Live Green: Simple Steps To Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

Pollution prevention is essential for preserving wetlands, groundwater sources and other critical ecosystems. There are many ways to prevent pollution, from adopting less environmentally harmful pesticides to choosing a pollution-free mode of transport, such as walking or riding a bike for trips under a mile. You can also reduce your impact on the environment by using energy, transport and other goods and services more carefully. This includes not idling your vehicle when you're not driving and washing your car at a commercial car wash facility where wastewater can be filtered and recycled.

Reduce your use of transport, especially for short trips

Transport is a major source of pollution, so reducing your use of it is a great way to help the environment. Motor vehicle emissions are the most significant source of most common air pollutants, so it's important to cut down on driving where possible.

One way to do this is to walk or cycle for short trips. The EPA outlines the benefits of keeping our cars parked for trips of less than one mile. This not only reduces emissions but also helps to improve air quality in your local area. If you need to drive, try to combine multiple errands into one trip to reduce the overall distance travelled.

Another way to reduce transport pollution is to use public transport instead of driving. This can help to reduce the number of cars on the road and lower emissions. If public transport is not an option, consider carpooling with friends or colleagues to reduce the number of vehicles needed.

You can also reduce pollution by properly maintaining your vehicle. This includes regular tune-ups, keeping tyres properly inflated, and using the correct motor oil. Idling your vehicle when you are not driving also wastes fuel and increases emissions, so it's best to turn off the engine if you're stopped for more than a minute.

Finally, if you do need to drive, consider choosing a more fuel-efficient vehicle. Electric or hybrid cars produce fewer emissions than traditional petrol or diesel cars. You can also reduce pollution by washing your car in a commercial car wash facility where wastewater can be filtered and recycled or properly disposed of.

Choose natural fibre materials to prevent microplastic pollution

There are many ways to prevent pollution, from adopting less environmentally harmful pesticides to choosing a pollution-free mode of transport. One way to prevent microplastic pollution is to choose natural fibre materials.

Microplastics are tiny plastic fibres that are shed from synthetic materials like polyester, nylon and acrylic. They are released into the environment when we wash our clothes, and they can also be ingested by marine life, ending up in the food chain. To prevent this, we can choose natural fibre materials like cotton, linen, wool and silk. These materials are biodegradable and do not release microplastics into the environment.

Cotton, for example, is a natural fibre that is soft, breathable and durable. It is also renewable and biodegradable, making it an eco-friendly choice. Linen is another natural fibre that is strong and durable. It is made from the flax plant, which requires less water and pesticides to grow than other crops, reducing the environmental impact of the fabric. Wool is a natural fibre that is known for its warmth and breathability. It is also renewable and biodegradable, making it a sustainable choice. Silk is a natural protein fibre that is soft and smooth. It is made by silkworms and is a renewable and biodegradable resource.

By choosing natural fibre materials, we can reduce our impact on the environment and help to prevent microplastic pollution. These materials are biodegradable and do not release microplastics into the environment, making them a more sustainable choice. In addition to choosing natural fibre materials, we can also reduce our environmental impact by adopting other practices, such as composting food waste, picking up pet waste and conserving water.

Conserve water and control runoff on your property

Conserving water and controlling runoff on your property is an important way to prevent pollution. Here are some ways to do this:

• Shrink your yard and plant native species, which require less mowing and therefore reduce emissions.
• Compost food waste to add to your garden and grass to improve soil fertility and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Pick up pet waste to protect water quality. Pet waste can carry two types of pollutants into waterways: nutrients and pathogens.
• Avoid overwatering your plants and lawn to prevent polluted runoff, which can end up in nearby streams, rivers, lakes and groundwater.
• Wash your car at a commercial car wash facility where wastewater can be filtered and recycled or properly disposed of.

Use non-toxic or less toxic chemicals for cleaning and maintenance

Using non-toxic or less toxic chemicals for cleaning and maintenance is a great way to reduce pollution. In the industrial sector, for example, pollution prevention practices include using less harmful chemicals as cleaners, degreasers and other maintenance chemicals. This can help to reduce environmental damage.

You can also reduce pollution by choosing natural fibre materials like cotton, linen, wool and silk. This will help to prevent microplastic pollution. You can also reduce the need to harvest new materials by choosing reusable mugs, straws and utensils.

Another way to reduce pollution is to be mindful of your water usage. Overwatering and misdirected watering practices can result in wasted water and polluted runoff that may end up in nearby streams, rivers, lakes and even groundwater. Lawn to Lake is a great resource to learn how to conserve water and control runoff on your property.

You can also reduce emissions by shrinking your yard and planting native plants, which means you'll have to mow less. Composting your food waste is another way to reduce emissions and improve soil fertility.

Finally, if you have a car, you can prevent pollution by washing it in a commercial car wash facility where wastewater can be filtered and recycled or properly disposed of.

Pick up pet waste to protect water quality

There are many ways to reduce your impact on the environment and prevent pollution. One way to do this is to pick up pet waste to protect water quality. Pet waste can carry two types of pollutants into our waterways: nutrients and pathogens. By picking up after your pet, you can help to prevent these pollutants from entering our water systems and improve water quality. This is especially important if you live near a body of water, such as a stream, river or lake, as polluted runoff from misdirected watering practices can end up in these water sources.

To properly dispose of pet waste, you can use a pooper scooper or a bag to pick it up and then throw it away in the trash. If you have a backyard or garden, you can also bury it in a hole and cover it with soil. It is important to wash your hands thoroughly after handling pet waste to prevent the spread of pathogens.

Another way to prevent pollution is to be mindful of your water usage. Overwatering your lawn or garden can lead to wasted water and polluted runoff. By conserving water and controlling runoff on your property, you can help to reduce the amount of polluted water that ends up in nearby water sources.

In addition to picking up pet waste and conserving water, there are other everyday choices you can make to reduce pollution. For example, you can choose to walk or ride a bike instead of driving for short distances. Motor vehicle emissions are a significant source of common air pollutants. You can also reduce emissions by shrinking your yard and planting native species, which require less mowing.

Frequently asked questions