Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Sound familiar? Becoming aware of the state that the Earth is in and taking precautions to help prevent the planet’s collapse is something not enough people do. However, there are various ways to get involved when it comes to helping regulate pollution rates that are often overlooked. For instance, reducing your carbon footprint, using compost bins and even shopping at your local farmers markets can help make a world of difference.

   According to the Carbon Offsets to Alleviate Poverty (COTAP) website, there are many ways to reduce your carbon footprint. What is a carbon footprint, you ask? Well, a carbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide and other carbon compounds emitted due to the consumption of fossil fuels by a particular person or group. COTAP provides over 25 examples of how a person can relieve some of their footprint. One way is by finding alternatives to driving. This could mean walking, biking, or even carpooling. All of these alternatives help to reduce the carbon emissions going into the air. COTAP also suggests steering clear from traffic. Waiting in traffic only wastes gas, emitting unnecessary carbon into the atmosphere; plus who wants to sit in traffic anyways?  (cotap.org).

   “I enjoy riding the bus or carpooling with friends, because it helps the environment a lot more than just driving alone in a car. Helping the environment in small ways can lead to some really big changes,” said Junior Cynthia Smith.

   Compost bins are another easy way for people worldwide to dispose of their biodegradables without putting them into landfills. According to Home Guides, because food waste is usually thrown into landfills and then covered by more trash, the food is unable to properly deteriorate into the soil. Since it has no contact with air, sun, soil or water, the food produces its own form of gas, polluting the environment instead of helping it the way it could. Compost bins are easy to make or purchase (homeguides.sfgate.com).

   Everyone eats food, so why not eat and help the Earth at the same time? If you shop at your local farmers markets, you are helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions caused by trucks transporting food across the nation. According to the Center for Urban Education about Sustainable Agriculture (CUESA), food in the US travels an average of 1,500 miles to get to your plate. This mass use of shipping hurts the environment. When you shop from your local farmer’s market, you are making it possible to decrease the use of shipping products. Plus, you get to purchase delicious items grown locally! (cuesa.org).

   Planet Earth has been facing major pollution since the Industrial Age. Recently, the carbon being admitted in the air has caused horrific changes in the climate. Being involved and taking action in helping with pollution is only one step towards recovery. If all of us join together and utilize the ways offered to us to help the Earth, we sure would be able to make a large difference.