United States EPA 903/M-90/001
Environmental Protection January 1990
Agency
Policy, Planning, and Evaluation (PM219)'
&EPA You Can Make
A Difference
You can teach
your friends and
family about
pollution prevention...
by your example
•
tttt
-------
ou can teach your friends,
f el Sow employees, and
family by your example to
help prevent pollution.
Action by Congress and state
legislatures, rulings by courts,
pronouncements by important people, or
wishing alone cannot clean up the
environment - or keep it from becoming
more polluted. Individual efforts by
everyone can make things happen and
win the battle against pollution. You are
an important person in that battle. Here
are suggestions you can use to make a
difference - through what you do and
what others see you do. Many people
create the unsightly and unsafe litter we
see along our highways and streets.
The combined effect of many individuals
provides the planted trees, the wildlife
habits, the successful recycling
programs, the low-input agriculture, the
clean streams, and the clean parks in
other areas. Individuals working alone
or cooperating with their neighbors, with
schools and colleges, with industry, with
government, and with nonprofit
organizations are EPA's goal. EPA
recognizes the importance of
environmental education and active
citizen participation. Let us know what
you think of our brochure and how we
can help you help us. For more
information, contact the United States
Environmental Protection Agency,
Office of Pollution Prevention (PM-219),
401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC
20460.
0 ne use is not enough.
Recycle paper, glass,
plastic, aluminum, scrap
metal, motor oil, and yard
wastes.
Reuse, repair, and recycle as often as
possible. Don't throw away what can be
used again. Avoid filling landfills with
disposables. Consider using reusable
mugs, glasses, dishes, cloth towels, and
sponges. Save your leaves, grass, and
bush clippings and use them as
compost. Participate in a recycling
program. Encourage your community
and your school to begin recycling.
Maintain and repair products. Donate
usable materials to charities or thrift
shops.
U
se less energy. Set back
your thermostat, insulate
your water heater, and buy
energy-efficient appliances.
Setting back the thermostat not only
saves money, it saves energy. It's an
investment in yourself and your
environment. Insulation conserves our
valuable fuel supply and saves you
dollars. Consider insulating your
buildings with fiberglass or cellulose
fibers.
&EHV
You Can Make A Differeno
-------
ars. Buy energy efficient
automobiles and other
vehicles and keep them
tuned. Carpool, bike, walk
or use mass transit when
possible.
A well-tuned internal combustion
engine makes your car, boat, or tractor
safer for you and the environment.
Carpooling and using mass transit,
biking, and walking result in less
pollution. Disposal of auto waste is
another significant problem. Used oil
can contaminate water supplies; used
auto batteries contain lead, lead sulfate,
and sulfuric acid which can leak into
soil. Take used oil, auto batteries, and
auto tires to a recycling center or an
appropriate disposal facility.
Apply pesticides such as
insecticides and herbicides
carefully if they must be
used.
Follow instructions carefully. Use
natural pest-control methods whenever
possible. Pesticides can pollute air,
ground, and water. They can harm
beneficial insects as well as wildlife,
pets, and people. Improperly applied,
they can spread beyond the intended
area and run into local water supplies.
Purchase only the amount needed and
follow instructions carefully, minimize
use, and reduce run-off by maintaining
ample grass cover and shrubs.
N oxious air invades our
homes and workplaces.
Reduce smoke, radon,
asbestos and other
indoor-air pollutants.
Americans spend more than 85% of
their time indoors, so this is one of the
most important areas where you can
reduce environmental hazards. One of
the most harmful indoor air hazards is
radon, a naturally occurring colorless
and odorless gas that seeps into homes
through cracks in foundations or floors.
It is the second most common cause of
lung cancer - leading to 20,000 deaths
a year. Many stores sell test kits for
measuring radon levels. A reading
above 4 picocuries per liter could
indicate a problem. Another indoor-air
pollutant, tobacco smoke, causes
problems for both smokers and
non-smokers. When combined with
radon, it further increases one's chance
of developing lung cancer.
Formaldehyde-based resins in some
new furniture, building materials, and
fabrics are other common indoor
pollutants, as are pesticides, aerosols,
household cleaners, and solvents from
dry-cleaning. Asbestos is best handled
by professionals. Asbestos removal is
not a do-it-yourself project. If in doubt
about asbestos in your home or work
place, check with a professional.
-------
H ousehold hazardous waste -
Purchase products
containing toxic ingredients
only when you cannot avoid
using them and buy only as
much as you need. Do not
buy bulk quantities.
Always read product labels to identify
hazardous constituents, and pay
attention to container and product
disposal information. Whenever
possible, avoid using products labeled
"DANGER," "WARNING," or
"CAUTION." Use non-toxic alternatives.
For example, clean your counter tops
with baking soda instead of chlorinated
cleaners. Store hazardous products
and materials carefully. Recycle
unwanted hazardous products such as
oil-based paint or find an alternative
use. Find out your local community's
policy on disposing of hazardous waste.
