ENVIRONMENT

1.Illegal Logging

Illegal logging occurs when trees are cut down in areas protected by law. Illegal loggers also
target various species of trees that are endangered or protected. Forests in many areas of the
world are protected, not only because of the species of trees they contain but because of the
animals that live there.

In many instances, illegal logging takes place with the ultimate goal of selling the harvested
timber. Furniture, paper, and other wood products made from illegally harvested wood can be
found almost anywhere in the world, as many logs are exported using falsified documents.
Activities such as creating these false shipping documents and tax fraud relating to the harvesting
of trees are also a part of the illegal logging trade.

Illegal logging occurs on most continents and is a major problem in areas like the South
American rain forests and throughout Indonesia. Sometimes the goal is not to harvest wood but
to clear away protected forests. This happens on a regular basis in rain forests, where trees are
cut down for the thin, rich layer of soil beneath them. These areas are used for farming until the
nutrient-rich soil is depleted. Billions of dollars are transferred within the illegal logging trade
every year.

a.Prevent Illegal Logging

Illegal logging is a critical international issue, one that represents a major concern for buyers of
forest products. Illegal logging undermines good forest governance, threatens biodiversity,
increases carbon emissions, and reduces the potential for forests to provide stable supplies of
products and support local communities.

Private and public procurement policies are increasingly requiring proof that forest products are
derived from known and legal sources. These include actions such as the amended United
States Lacey Act and theEuropean Union Timber Regulation, both of which prohibit the trade in
illegally harvested timber and timber products. Third-party forest certification programs like SFI
are recognized tools to demonstrate due care/due diligence as they show that a company has
taken proactive steps to avoid illegal forest products through its supply chain.

While forests certified to the SFI Standard exist only in the U.S. and Canada where there is
negligible risk of illegal logging, and while 98% of the fiber sourced by SFI Program
Participants for their North American facilities comes from the U.S. or Canada, the SFI program
takes significant steps to promote legal and responsible forest management and procurement
worldwide. The SFI Standard requires SFI Program Participants to “comply with applicable
federal, provincial, state, and local laws and regulations” and that Program Participants buying
fiber from offshore avoid controversial sources of supply, including illegal logging and fiber
sourced from areas without effective social laws.
The SFI program supports activities by international experts working together to find ways to
address the problem of illegal logging. The SFI Conservation and Community Partnerships Grant
Program supports projects that foster partnerships to improve forest management in North
America and procurement globally. In 2010, grants were awarded to the World Resources
Institute (WRI) to create the Forest Legality Risk Information Tool and to Forest Trends to host
the fourth Potomac Forum on Illegal Logging & Associated Trade in May 2011. SFI Inc. is a
member of the Forest Legality Alliance, a joint effort of WRI and the Environmental
Investigation Agency (EIA) aimed at reducing illegal logging by encouraging the supply of legal
forest products. The international, multi-stakeholder initiative is supported by the United States
Agency for International Development and stakeholders in the forest sector.

2.Greenhouse
Greenhouse is a structure of glass, in which temperature and humidity can be controlled for the
cultivation or protection of plant. Greenhouse effect is effect caused by the gas that block the sun
heat so the sun heat is stored in our earth which is supposed to be refflected to the outer space.
Reducing polluiton gas can reduce the impact of greenhouse effect.

3.Trash / Rubbish
Trash (American for rubbish) is general mixed junk, household waste etc
Rubbish (UK English for the same), but can also be applied to something said or a TV show,
book etc.
Litter is anything thrown on the ground. So sweet wrappers, cigarette ends, beer cans etc are
litter
Garbage is an American variation on Trash, usually just applied to household rubbish.

Possible Solutions for Solid Waste

We do have some sustainable solutions, options that let us meet our current needs and provide
for future generations as well. Our most promising alternatives are waste reduction and
recycling.

Waste Reduction: Stop Throwing Things Out

A simple and obvious choice is to cut back on the amount of waste by using and throwing out
less in the first place. Some states have adopted regulatory strategies to discourage dependence
on landfills. In 1990, for example, California enacted a law that established a baseline for the
amount of solid waste its cities and towns send to landfills. By 1995, that amount was to be
reduced by 25 percent; by the year 2000, by 50 percent. California now diverts more than 25
percent of its waste, resulting in disposal of approximately 33 million tons per year. Such heavy
cuts are usually accomplished by recycling.
Waste Reduction: Use Less Packaging
Packaging is one of the major sources of waste paper and plastics. According to EarthWorks
Groups, it accounts for approximately one-third of all the garbage Americans send to landfills.
Packaging should be minimal. Its production should be environmentally clean and it should be
made up of materials that can be reused or recycled repeatedly. Some packaging is purposely
elaborate to make the contents more attractive--cosmetics are notorious for this. Smart buyers
can support the use of environmentally friendly packaging by purchasing products with minimal
packaging or with packaging made of recycled or recyclable materials.

