Pollution Prevention and Proper Waste Disposal Don’t trash your source water!

Overview The best approach to reducing potential contaminant threats from waste is to reduce the volume and potential toxicity of wastes Pollution prevention is reducing or eliminating potential threats (source reduction) Proper waste disposal means discarding wastes in a manner so that there are no effects on water or environmental quality Pollution prevention and proper waste disposal are two distinct activities, both extremely important to the protection of drinking water supplies. Pollution Prevention May involve substituting a potentially hazardous material with a safe one, so that issues surrounding the use and disposal of hazardous materials don’t have to be dealt with. May involve litter reduction to reduce potential pollutants, such as cigarette butts, that may be washed down storm drains. Proper Waste Disposal May involve landfills or keeping particularly hazardous materials out of landfills. May involve recycling of used motor oil or specific electronics. Improper waste disposal is a potential threat to drinking water quality. For example, used oils, chemicals, solvents, paints, batteries, and discarded electronics are materials that should not go into landfills because they have the potential to contaminate groundwater supplies. Good Water. Good Health. Good Choices.

Did You Know? In a lifetime, the average American will throw away 600 times their adult weight in garbage Americans throw away enough used oil each year to fill 120 supertankers Product packaging accounts for 30% of the weight and 50% of the volume in our household waste Source: Midwest Assistance Program Good Water. Good Health. Good Choices.

Did You Know? Enough energy is saved by recycling one aluminum can to run a TV for 3 hours or to light a 100 watt bulb for 20 hours One ton of recycled paper uses 64 % less energy, 50% less water, 74% less air pollution, and creates five times more jobs than one ton of unrecycled paper products Source: Midwest Assistance Program Good Water. Good Health. Good Choices.

What You Can Do Find out what programs are in place in your community or area to reduce the use of potential pollutants. Organize or take part in a local household hazardous waste collection day, recycling event, or scrap tire amnesty day. Learn more about local landfill efforts to protect groundwater. Reduce, reuse, and recycle! Help pollution prevention efforts by monitoring what materials you use in your own home, and ensuring any hazardous materials are properly disposed of. Good Water. Good Health. Good Choices.

Contacts Insert local contact information The Groundwater Foundation P.O. Box 22558 Lincoln, NE 68542-2558 402-434-2740 www.groundwater.org Insert your local contact information. Good Water. Good Health. Good Choices.