HELP PROTECT OUR 6REAT LAKES!Hi
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'-The Great Lakes belong
to everyone, and everyone is responsible for keeping^? them
clean. ^J^ It's simple. Never dump oil in your backyard or v\
storm sewer and never pour >^paint thinner down your
drain. Conserve electricity to help reduce the mercury that
comes from coal-burning power plants. f\ Prevent products <
with hazardous ingredients from traveling through our
rainwater, mf*s^ groundwater, and rivers and streams. \
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Use this brochure to help protect our ^jc Great Lakes!
These small acts-and many others-can have a tremendous
effect on our clean
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PREVENT POLLUTION
AND PROTECT OUR CREAT LAKES!
YOU CAN HELP
PROTECT OUR
CREAT LAKES
What do the following activities
have in common: conserving
energy, reducing runoff, using
care with household products,
and getting involved? All are steps you can take to
help protect our Great Lakes. These small steps,
taken together, will have a large impact.
CONSERVE ENERCY
Much of the electricity generated in the Great Lakes
basin comes from the burning of fossil fuels,
particularly coal. While coal is an efficient, American-
made energy source, it naturally contains trace chemi-
cals such as mercury. When a power plant burns
coal, mercury is emitted into the air. This toxic
substance then falls with rain and snow in the Great
Lakes basin, where it accumulates in the food chain
and eventually causes damage to fish, birds, and even
people.
Power plants are only one of the many mercury
sources in the Great Lakes. Others include natural
sources, improperly disposed of fluorescent bulbs, and
garbage incineration. In addition to making
sure you dispose of mercury-containing
products properly, you can help keep
mercury out of our Great Lakes by
reducing the amount of electricity
you use.
REDUCE
RUNOFF
Some of the pollution that gets into the
Great Lakes comes from materials that
"runoff" lawns, sidewalks, and streets
and wash into storm drains and
streams when it rains or snows.
Lawn fertilizers, pet wastes, and
leaves in the gutter can contribute
too many nutrients to the lakes when
they become part of the "runoff." You
can help prevent pollution from "runoff"
by carefully applying fertilizers and
pesticides (if you choose to use them, do
not spread on sidewalks and driveways),
properly disposing of pet wastes, and keeping
grass and leaves out of gutters.
BE CAREFUL WITH
HOUSEHOLD
PRODUCTS
If you're like many people, you own a variety of
household products that line the shelves of your home
- in your bathroom, kitchen, workshop and garage.
Some of these household products may require special
consideration in their use, storage, and disposal. Such
products tend to fall in the following categories:
• Home maintenance
• Lawn and garden care
• Hobbies and crafts
• Automotive maintenance
• Health and beauty aids
REDUCTION
AS A FIRST CHOICE
You can reduce the amount of potentially hazardous
products in your home and eliminate what you throw ,
away by following these easy steps: ^y-. •>.
1. BEFORE YOU BUY:
• Read the labels and be aware of what they mean.
• Watch for products that contain these label
signal words which may indicate a need for
special handling or disposal:
CAUTION CORROSIVE DANGER
EXPLOSIVE FLAMMABLE POISON
TOXIC VOLATILE WARNING
• Select a product suited for the job at hand.
• Buy only what you can use entirely.
2. AFTER YOU BUY:
• Read the labels carefully and follow directions
for use.
• Use the recommended amounts; more is not
necessarily better.
• Store properly and keep in original container
with readable labels.
• Use child-resistant closures and keep them on
tightly.
• Share what you can't use with a friend or
neighbor.
• Recycle/Dispose of empty container properly.
HANDLE AND DISPOSE
OF PROPERLY
Each of us should take responsibility to properly handle
and dispose of products that are no longer usable or
/ wanted. When products with hazardous materials are
•disposed of improperly, they may become a hazard to
others or contaminate our water. If poured on the
ground, hazardous materials can filter through the soil
and enter our groundwater, rivers, and eventually, the
Great Lakes. Waste poured directly into storm sewers
has an even more direct route to our clean water supply.
Products labeled Flammable or Poisonous should not be
poured down the drain or toilet.
Some of these products should be saved and taken to a
local or regional household hazardous waste collection
site. Others, such as motor oil and antifreeze can be
recycled. Paint can be shared in a product exchange. For
more information, use the contact list on the following
page.
SOME EASY WAYS TO REDUCE
ELECTRICAL USE IN YOUR HOME
Turn off lights when they're not needed.
Replace burned-out incandescent light bulbs with
"compact fluorescent" bulbs - they use 1/3 the
electricity and last ten times as long!