Recycling: Turning Waste Material into Raw Material

Recycling works, and it does so in several ways. It reduces the monetary and environmental
costs of landfilling and incineration. It substitutes used materials for virgin materials, thereby
reducing the demand for natural resources. It conserves energy. And it creates jobs in the
community.
Many U.S. communities now actively recycle. Common programs include:

-Curbside recycling containers. The community provides containers in which individual families
deposit such materials as newspapers; glass bottles and jars; tin and aluminum containers; plastic
bottles and bags; mixed waste paper (cardboard, phone books, magazines, junk mail, office
paper, brown bags); and used motor oil. The community arranges for curbside pickup and
delivery to a recycling facility.
-Drop-off recycling zones. Groups of large recycling bins are installed on public property in one
or more locations throughout the community.
-Recycling centers. The community provides the center itself and encourages residents to drop
off or sell refuse materials there.
-Green waste diversion and composting programs. Leaves, grass clippings, and other organic
waste materials are composted and used to enrich soil or as mulch or landfill cover.

Is there a downside to recycling?

Opponents of recycling argue that recycled goods are more expensive and that recycling takes
away needed jobs. However, as more consumers choose to purchase recycled products and as
recycling technology improves, the cost of these goods goes down, making them more
competitive in the marketplace. And while diverting materials from landfills does take away
disposal jobs, these jobs are often replaced by jobs in the growing recycling industry.

4.Recycling
Recycling is the process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise
be thrown away as trash and turning them into new products. Recycling can benefit
your community and the environment.

a.Benefits of Recycling
Reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills and incinerators;
-Conserves natural resources such as timber, water, and minerals;
-Prevents pollution by reducing the need to collect new raw materials;
-Saves energy;

Reduces greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change;

-Helps sustain the environment for future generations;
-Helps create new well-paying jobs in the recycling and manufacturing industries in
the United States.

b.Steps to Recycling Materials

Recycling includes the three steps below, which create a continuous loop, represented
by the familiar recycling symbol.
familiar recycling symbol.

Step 1: Collection and Processing

There are several methods for collecting recyclables, including curbside collection,
drop-off centers, and deposit or refund programs.

After collection, recyclables are sent to a recovery facility to be sorted, cleaned, and
processed into materials that can be used in manufacturing. Recyclables are bought
and sold just like raw materials would be, and prices go up and down depending on
supply and demand in the United States and the world

Step 2: Manufacturing
More and more of today's products are being manufactured with recycled content.
Common household items that contain recycled materials include:
-newspapers and paper towels;
-aluminum, plastic, and glass soft drink containers;
-steel cans; and
-plastic laundry detergent bottles.
Recycled materials are also used in new ways such as recovered glass in asphalt to
pave roads or recovered plastic in carpeting and park benches.

Step 3: Purchasing New Products Made from Recycled Materials

By buying new products made from recycled materials you help close the recycling
loop. There are thousands of products that contain recycled content.
When you go shopping, look for:
-Products that can be easily recycled, and
-Products that contain recycled content.
Here are some of the terms used:

Recycled-content product. This means the product was manufactured with recycled
materials, either collected from a recycling program or from waste recovered during
the normal manufacturing process. Sometimes the label will tell you how much of the
content was from recycled materials.

Postconsumer content. This is very similar to recycled content, but the material
comes only from recyclables collected from consumers or businesses through a
recycling program.

Recyclable product. These are products that can be collected, processed and
manufactured into new products after they have been used. These products do not
necessarily contain recycled materials. Remember not all kinds of recyclables may be
collected in your community so be sure to check with your local recycling program
before you buy.
Some of the common products you can find that can be made with recycled content
include:

-Aluminum cans
-Car bumpers
-Carpeting
-Cereal boxes
-Comic books
-Egg cartons
-Glass containers
-Laundry detergent bottles
-Motor oil
-Nails
-Newspapers
-Paper towels
-Steel products
-Trash bags

5.Environmental Awareness
Environmental awareness is about being conscious of the world around you. Having concern for
the world and the environment is what environmental awareness is all about. Living a 'green'
lifestyle is the main concern of environmental awareness. Environmental awareness can be also
defined as "The growth and development of awareness, understanding and consciousness toward
the biophysical environment and its problems, including human interactions and effects.
Thinking "ecologically".

6.Pollution
Every year in the U.S. factories release over 3 million tons of toxic chemicals into the land, air
and water. This hazardous waste causes us to lose over 15 million acres of land every year, it
leads to respiratory complications and other health problems and it makes our rivers and lakes
too polluted for us to swim in and drink.
But factories are only part of the problem of pollution. Pollution is caused by industrial and
commercial waste, agriculture practices, everyday human activities and most notably, modes of
transportation. No matter where you go and what you do, there are remnants of pollution.

