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Indiana has made great strides in the past several years to provide cleaner air, water and land for Hoosiers, but there is still much more to do. If we are to make a difference that each of us can see, smell, touch and taste, every Hoosier must be a part of the solution. By working together, we can make a dramatic difference in our quality of life. Here are some ways you can be part of the solution.

Around the House | In Your Yard and Garden | Conservation | Community Action

Around the House

• Take a less toxic approach and switch from chemical-type household cleaners to natural products. Many cleaning chemicals commonly used around the home are toxic. Select less toxic alternatives and use non-toxic substitutes wherever possible. A vinegar and water mixture works well as a window cleaner. Check cleaning solvent ingredients and use products that have the least impact on the environment. Look for products that are water based, or have low or no VOCs (volatile organic compounds).

• Buy chemicals only in the amount you expect to use, and apply them only as directed. More is not better. Use water-based products whenever possible.

• Read the label first! When you read the label first, you can make better informed choices in purchasing products and use them more safely and responsibly in and around your home. By reading and following label instructions, you can prevent harm to yourself, your children and your pets, and at the same time protect the environment. Your pocketbook also benefits -- you save money by using the right product in the proper amount. For more information, visit http://www.epa.gov/opptintr/labeling/campaign.htm

• Watch what you pour down the drain or on the ground. Don't pour paint, paint thinners, household cleaners, or other hazardous products down the drain, into a septic tank, or out on the ground. These products kill beneficial organisms and can contaminate surface and ground waters.

• Run your washing machine only when you have a large/full load. Front-loading washing machines typically use 40 percent less water and energy to do the same work. Also, u se low-phosphate or phosphate-free detergents.

• Take household hazardous waste to a local collection program. Each person in Indiana produces an average of four pounds of household hazardous waste each year. That is 11,000 tons annually. When improperly disposed of, household hazardous waste can create a potential risk to people and the environment.

• Turn off electric appliances and lights when they are not in use and only run the dishwasher and washing machines when they are full. The United States has four percent of the world’s population, yet creates 25 percent of all carbon dioxide emissions. Conserving energy will reduce the United States contribution to global warming.

• Practice environmental shopping. Purchase products that are durable, reusable or packaged in bulk. Less packaging means less waste for disposal.

• Take a reusable cup or mug in your lunch instead of a disposable drink. We could circle the Earth four times with the 25 billion disposable cups used each year. Better yet, pack an entirely “garbage free” lunch with reusable containers and utensils and cloth napkins.

• Reduce the amount of water you use to keep clean. That average five-minute shower uses 25-50 gallons of water. Try to take short showers, not baths. The average person uses two gallons of water to brush their teeth.

• Fix leaky faucets and always make sure you turn the water off completely. A dripping faucet can waste up to 2,000 gallons of water a month. That's 24,000 gallons of water each year!

• Purchase products containing post-consumer recycled-content materials. This increases demand for recycled materials placed at the curb, creates value for these materials, stimulates local economic growth and closes the recycling loop.

• Recycle used oil and antifreeze. Recycle these products by taking them to service stations and other recycling centers. Never put used oil or other chemicals down storm drains or in drainage ditches. One quart of oil can contaminate up to two million gallons of drinking water.

In Your Yard and Garden

• Xeroscape those hot, dry places. When landscaping your yard, select plants that have low requirements for water, fertilizers, and pesticides. Xeroscaping uses native and low-water requirement plants to landscape hot, dry locations. These plants conserve water, usually require less maintenance, and still bring beauty into your yard or garden.

• Know your garbage. Each American throws away about 3.5 pounds of garbage a day. Find out how much of your garbage is recyclable.

• Preserve existing trees, and plant trees and shrubs . Preserving existing planting in your yard helps prevent erosion and promotes infiltration of water into the soil. Trees can also provide shade and are a great way to reduce noise and air pollution.

• Compost your yard trimmings. Compost is a valuable soil conditioner which gradually releases nutrients to your lawn and garden. Using compost will also decrease the amount of fertilizer you need to apply. In addition, compost retains moisture in the soil and thus helps you conserve water.

• Clean up after your pets. Pet waste contains nutrients and pathogens that can contaminate surface water.

• Mulch, mulch, mulch. Spread mulch on bare ground to help prevent erosion and run-off. Mulching around your plants helps conserve moisture and reduce the amount of water your garden needs during summer.

• Wait until the evening to get gas and to mow the lawn on hot and muggy summer days. This helps prevent ground level ozone formation.

• Wash the car or your pet at a proper wash facility instead of in the driveway or near a lake, stream or drainage way. Utilizing a proper wash facility, allows pollutants to be treated rather than wash into our waterways. Water washing off urban pavement can be shockingly polluted.

• Be water wise. When your lawn or garden needs watering, use slow-watering techniques such as trickle irrigation or soaker hoses. These kinds of devices reduce run-off and are 20 percent more effective than sprinklers.

• Leave your grass clippings on the lawn when you mow. These clippings fertilize your lawn as they decompose. Not bagging them helps reduce the amount of yard waste at the curb for trash pickup.

