Reducing pollution is essential to the survival of our planet and the health and well-being of humankind. The air we breathe is filled with harmful contaminants, and our oceans and waters are filled with toxic chemicals. Left unchecked, pollution can wipe out the beauty, life and biodiversity of planet Earth. Here are practical ways you can help reduce pollution.
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Method 1 of 6: Choosing an Eco-Friendly Transportation Means
Step 1. Bike or walk whenever you can
One of the best things you can do to help reduce pollution is to stop using private cars for short trips. If the weather is nice and you don't intend to go too far, go out on foot or by bicycle. You will help reduce air pollution while exercising your body and getting some fresh air.
Step 2. Use public transportation
Taking the bus, train, or subway is another good way to avoid using your personal vehicle and reduce carbon emissions. If you have access to good public transportation, use it. Since you don't have to keep your eyes on the road all the time, you can use the time you drive to read, catch up on the latest news, or just relax.
Step 3. Organize your trip
Traveling short distances many times over several days will result in more pollution. Instead of doing a series of your work over several days, try to organize it into just one trip. Organizing your trip into one long journey will also save you money as the car will consume 20% more fuel when it is freshly started from a cold engine than when it is used while driving.
Step 4. Car ride to school or work
The long journey to school or work is a part of many people's lives. If walking and public transportation are not possible, consider taking a car together to school or work. By taking turns driving and riding with other people, you will reduce your carbon emissions and save on gas money each week. Plus, getting in a car is a great way to bond with coworkers and take the stress out of your daily commute.
Step 5. Maintain your vehicle regularly
In addition to finding ways to reduce your car use, keeping your vehicle in good condition can also help reduce carbon emissions. An added advantage that you will get from keeping your car in good condition is avoiding major problems with your vehicle. Perform regular maintenance on your car to ensure it continues to run properly.
- Change the oil every three months, or every 5,000 km.
- Don't let your car tire go flat.
- Replace the fuel, oil, and air filters according to the recommendations for your vehicle.
Step 6. Drive safely
Unsafe driving habits also contribute to pollution. By driving better, you can help reduce air pollution. Safe driving habits can also save you money by reducing the amount of fuel your car consumes. Whenever you get behind the wheel, remember to stay safe by:
- Apply gentle pressure to the gas pedal and accelerate slowly
- Driving at or below the maximum speed limit
- Stabilize your speed (Try using cruise control if you have one in your vehicle.)
- Don't stop suddenly
Step 7. Consider buying a hybrid or electric car
Electric cars run on electricity only, so they emit no emissions. Hybrid cars use a combination of electric and conventional engines. Although electric cars emit less pollution, both types of cars will help reduce pollution, although electric cars obviously emit less pollution. Hybrid cars still use less fuel, but they are much more economical than ordinary cars, and they also emit less greenhouse gases.
Do not forget that the purchase price of electric and hybrid cars is much higher than most conventional cars
Method 2 of 6: Choosing Eco-Friendly Food
Step 1. Choose local foods as much as possible
Transporting food from across the country and around the world requires a large amount of fuel. The use of excess fuel will contribute to air pollution. Instead of buying food that has traveled thousands of kilometers to reach your table, opt for foods that come from nearby farms and that are grown in eco-friendly methods. Before you buy, ask farmers or landowners about the techniques they use to find out what they are doing to reduce pollution.
- Visit a local warung or farmer's market to get fruits or vegetables directly from the people who grow them.
- Shop at a farmer's co-op near your home to find local food.
- Check the stalls near your home for local produce and other products.
Step 2. Reduce or eliminate consumption of animal products from industrial livestock
Industrial cattle typically operate large systems with a focus on efficiency that produce animal products such as meat, dairy and eggs. Industrial livestock contribute greatly to pollution, and some of them even produce as much air and water pollution as a small town. To help reduce pollution, stop buying and consuming animal products that come from industrial livestock.
- If you're not sure you can stop eating animal products, try reducing your consumption to once or twice per week.
- If you want to make a bigger impact, consider becoming a vegetarian, or vegan.
Step 3. Choose organically grown fruits and vegetables
Organic fruit and vegetables are grown by farmers who use sustainable farming systems. They avoid the use of chemical pesticides that contribute to groundwater pollution. By choosing organic fruits and vegetables, you will be contributing to a more environmentally friendly farming system.
Look for fruits, vegetables, and other products that are labeled “organic” or “certified organic”
Step 4. Grow your own fruits and vegetables
Growing a garden in your own yard is another great way to help reduce pollution. Plants and trees convert carbon into oxygen, which means less pollution. Plus, the fruits and vegetables you grow in your own yard will replace food products that used to take miles to reach your plate.
