ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS

Conservation is the solution that ties all other solutions together Conservation is making wise choices with the resources available –Reduce how much you use –Reuse items that can be used again –Recycle products whenever possible

REDUCE! 1/3 of waste is packaging so avoid over packaged products Use environmentally friendly cleaners, pesticides and other products Use less energy

Simple (and FREE) ways to REDUCE Turn off lights when you leave a room Take shorter showers Turn off water while brushing teeth Turn-off computers and TV’s when not in use Turn down thermostat one degree Carpool, walk or ride a bike when possible Buy products with little or no packaging

REUSE ! Use reusable lunch and shopping bags Pass on products that are still in good condition to someone who can use it Give away old toys Use both sides of a sheet of paper

RECYCLE! Recycling is a form of reusing when a product is broken down and made into another product to use again In the U.S. 11% of trash is recycled compared to 30% in Europe and 50% in Japan Recycling one ton of paper uses 64% energy and 50% less water and produces 74% less air pollution

Recycling Cans Recycling a can saves 95% of the energy needed to make a whole new one By recycling a single aluminum can, we save enough energy to run a television for up to three hours.

More Recycling facts Glass takes more than one million years to decompose (break down and disappear) in our garbage dumps. Glass can be recycled over and over and over again, conserving natural resources soda ash, limestone and sand (lots of sand!) Recycled glass takes less energy to make than glass out of new materials

Other important ways to conserve Support programs that maintain biodiversity Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered species Act are all federal laws put in place to help improve environmental conditions

The Burning River The Cuyahoga River caught fire (because it was full of so many pollutants) several times between 1930 and The final fire brought national attention that the water in the US needed attention and led to the clean water act

Clean water Act This law sharply reduces direct polluting of waterways, supports wastewater treatment facilities, and manages polluted runoff Regulates the protection and propagation (reproduction) of fish, shellfish, and wildlife and recreation in and on the water.

Clean Air Act Under the Clean Air Act, EPA sets limits on certain air pollutants, The Clean Air Act also gives EPA the authority to limit emissions of air pollutants coming from sources like cars, chemical plants, utilities, and steel mills.

Endangered species act  The Endangered Species Act of 1973 provides for the conservation of species that are endangered or threatened throughout all or a significant portion of their range, and the conservation of the ecosystems on which they depend. Endangered Species Act of 1973 species that are endangered or threatenedEndangered Species Act of 1973 species that are endangered or threatened  Many threatened species like the bald eagle, american alligator, and grey wolf were once endangered but now are doing well.  Many others still need the protection of this law