Insulate your house well if you have electric heat.
Use hand powered tools and appliances.
Buy energy efficient appliances when buying
new ones.
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SET INVOLVED!
Not only can you help the Great Lakes at home but
you can join with others in your community. Here
are a few ways:
• BEACH CLEANUPS
Many local citizen groups sponsor annual shoreline
cleanups. Find out about the next cleanup, or organize
one yourself.
• LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL CROUPS
If you're concerned about your Great Lake, you're not
alone. Local groups can be a good source of information
and a good way to get involved in keeping your lake clean.
For more information on how you can help keep your
Great Lake clean, contact these local agencies.
MINNESOTA
Western Lake Superior Sanitary District
2626 Courtland St. • Duluth, MN 55806
Garbage Hotline (218) 722-0761
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Northeast Regional Office
320 W. 2nd St. • Duluth, MN 55802
(218) 7234660
WISCONSIN—NORTHWEST
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
-Superior Subarea Office Hazardous Waste Specialist
1705 Tower Ave. • Superior, WI54880
(715) 392-7988
WISCONSIN—LAKE MICHIGAN
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
-Lake Michigan District
1125 N. Military Ave. • P.O. Box 10448
Green Bay, WI 54307
(414) 492-5800
-Southeast District
2300 N.Martin Luther King Dr. • P.O. Box 12436
Milwaukee, WI 53212
(414) 263-8570
MICHIGAN-UPPER PENINSULA
Michigan Technological University
Regional GEM Center
1400 Townsend Dr. • Houghton, MI 49931
(906) 487-3341
MICHIGAN-LOWER PENINSULA
Michigan Office of Waste Reduction Services
116 W. Allegan • Lansing, MI 48933
(800) 662-9278
ILLINOIS
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
Bureau of Water, Great Lakes Program
2200 Churchill Rd. #34 • Springfield, IL 62794
(217) 782-1696
INDIANA
Indiana Department of Environmental Management
Northwest Regional Office
405 N. Broadway • Gary, IN 46402
(219) 881-6712
GREAT LAKES
United States Environmental Protection Agency
-Office of Solid Waste
77 W. Jackson Blvd. • Chicago, IL 60604
(312) 886-3584
-Great Lakes National Program Office
(312) 353-2117
• AREAS OF CONCERN (AOCS)
The International Joint Commission has targeted four
areas in Lake Superior and ten areas in Lake Michigan
for special attention. Each AOC is developing a Remedial
Action Plan. Citizens are directly involved in planning
clean-up of those targeted areas.
Lake Superior AOCs include St. Louis Bay, Torch Lake,
Deer Lake-Carp Creek and St. Mary's River.
Lake Michigan AOCs include Manistique Rivet
Menominee River, Southern Green Bay, Sheboygan River,
Milwaukee Estuary, Waukegon Harbor, Grand Calumet
River, Kalamazoo River, Muskegon Lake and White Lake.
DEVELOPED WITH A GRANT FROM THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
A joint program of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency,,Wisconsin Deportment of Natural Resource;
Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.
anil the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
I Printed on 100^5- postconsumer waste
" recycled paper with soy ink
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SIMPLE THINGS YOU CAN DO TO
PROTECT THE GREAT LAKES
Use latex paint instead of oil-based paint where appropriate • 1
oil leak in your car—don't let it drip on the groundj|E^Use durable and
reusable products like cloth napkins whenever possible • Read house
hold product labels and use according to direction- flff^ Use low-flow
faucets and showerheads • Share Lake-saving ideas with famil
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coworkers ,|^|Turn off the water while you brush your teeth • Let your
*den grow naturally • Teach your family that the Great
Lakes are a precious resource .-Jfifc
use • Take advantage of household hazardous waste collection
programs • Support businesses and organizations
• Consider organically-grown produce and grains^jpDrh
your car less—ride a bike, carpool and use mass transit Choose
appropriate products for the task at hand • Bring your use
lection center or service station for recycling • Run your washing
machine only when you have a full load jj] compact fluorescent
light bulbs, then recycle them^ Get to know your Great Lake—go for a
walk on the beach • Consi ters • Spread the
word about the importance of keeping our Great Lakes clean • Use
alkaline rechargeable or low-mercury batteries • Use water-based
markers • ,^^ ^{j£ ^ ^
• Plant a tree ^ ^^f^^^^Jr
• Learn ^ w^&^^m P
more.(|§) Ask for more information from your
local environmental office.
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