If it's your first time gardening, start simple. Make a small container garden in your yard or plant some tomatoes, lettuce, and cucumbers in your yard. You can increase the size of your garden as time goes on and your comfort in gardening increases
Method 3 of 6: Choosing Environmentally Friendly Energy
Step 1. Turn off lights and electronic equipment when you are not in the room
You can also unplug it to save more energy. Connecting electronic equipment in a single power socket is also a good strategy because you can easily turn off the power socket to turn off all electronic equipment at one time.
Step 2. Look for small things that can save a lot of energy
There are lots of little things you can do to save as much energy as possible. Do these strategies to start saving energy.
- Keep your water heater temperature at 50 degrees Celsius. Water heaters use approximately 14-25% of your home's energy. Keeping the water heater at 50 degrees C will help save energy.
- Dry your clothes. You can reduce your carbon footprint by up to 1,100 kg annually by hanging your clothes to dry instead of using a dryer.
- Wash your dining utensils using the air wash or dry cleaning technique. Eliminate the 2.5% of energy consumption that was previously used by your dishwasher. Open the dishwasher door instead of running the dryer inside.
- Choose an efficient light bulb. Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs) can save as much as 75% of the energy used to light your home. They also produce less heat than normal light bulbs.
Step 3. Keep your thermostat at 25 degrees in the warmer months and 20 degrees Celsius in the colder months
By reducing the energy consumption of your home's heating and air conditioning systems throughout the year, you can have a big impact on your energy consumption.
- Try setting the heating temperature to 12 degrees in the colder months. In addition, use thick blankets to keep the body warm.
- Try using a fan instead of an air conditioner to help control the temperature in your home. Fans use much less energy than air conditioners.
Step 4. Make sure your windows and vents are well sealed
A simple act of resin on your window rim is enough to improve the seal, or you may find it better to replace it. You can also apply window work and install shutters in winter to reduce the amount of heat radiated from your home.
If you decide to buy new windows for your home, look for windows that have the ENERGY STAR® label. These windows have met the requirements as an energy saver
Step 5. Pay attention to the energy policies of your local community
Some cities allow their residents to buy renewable energy at a lower cost. For example, you may be able to choose to buy electricity from PLTB, PLTS, PLTA, or MHP instead of electricity from PLTG or coal PLTU. Find out if this is possible in the area where you live.
Step 6. Find out if you can switch to another energy source
In this case, from non-renewable energy sources (eg electricity) to more renewable energy sources. For example, you might be able to switch from a gas stove to an electric one at home, or switch from a gas dryer to a solar dryer.
Method 4 of 6: Recycle, Reuse and Reduce Waste
Step 1. As much as possible, buy used goods
By buying used goods, you will help reduce the demand for new materials for production. You will also save money. Check flea stores, second hand furniture, and second hand furniture near the house, and check local ads for used items.
Step 2. Buy reusable items
A lot of waste is generated from discarded cups, plates, utensils, and food boxes. To avoid contributing to landfill, always use reusable, not single-use, dining utensils.
Step 3. Choose products with minimum packaging
Packaging used to protect food requires raw materials and energy to manufacture. Buy foods that use minimal packaging, such as bulk items or unpackaged items. If you absolutely must buy something packaged, try choosing items with as little packaging as possible.
Avoid buying products that are packaged with Styrofoam. Styrofoam is a commonly used packaging material, but its contribution to waste in landfill is very large because the material is difficult to recycle. Styrofoam production also contributes to pollution through the release of hydrocarbons
Step 4. Recycle as much as you can
Almost everything you buy can be recycled. Try to avoid products that don't have the recycling symbol on their packaging, or items made from mixed materials that are difficult to recycle.
Find out if a waste treatment company near your home offers a pick-up service for recycling. Otherwise, you can take your recyclable items to the nearest recycling center
Step 5. Buy items made from recycled materials
By purchasing items made from recycled materials, you can help reduce the amount of new material that has to be produced.
- Look for items that have the label “recycled products” or “post-consumer goods.”
- Items made from recycled materials often also label the percentage of the product's material that comes from recycling. Look for items that have a higher percentage than others.
Method 5 of 6: Keeping Chemicals Away from Water Sources
Step 1. Reduce the use of chemicals
The chemicals we use to wash our homes, cars, or our own bodies are washed away and carried by the water into the sewage system, but often they end up in the water supply as well. These chemicals are not good for the plants or animals that make up our ecosystem, and they are not healthy for human consumption either. Whenever possible, use natural, healthier alternatives.
- For example, instead of using cleaning agents to clean the kitchen or bathroom, use a mixture of vinegar and water or soda and salt paste. These natural household ingredients will do a great job of cleaning, and they won't pollute the water if you sweep them down the drain system.