• Don’t burn! Compost organic trash, leaves and grass clippings instead of burning them. Burning is against the law in many communities and composting five pounds of leaves will prevent one pound of air pollution. Plus, you’ll get great soil free!

• Reduce the use of lawn fertilizers and pesticides, especially where it might run or drain into a neighboring waterway. More is not better. Over-fertilization is a common problem, and the excess can leach into ground water or contaminate rivers or lakes. Avoid using fertilizers near surface waters. Do not apply pesticides or fertilizers before or during rain due to the strong likelihood of run-off.

• Check the drain. Keep storm gutters and drains clean of leaves and yard trimmings. Decomposing vegetative matter leaches nutrients and can clog storm systems and result in flooding.

• Maintain your septic system. Improperly maintained septic systems can contaminate ground water and surface water with nutrients and pathogens. If you home has a septic system, have it pumped out regularly. Pumping out every three to five years is recommended for a three-bedroom house with a 1,000-gallon tank. Smaller tanks should be pumped more often.

Conservation

• Every drop counts! Use low-flow faucets, shower heads, reduced-flow toilet flushing equipment, and water saving appliances such as dish and clothes washers. Repair leaking faucets, toilets, and pumps.

• Leave your car at home. Carpool, take public transportation or ride a bicycle to your destination. A typical car emits about 10,730 pounds of air pollution a year and a typical sport utility vehicle or light truck emits almost 17,900 pounds of pollution. When purchasing a new car, consider fuel efficiency and alternative fuel cars in your decision.

• Reduce summer energy use. Use ceiling and box fans instead of air conditioners to keep cool. Fossil fuels that are used to produce electricity contribute to air pollution and global warming. Using less electricity will save you money in electric bills, too!

• Cut your utility bills by purchasing energy-efficient appliances, fixtures and other electronic products. The average home creates more air pollution than the average car. You can reduce your energy use by up to 40 percent by purchasing items displaying the ENERGY STAR label.

• Save energy by switching to compact fluorescent lights. A typical household spends about 10-15 percent of its annual electric bill on lighting - mostly due to inefficient fixtures and bulbs. Compact fluorescent light bulbs consume only 5 to 40 watts, and have a brightness and color comparable to incandescent lights. Compared to incandescent bulbs, fluorescent bulbs last up to 10 times longer, use about 1/4 the energy.

• Reuse, recycle, donate and buy more efficient electronic products, such as Energy Star products. According to U.S. EPA, more than 20 million personal computers became obsolete in America in 1998. When improperly handled, or disposed of, hazardous substances such as lead, mercury, and hexavalent chromium, can be released into the environment through incinerator ash or landfill leachate. Because technology is constantly changing and improving, the problem of waste becomes more important.

Community Action

• Participate in clean-up activities in your neighborhood.

• Get involved in local planning and zoning decisions and encourage your local officials to develop erosion and sediment control ordinances.

• Promote environmental education. Help educate people in your community about ways in which they can help protect water quality. Get your community groups involved.

• Join or start a watershed management group and apply for funds to help you keep your area water clean: http://www.IN.gov/idem/programs/water/planbr/wsm/319main.html

• Adopt a wetland to increase flood control, keep rivers and streams clean, clean your drinking water supply and provide habitat for hundreds of beautiful plants and animals: http://www.IN.gov/wetlands/adoptwet/index.html

• Report environmental spills and stop pollution before it can become a problem: Call Indiana ’s toll-free, 24-hour hot line at (888) 233-SPIL.

• Take part in public meetings regarding environmental issues in your community. http://www.IN.gov/serv/eventcal?PF=idem&Clist=16_153_154_155_156

• Make your voice heard on environmental justice matters: http://www.in.gov/idem/your_environment/community_involvement/publicparticipation/

• Stay informed about IDEM events and issues by subscribing to E-News, the Media and Communications listserv: http://www.in.gov/idem/who/media/notice/index.html

• Download free brochures and other publications that focus on environmental issues via the IDEM Publication Catalog at http:www.IN.gov/idem/catalog .

• Follow along, and participate in, environmental board rule making procedures: http://www.IN.gov/idem/rules/

• Learn about the environmental conditions in your backyard: http://www.in.gov/idem/your_environment/regional/index.html

• Search for ZIP code-specific environmental and facility information in your community: http://www.in.gov/idem/your_environment/community_involvement/zip.html

• Get confidential help to comply with environmental laws or apply for grants to reduce, reuse or recycle: http://www.in.gov/idem/programs/oppta/index.html

• Keep up with the latest in regulations that affect the agricultural sector: http://www.in.gov/idem/who/agriculture.html

• Save open space – participate in the planning process through your local environmental commission, municipal planning board, or community-based organizations. Let your local planning officials and members of your community know about Indiana ’s land use and encourage them to make informed decisions: http://www.IN.gov/oca/ilrc/.

• Get educated about your environment. Education is key in increasing your ability to positively impact your environment. Public data on toxic chemicals and their effects are available with the click of a button. Indiana’s Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) database contains information about releases and transfers of toxic chemicals from manufacturing facilities: http://www.in.gov/idem/prevention/tri/