September is Pollution Prevention Month
As Seen on KSL Studio 5 Tuesday, Sept. 1
Tune Out Smog
Vehicles are a primary source of air pollution. Here's some basic tips you can do to keep air pollution down:
- Driver Smarter. Consolidate trips, telecommute, carpool, use mass transit, walk, bike, rollerblade, skate, or even run.
- Maintain Your Vehicle. Keeping your car tuned up not only saves you money by avoiding major repairs in the future, it also helps keep emissions low. (A well maintained vehicle with 50,000 miles on it pollutes only 40 percent as much as the same vehicle that's poorly maintained.)
- Avoid Drive-Thrus. Idling your vehicle wastes gas and pollutes.
Proper Prescription Drug Disposal
Studies show that pharmaceutical and over-the-counter drugs are present in our waters that can be harmful to fish. Here's what you can do to avoid that:
- Do Not Flush. Medications should not be poured down the sink or flushed down the toilet.
- Do Not Throw It Away in the Trash. Drugs in the trash are vulnerable to being stolen and if you don't have an alternative place to get rid of it, at least mix it with kitty litter or disguise it so as not to tempt anyone from taking it.
- Visit a Disposal Drop Off Location. Visit one of the disposal drop off locations at various law enforcement officers throughout the state.
DEQ will be at the Utah Green Festival this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in West Jordan. We are going to be one of the many organizations there that are helping Utah establish healthy and sustainable living. Come learn about mass transit, hybrid cars, solar panels for your home or business, gardening, and have fun with the whole family. Admission is free.
Welcome to GreenChoices.utah.gov
Dear Friends:
We created this website to provide basic information on a variety of environmental issues and to encourage you to make "Green Choices" that help protect your health and the environment. Most environmental issues are interrelated. For example, some of the actions you can take to Choose Clean Air can result in reductions of greenhouse gas emissions. Similarly, you may choose energy conservation measures that also benefit our air quality.
Many of the choices listed refer you to additional Web sites for more information. I encourage you to learn more about all these green choices.
Thank you for your personal efforts to protect Utah's environment. I am confident that, together, we can all make a significant difference.
Amanda Smith
Acting Executive Director
Utah Department of Environmental Quality
Revised: January 11, 2010