- Try making your own detergent and dish soap. If you don't have time to do this, buy a detergent made with completely natural ingredients.
- If you can't find a good alternative to a toxic substance, use the smallest amount you can still use.
Step 2. Do not use pesticides and herbicides
These strong chemicals are sprayed directly onto the ground, and when it rains, they are absorbed deeper into the groundwater. Maybe you just want to prevent fleas from eating away at your tomatoes, but spraying your garden with pesticides can have a huge impact on the groundwater that humans and other organisms need to survive.
Step 3. Do not flush medication down the toilet
It is very difficult for large doses of drugs to be removed from the water supply by the sanitation system, and as a result everyone who drinks water from the water supply will be affected. Each drug on the market has its own specific instructions on how to dispose of it. If you have to dispose of a medication, find a proper way to do it instead of flushing it down the toilet.
There are some highly controlled drugs that are advised by the authorities to be flushed down the toilet to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands. These drugs are exceptions to the general rule above
Step 4. Dispose of toxic waste properly
Some substances should not be disposed of with the garbage because they will seep into the soil and poison groundwater. If you have a toxic chemical and you are unsure of the proper way to dispose of it, contact the nearest sanitation agency to find out where the toxic waste is disposed of. Take your trash there to make sure it is properly treated.
- The United States Environmental Protection Agency has a list of various types of toxic waste that can be read here.
- Keep in mind that items such as CFLs, batteries, and other specialty products also require special recycling techniques. Some states even require these items to be recycled by snakes to prevent mercury from being released into water or soil. Consult the nearest waste management company to find out the ways they can recycle these items.
Step 5. Save water
It is very important to take good care of the water we have and conserve it as much as possible. Wasting water is tantamount to wasting valuable resources and the impact will be very large on the environment. There are easy ways that can be applied in everyday life to save water and maintain the health of the ecosystem around you. Here are some ways to save water:
- Fix the water leak as soon as possible.
- Use water-saving appliances in your closets and toilets. An example is a low-flow shower.
- Do not wash dining utensils with water on continuously.
- Replace old toilets and fixtures with newer models that use less water.
- Don't water your lawn too much, especially if you live in a dry area.
Method 6 of 6: Actively Engage and Teach Others
Step 1. Learn about the major polluters in your area
Go to the library, do an internet search, and talk to people who can tell you about the major sources of pollution where you live. Maximum learning will help you understand more deeply about pollution.
Everyone can act individually to keep water and air clean, but companies that in their operations damage the environment are the main actors. In order to protect the water and air in your environment, it is important to identify the main sources of threats
Step 2. Tell others what you know
Although many people want to reduce air pollution, many do not understand the gravity of the problem or are unsure what to do about it. Once you've learned enough about pollution, use your knowledge to make a difference by discussing it with others. The more people know about pollution, the more likely it is that we will find a way to stop it together.
- Just talking about pollution with other people can lead to interesting discussions. Prepare answers for those who feel that nothing can be done to reduce pollution.
- Pollution and the damage it causes is a serious topic that some may avoid. As a person who cares about pollution issues, don't forget to stay sensitive to other people's perspectives and look for ways to help them gain a deeper understanding of what is happening on the planet.
Step 3. Write an article for the school or local newspaper
Spreading knowledge by publishing information on how to stop pollution is a great way to help others become more aware of this issue. Write an editorial discussing problems and solutions that many people can begin to implement in their daily lives.
Step 4. Fight local polluters
Are there certain factories or industries in your area that contribute to pollution of the local environment? You can bring about change by being vocal about the condition and joining other people who want to keep your environment clean and safe. Do an online search and find out more about conditions in your area. Change starts in your home, and by becoming a local activist, you are doing your best to make a difference.
Step 5. Join an environmental activist group
Chances are, there are already such groups working on reducing pollution in your area. If you can't find one, you and your friends can start a group that meets once, or more, per week, to discuss renewable issues and form ideas about what actions you can take. Invite others to join by using Facebook, Twitter, and by posting announcements in your area. Organize activities that will help spread knowledge about pollution and give people plenty of opportunities to do something about it. Here are some ideas for these activities:
- Carry out river or creek cleaning.
- Hold a screening of a documentary about pollution.
- Visit schools, talk to students about how they can help reduce pollution.
- Contact local community leaders to discuss your views on keeping water clean from chemicals.
- Join a group that is planting trees to help clean the air.
- Be a cycling activist. Strive for safe bicycle lanes in your city.
Tips
- Every now and then, feel free to roll up your sleeves to help reduce pollution. If you see trash on the ground, pick it up!
- Bring your own "mug" if you buy coffee at a nearby shop.
