Friday, February 20, 2009
Posted in
environment
|
4. How to reduce water pollution
Liquid detergents
The main problem with these is their phospate content. Use phospate-free or low-phospate washing-up liquid if you can obtain. If not, try reducing the quantity you use.
Washing powders
No-one with a washing machine can avoid using these. However, try experimenting with reduced quantities-remember manufacturers have an interrest in making you use more than is actually necessary.
Bleach and scouring powders
Again, the problem here is one of quantity. Very dilute bleach left to work for longer is just as effective as a strong solution poured away after a few minutes.
Water fresheners
Don't use them. They do not "freshen" water at all-rather they pollute it with synthetic perfumes and colours.
Garden chemicals
If you garden organically, using only natural products on the garden, you will avoid causing any water contamination.
DIY chemicals
None of these should ever be poured down a drain or sink. Pure cellulose wallpaper paste can go on the compost heap: other chemicals should be poured into a deep hole well away from plants.
Car cleaning and maintenance
The same rule applies here as for DIY chemicals-do not pour oil, battery acid or car polishes down the drain. Do not use detergents in excessive quantities.
5. Cleaning up coasts and estuaries
Keep a watch
Many inshore pollution incidents are the results of illegal dumping. Water belongs to all of us: reporting offenders helps to prevent them repeating their actions.
Boycott polluters
A number of household products, perticularly paints and plastics, can cause severe water pollution during mnufacture. Although pollution may be within legal levels, it does not have to happen at all. It can be stopped by consumers boycotting persistent polluters.
Prevent pollution afloat
To protect the marine environment, boat-owners should dispose of rubbish on land. We do not have a right to pass on our rubbish to marine life.
Action on sewage
If you live in an area where sewage is disposed of by dumping it at sea, let the authorities in charge of waste disposal know that they should use land-based methods of disposal instead.
Do not use anti-fouling paints
These toxic paints, which are used to prevent encrustation of boat hulls, kill shellfish not only on boats but also around them. Responsible boat-owners should not use them.
Watch out for plastic hazards
Clear plastic is particularly dangerous to aquatic animals because it is invisible underwater. Fishing lines and the plastic retainers from packs of cans can strangle birds and seals. Picking it up will prevent this happening.
6. How to help the preservation of rare breeds
Buy local varieties
Buying local varieties of fruit and vegetables will help to prevent them being replaced by their standarized big-business counterparts.
Use a seed bank
Some organic farming and gardening associations maintain seed banks which presere old varieties of cultivated plants for the future. Joining an association will allow you to grow and exchange unusual and valuable seeds.
Rare breeds preservation societies
A number of organizations now exist to safeguard the future of rare farm animal breeds.
7. How to reduce the use of biocides
Buy organically grown food
Because organic farmers do not use biocides, buying their produce will ensure that an increasing area of land is farmed without the use of chemicals
Buy fresh produce
Significantly more chemicals are used on food crops which are destinated to be packed and sold far away from their place of origin. Although fresh produce may take time to prepare, it does not encourage the use of biocides.
Ban biocides at home
It is not good insisting that farmers should not use chemicals if they are still used in and around home. Avoiding the use of garden biocides is an important part of reducing the general level of these poisons.
0 comments:
Post a Comment