What is pollution?
Pollution is the introduction of a contaminant into the environment. It is created mostly by
human actions, but can also be a result of natural disasters. Pollution has a detrimental effect on
any living organism in an environment, making it virtually impossible to sustain life.

Why are the different types of pollution?

Pollution harms the Earth’s environment and its inhabitants in many ways. The three main types
of pollution are:

Land Pollution
Land pollution is pollution of the Earth’s natural land surface by industrial, commercial,
domestic and agricultural activities.

What are the sources of land pollution?

Some of the main contributors to land pollution are:
-Chemical and nuclear plants
-Industrial factories
-Oil refineries
-Human sewage
-Oil and antifreeze leaking from cars
-Mining
-Littering
-Overcrowded landfills
-Deforestation
-Construction debris

Facts about Land Pollution

Here are a few facts about land pollution:
-Every year one American produces over 3285 pounds of hazardous waste
-Land pollution causes us to lose 24 billion tons of top soil every year
-Americans generate 30 billion foam cups, 220 million tires and 1.8 billion disposable diapers
every year
-We throw away enough trash every day to fill 63,000 garbage trucks
-Every day Americans throw away 1 million bushels of litter out their car window
-Over 80% of items in landfills can be recycled, but they’re not

How to Prevent Land Pollution

The best way to prevent land pollution is to recycle. Here are a few other ways you can reduce
land pollution:
-Reuse any items that you can
-Buy biodegradable products
-Store all liquid chemicals and waste in spill-proof containers
-Eat organic foods that are grown without pesticides
-Don’t use pesticides
-Use a drip tray to collect engine oil
-Buy products that have little packaging
-Don’t dump motor oil on the ground

Air Pollution
Air pollution is the accumulation of hazardous substances into the atmosphere that danger human
life and other living matter.

What are the sources of air pollution?

Some of the main contributors to air pollution are:
-Automobile emissions
-Tobacco smoke
-Combustion of coal
-Acid rain
-Noise pollution from cars and construction
-Power plants
-Manufacturing buildings
-Large ships
-Paint fumes
-Aerosol sprays
-Wildfires
-Nuclear weapons

Facts about Air Pollution

Here are a few facts about air pollution:
-Almost 232 million different types of vehicles are driven by U.S. citizens every day, adding
greenhouse gases into the air
-U.S. vehicle emissions contribute 45% to global warming
-The average adult consumes 3,000 gallons of polluted air every day
-Vehicle exhaust contributes to 60% of carbon monoxide emissions in the U.S. and up to 95% in
large cities
-Every year 335,000 Americans die of lung cancer, which is a direct result of air pollution

How to Prevent Air Pollution

The number one way to prevent air pollution is to walk or bike more and drive less. This will
prevent fossil fuels from polluting the air. Here are some other ways to prevent air pollution:
-Carpool or join a ride share with friends and coworkers
-Don’t smoke
-Keep your car maintenance up-to-date
-If you have to drive, do your errands at one time
-Don’t buy products that come in aerosol spray cans
-Avoid using lighter fluid when barbecuing outside
-When you drive accelerate slowly and use cruise control
-Always replace your car’s air filter
-Use a push or electric lawnmower rather than a gas-powered one
-Don’t use harsh chemical cleaners that can emit fumes
-Inspect your gas appliance

Water Pollution
Water pollution is the introduction of chemical, biological and physical matter into large bodies
of water that degrade the quality of life that lives in it and consumes it.

What are the sources of water pollution?

Some of the main contributors to water pollution are:
-Factories
-Refineries
-Waste treatment facilities
-Mining
-Pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers
-Human sewage
-Oil spills
-Failing septic systems
-Soap from washing your car
-Oil and antifreeze leaking from cars
-Household chemicals
-Animal waste

Facts about Water Pollution

Here are a few facts about water pollution:
-Over two-thirds of U.S. estuaries and bays are severely degraded because of nitrogen and
phosphorous pollution
-Every year almost 25% of U.S. beaches are closed at least once because of water pollution
-Over 73 different kinds of pesticides have been found in the groundwater that we eventually use
to drink
-1.2 trillion gallons of sewage, stormwater and industrial waste are discharged into U.S. waters
every year
-40% of U.S. rivers are too polluted for aquatic life to survive
-Americans use over 2.2 billion pounds of pesticides every year, which eventually washes into
our rivers and lakes

How to Prevent Water Pollution

The best way to prevent water pollution is to not throw trash and other harmful chemicals into
our water supplies. Here are a few more ways you can prevent water pollution:
-Wash your car far away from any stormwater drains
-Don’t throw trash, chemicals or solvents into sewer drains
-Inspect your septic system every 3-5 years
-Avoid using pesticides and fertilizers that can run off into water systems
-Sweep your driveway instead of hosing it down
-Always pump your waste-holding tanks on your boat
-Use non-toxic cleaning materials
-Clean up oil and other liquid spills with kitty litter and sweet them up
-Don’t wash paint brushes in the sink