What can you do?

You can prevent pollution at home. If we each do a little, it can add up to a lot. Here are just a few ideas you can try:

Use Less Toxic Products

• If you change your own oil, recycle the used oil at a service station or recycling centre. Many landfills also accept used oil for recycling.
   
• Buy as little as you need when purchasing cleaning supplies. Buy less toxic or non-toxic supplies. Baking soda and water can be used in place of ammonia-based all-purpose cleaners.
   
• Give leftover household hazardous products to someone who can use them (i.e., paints, pesticides, cleaning products, etc.) or take them to the next Household Hazardous Waste collection day held in your community.
   
• Find out which companies in your area practice pollution prevention, and patronize their businesses. Pass the pollution prevention message along and let others know what they can do to prevent pollution. Encourage others to follow these practices.

Use the following key words to search for less toxic products and alternatives:

• "Ecologo Products"
• "Less Toxic Cleaning Products"
• "Non Toxic Household Products"

Conserve Energy

• Keep your car well tuned. This will conserve gasoline and reduce harmful emissions. Buy only as much auto fluid as you will use.
   
• Turn off lights when you leave the room to save energy and money. One fourth of the energy generated in America is used for lighting.
   
• Walk, carpool or ride your bike when possible; this saves excess use of natural resources and polluting the air.
   
• Turn the water off when you brush your teeth.
   
• Only run full loads in the washing machine or dishwasher.

Refer to the following websites:

• University of Nebraska: Your Home and Environment Resource
• U.S. Department of Energy: Learning About Saving Energy
• Energy Quest: Saving Energy
• Earth911: Flex Your Power
• ECOMALL: 20 Things You Can Do To Conserve Energy
   

Create Less Waste

• Instead of buying sandwich bags and brown paper bags for lunches, pack lunches in reusable containers and reusable bags. Use durable reusable bags when you go shopping, too.
   
• Buy durable appliances and electronic equipment that last longer and can be repaired. Help keep these items out of our landfills by repairing instead of disposing.
   
• Buy in bulk and avoid products with over packaging. About one-third of our garbage is packaging that is immediately thrown out.
   
• Purchase rechargeable batteries. Reduce the amount of trash going into our landfills and help keep toxic metals out too. Some batteries, especially the small "button" types and rechargeables, can be recycled.
   
• Use the sunday comics or magazine pictures for gift-wrap. About 40 percent of Canada's garbage is paper.
   
• Buy products that contain recycled materials.

Refer to the following websites:

• Pollution Prevention Starts At Home (U.S.)
• Environment Canada: P2 and You @ Home
• Environment Canada: The 4Rs Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover