used that trap and clean escaping fumes.
|
 |
9 Fewer Pesticides
Farmers are finding ways to grow food without pesticides by changing crops and releasing natural enemies of pests.
|
 |
10 Cleaner Cars
The automobile industry has manufactured cars that travel more miles for every gallon of gasoline burned. Cars also now have emissions control devices. Today, a new car produces only about 4% as much pollution as a car did in 1970.
|
INDIVIDUALS:
The government can pass laws and the industry can develop cleaner cars and factories, but pollution still happens. Part of the reason is we, the people. That means more products are being produced; more cars are on the road, more energy is being used, more trash is being created.
Much of the air pollution actually comes from the everyday activities of people:
 |
- exhaust from cars
- waste and vapors from household products
- emissions from power plants that generate the electricity we use.
|
|
Therefore, the actions of individual people can really make a difference. Ask yourself what can you do to help the environment?
|
 |
|
