Everyday we can read about our earth and how pollution affects it. Our environment shows us many different signs from pollution. Like that some animals no longer exists, some plants have hard time to live, and new diseases are attacking humans. These are just a few of the signs we can learn about reading books, magazines or newspapers.

So what can we do to cut down on pollution of soil air and water? Well, if we just stop for a moment and think, there are actually lots of things we can do. Both governments, companies and ordinary people, like you and me.

Lets start in our own houses. The first thing we can do is to start sorting recyclable rubbish according to their source materials. For instance: put paper in a basket, glass in a plastic container, empty bottles and soda cans in an other basket, food scraps in a paper bag (wet paper can also be thrown here). All the other rubbish, such as plastic, styrofoam, paper with plastic on it, silver paper and all that stuff in a plastic bag that is put into for instance a plastic container. Used batteries both non-chargeable and chargeable we give back to those who sell it. They must, given by law, deliver them to recycling. The same goes for all types of used and broken electrical products. Light bulbs are one of the small products that we can recycle. Washing machines and refrigerators are some of the large products. The store that sells these has to collect the items and send it away for recycling. We can also give these types of things to the local recycling station, if your community have one. From there it will be sent to a “factory” where they disassemble the electrical products into pieces that can be recycled, such as plastic and metal. If there are some parts that can’t be recycled, they will be disposed of properly. Then we can move on to the use of chemicals. We can begin using less soap in the dishwasher and when we wash by hands. Use less chlorine when we clean the toilet and less soap in the washing machine. And one thing that most people forget or they don’t think over, but people always throw garbage in the nature. This is something we have to stop doing! That is one of the most vital things we people need to change to help the environment. So the next time you have bought a chocolate and eaten it and can’t find a garbage can nearby, DON’T throw the chocolate paper on the ground! Instead put it in your pocket and throw it in a garbage can the next time you see one. Another thing you can do is to start using your bike to the job instead of the car or take the buss, if it is possible. Or you can start carpooling with the neighbour the work.

Lets see what companies can do. Large office companies can do pretty much the same as you can do in an ordinary home. Make a system for collecting paper, rubbish, food scraps and all the other tings and sort them like I have mentioned above. But if it is a factory company, there is a completely different case. The factories have to stop just running their dirty water and “leftovers” from the different processes into the air and the water and the soil. First they can start installing filters in all their pipes to cut down on the poisons and poisonous gases from their pipes. Then they can invest in a facility or system that cleans at least the water before it is sent out in the nature. Or maybe they can use it over again. That would be even better! And if it is possible, they should use the chemicals that they use in the factory over again. But if it is not possible at the factory, they should not just pour it into the nature, their should put it in containers and send it to a factory that can do it.

Then lets move on to the government. The government can do a lot of things. The first thing they can do is to make a system for recycling food scraps and paper like we have here in Norway. They give every household a kind of basket to put a paper bag in that is made for food scraps, and a specially designed garbage can, which holds four plastic boxses. Three for paper and cardboard and one for the food scrap bags. But it may be a not so good thing that the garbage people have to collect the paper, food scraps and rubbish separately, as in not collecting paper and rubbish together. An other thing the government can do, is to make commercials and put up posters that tells people and show people that they have to start caring more for the environment and start to recycle, and show them how they can do it.

This is some of the many undertakings the government, companies and ordinary people can take to begin saving our own planet, the Earth. Remember: it isn’t too late yet. But if we want to save our planet, we have to start doing it NOW!