Soil pollution, aka degradation or damage to the surface of the land and earth, affects human activities directly or indirectly. To prevent soil pollution, there are steps called the 3Rs: reduce, reuse, and recycle. Take a variety of methods to help prevent soil pollution and create a cleaner earth.
Step
Method 1 of 5: Reduce Your Waste
Step 1. Reduce the use of products that harm the environment
Here are some ways to reduce pollution in your home:
- Buy biodegradable products.
- Store all chemical and waste liquids in spill-proof containers.
- Consume organic food grown without pesticides. Look for products grown with fertilizer or pesticide free when shopping at the market.
- Try not to use pesticides.
- Use a drip tray to collect engine oil.
- Buy products with less packaging
- Do not throw engine oil on the ground.
Step 2. Reduce the amount of plastic used
Scientists worry that plastic bags will never biodegrade. On the other hand, plastic bags will only shrink into smaller plastics. Here are some ways to reduce plastic use at home:
- Don't use trash bags. Just empty your trash into the trash can.
- If you don't like this method, buy a biodegradable and compostable garbage bag.
- Ask that your newspaper is not wrapped in plastic when it is delivered to your home. Or, you can unsubscribe from physical newspapers and switch to online newspapers.
- Bring your own plastic or metal containers to the restaurant for takeout orders. At first people will think it's weird, but you set an example for environmental conservation.
- Remind your regular restaurant not to provide plastic cutlery, straws, and sauce/chili packages for your take-out order. Politely decline plastic bags if you're only ordering one or two items. Better yet, eat at a restaurant and use non-plastic plates and cutlery
- Bring a recycled shopping bag when you go shopping. Refuse plastic bags if you have little to spend.
- Ask your favorite laundromat not to wrap your clean clothes in plastic. Don't forget to choose a laundry place that uses environmentally friendly and non-toxic products.
- Make supplies that don't cause waste to be brought to school or work.
Step 3. Reduce your waste
- Take good care of all your underground storage tanks, such as oil, septic and underground water lines. Schedule regular vacuuming of the septic tank and look for signs of leaks, such as damp and smelly areas in the yard, slowing or overflowing in the home, and overgrown areas. Usually, the septic system needs to be vacuumed every 3-5 years.
- Be diligent in picking up and disposing of trash. Dispose of animal waste into septic systems or underground water as soon as possible. Don't leave it in the yard or throw it into the storm drain.
- Do not burn your garbage, especially plastic waste and tires because the residual fumes will settle and pollute the soil.
Step 4. Reduce paper usage
- Switch to digital subscriptions, reports, and billing.
- Ask to stop sending junk mail and don't make new registrations.
- No need to ask for payment receipts.
- Dry your hands with just a piece of tissue. Use washable cloth towels. If possible, keep a small cloth towel at your school or workplace. Take your towels home every once in a while for washing.
- Use a cloth, duster, or broom instead of a tissue or Swiffer.
Method 2 of 5: Changing Your Water Usage Habits
Step 1. Plant local plant species, and plan your plantings so they don't run off
Thus, the amount of water use and the need for chemicals for your yard maintenance can be reduced.
Step 2. Don't water your lawn often
Water more deeply in the morning when it is still cool. This prevents nutrients from leaching from the soil due to over-watering and reduces fertilizer use, while encouraging the root system to grow deeper in your yard.
Step 3. Wash the cloth in cold water as often as possible
As much as 85 percent of the washing machine's energy is used to heat water.
Step 4. Use a water filter to purify tap water instead of buying bottled water
Bottled water is not only expensive, but also adds a lot of bottled water waste.
Step 5. When traveling, carry a reusable water bottle, preferably aluminum and not plastic
Method 3 of 5: Reuse
Step 1. Reuse the paper of your choice
- Choose recycled paper products, such as notebooks, toilet paper, paper towels, etc.
- Buy reusable cutlery.
- BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag). That is, bring your own bag or pocket when shopping. Many recycled shopping bags are available at supermarkets and hardware stores. You can even find more stylish recycled shopping bags in many stores.
- Boycott paper towels. Use a rag or an old cloth to clean.
Step 2. Reuse your technology
- Purchase refilled ink or toner cartridges. By using refilled ink, you prevent the use of 1 kg of metal and plastic and 2 liters of oil.
- Buy rechargeable batteries. Batteries contain toxic materials that are harmful to the environment. Therefore, protect the environment by purchasing rechargeable batteries. There are companies that are willing to collect your old batteries for recycling. One rechargeable battery is equal to 1,000 ordinary batteries. Recycle your used batteries.
- Purchase rewrittable CDs and DVDs for reuse, or just insert them into flash drives or memory cards.
Method 4 of 5: Reusing Water
Step 1. Use “used water” on plants and garden decorations
Used water is water that has been used for bathing or washing dishes. This water should not be consumed, but can be used to water the garden and plants around the house. Bath water works best, but dishwashing water can also be used, as long as it's not too greasy or has a lot of food in it. Water can be collected manually using a scoop, or by directing a drainage pipe into a small storage tank.
Step 2. Use the water from the sink to flush the toilet
A total of 49,210 liters of water is used by each person in developing countries to flush only 624 liters of feces! For effective use of your water, some water can do double duty in your home. Since sewage does not have to be flushed with clean water, the pipes can be routed so that used water from the bathroom fills the toilet tank.
Step 3. Collect rainwater
Simply place the barrel under the gutter and collect rainwater there. The EPA states that a house with a roof width of 457 square meters in an area of 51 cm of rainfall a year can hold 70,711 liters of water in one year. This water can be used to water plants and yard.
Method 5 of 5: Recycling
Step 1. Recycle every day
The best way to recycle is to do it every day at home and wherever you are. Arrange newspapers and magazines, plastic containers and bottles, and a variety of paper for recycling and persuade your friends and family to recycle too.
Step 2. Recycle outdated technology
According to the EPA, US citizens dispose of 2 million tons of e-waste each year. Prevent it by recycling your old technology. For more information, visit
Step 3. Prepare a recycling bin
Make sure your home and office are equipped with recycling bins for paper, plastic, and metal. Keep it out in the open and label it a marker. Sometimes, we just need convenience to want to recycle.
Step 4. Recycle empty ink and toner cartridges
Nearly 8 used cartridges are thrown away in the US every second. This means that nearly 700,000 cartridges are discarded per day.
Step 5. Look for recycling options in all purchased products
Not only paper that can be recycled.
Tips
- Take a biology class to understand the environment better.
- Take an agriculture class.
- Read books on this topic to understand ways to prevent soil pollution.
