Solution #2:  Celebrate National Pollution Prevention Week: September 21-27

A national program that partners with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to spread awareness of the importance of Pollution Prevention.

Pollution Prevention: reducing or eliminating pollution at its source so that it is never created in the first place. The preferred approach to environmental protection. By using less toxic substances, reducing waste and conserving energy and water, we can avoid generating pollution that would otherwise have been treated, recycled, or disposed of. Prevent and reduce pollution wherever ossible.

EPA encourages you to celebrate National Pollution Prevention week at your school. EPA has many resources that can help you get started on observing this special event.

Here Are Some Ideas to Get You Started!

There is a Pollution Prevention Toolbox available for classroom activities, you could promote your own environmental "Tip of the Day" at your school for each day of the week or participate in the EPA’s Do Your Part in Preventing Pollution Poster Contest! Check out the EPA’s Region 5 Pollution Prevention web site at www.epa.gov/region5/waste/p2pages/index.html for details.

America Recycles Day: November 15th

Do you know how much trash each person throws away each day? The answer is 4 pounds on average! This adds up to about 208 million tons of waste a year!! Make a pledge on November 15th to begin, enhance or support recycling efforts. Join with other individuals, community organizations, businesses or schools to reduce, reuse and recycle.

Remember to recycle, you have to buy recyclable products first. It is also a good idea, whenever possible to buy products made out of recycled materials. Doing so saves energy, resources and landfill space.

Check out the America Recycles web site at www.americarecyclesday.org