If the product should not go down the
drain or into the rubbish, save it for a
household hazardous waste collection
program. If a program is not in place,
encourage your community to institute
one.
t nvironmental shopping -
Buy recycled or recyclable
products. Seek out
reusable, recyclable or
returnable packages.
Look for the recycling symbol on
products you buy. Such symbols
identify recycled or recyclable
products. Buy durable products -
don't buy throw-aways. Borrow or rent
things you use infrequently. Avoid
buying products that use unnecessary
packaging - either plastic or paper.
Use returnable or reusable containers.
Look for pump dispensers rather than
aerosol sprays. Buy rechargeable
batteries for flashlights, toys, and
household items. Carry your own
reusable shopping bag.
Lead - Be careful around
surfaces covered with
lead-based paint, and be
cautious when children are
nearby during renovation
or rehabilitation of old
buildings. Be sure
drinking water does not
contain harmful levels of
lead or other
contaminants.
Be alert for lead-based paint in older
homes, especially those in poor repair
or in need of painting. The fine dust
from deteriorating old paint and dust
created during renovation or
rehabilitation of older buildings may
contain lead particles. This dust can
travel throughout your house and even
outside. Keep children away from such
areas. Workers should wear protective
clothing. Consider contacting an expert
before undertaking such renovations.
EPA has found unhealthy contaminants
in drinking water in some areas.
Because lead and other contaminants
may cause a health problem, consider
having your water tested if your house
has lead pipes. Two drinking-water
precautions are to run water until it
changes temperature - and use only
the cold-water tap for drinking and
cooking, especially for making baby
formula. Lead can slow children's
physical and nervous-system
development and cause other
neurological, reproductive, and
circulatory problems.
Plant trees, shrubs, and
indoor plants. They
replenish the earth's oxygen
supply.
Plant trees or bushes in your yard or
neighborhood. Trees in your yard
may reduce heating and cooling costs
and curb soil 'erosion. In addition, they
beautify your property and may
increase its value
-------
Contact Directory
United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pollution Prevention (PM-219)
401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Solid Waste Hotline (8OO) 424-9346
Packaging Coalition for Solid Waste (212) 595-9194
Environmental Defense Fund's Recycling Hotline (8OO) CALL-EDF
u
U.S. EPA Public Information Center (202) 382-2080
U.S. Department of Energy (215) 597-389O Your local utility company
Conservation and Renewable Energy Inquiry and
Referral Services (8OO) 523-2929
CU.S. Department of Energy (215) 597-3890
Local Chambers of Commerce and local transit-oriented nonprofit organizations
Your State and local environmental agencies
Your local chapter of the American Lung Association
Urban Mass Transportation Administration (2O2) 366-4O4O
U.S. Department of Transportation (2O2) 366-4OOO
A U.S. EPA Office of Pesticide & Toxic Substances, Washington, DC 2046O
National Pesticide Telecommunications Network (8OO) 858-7378
National Pesticide Information Retrieval System (317) 494-6614
Local garden clubs and nature centers
NU.S. EPA, Public Information Center
Washington, DC 2O46O (2O2) 382-2O8O
National Institutes of Health (8OO) 422-6237
TSCA Assistance Hotline (2O2) 554-14O4
For specific information on Radon:
Certified radon contractors
HU.S. EPA Solid Waste Hotline (8OO) 424-9346
Your State and local Environmental Agencies
EU.S. EPA Solid Waste Hotline (800) 424-9346
Your State and local environmental agencies
- Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800) 426-4791
I Your local water company and community or county health department
Call your local garden club, nature center, or arboretum
Global Releaf (American Forestry Association) (202) 667-3300
National Wildlife Federation; Backyard Wildlife Habitat Program,
1400 16th St., NW, Washington, DC, 20036
Soil Conservation Service (202) 447-5667
For more information please call your EPA Regional Public Affairs/External Affairs Directors:
Region 1 (CT, ME, MA, NH, Rl, VT), Boston, MA (617) 565-3424
Region 2 (NJ, NY, PR, VI), New York, NY (212) 264-2515
Region 3 (DE, DC, MD, PA, VA, WV), Philadelphia, PA (215) 597-9370
Region 4 (AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN), Atlanta, GA (4O4) 347-3004
Region 5 (IL, IN, Ml, MN, OH, Wl), Chicago, IL (312) 353-2O72
Region 6 (AR, LA, NM, OK, TX), Dallas, TX (214) 655-22OO
Region 7 (IA, KS, MO.NE), Kansas City, KS (913) 551-7003
Region 8 (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY), Denver, CO (3O3) 293-1692
Region 9 (AZ, CA, HI, NV, AS, GU, TT), San Francisco, CA (415) 744-1171
Region 10 (AK, ID, OR, WA), Seattle, WA (2O6) 442-1465
Printed on recycled paper ;
------- |