Do you want to prevent pollution? Start by making a difference at home.

Here are some things you can do:

1. Never dump anything that you wouldn’t want to drink or swim in onto the street, down a storm drain or into a drainage ditch.
2. Put garbage and trash in a covered container for pick up.
3. Recycle cans, plastic bottles and glass.
4. Ask your parents or guardian to buy just enough paint for a job.
5. If your family works on the car at home, check the car for leaks and repair them.
6. Ask your family to recycle motor oil and other fluids from the car or lawn mower.
7. Ask your family to wash the car on the grass instead of the pavement so that the soapy water does not run down the street.
8. Ask your parents to replace mercury thermometers with digital ones (and replace anything else that has mercury in it).
9. Compost yard clippings.
10. Clean up after your pet.
11. Keep leaves and grass clippings from blowing into the street or down a storm drain.
12. Tell your friends how they can help.