How is carbon dioxide put into the atmosphere

Answer each question with a minimum of 50 words per question:

1)

Air pollution! Is that 'all' it is?

Take an informal survey! Where ever you go (I’m at El Paso Texas): what signs or examples of pollution do you encounter in air, land, and water? Why do you suppose people are so complacent with their world? Since most of the noxious, toxic, and climate disturbing emissions in the air are caused by automobiles, start this week out by finding several things.

State where you live ( El Paso Texas). State what the effects of air pollution are (health, buildings, vegetation, etc.). Be specific! Who monitors your air quality? How do they do this? What is the status of your air quality in terms of pollution and ozone action days?

• How is carbon dioxide put into the atmosphere?
• How are chlorofluorocarbons emitted?
• Where does methane come from?
• Where does nitrous oxide come from?

What is the implication about the effect of these pollutants on global warming? Do you see if there is a connection between temperature rising and atmospheric pollution? What are our best solutions? Surely, technology is helping us 'see' what is at work and plan better. Would the Kyoto Protocol help us? If so, why don't we sign it?

2)

Environmental Law - What is it?

We have been discussing the Clean Air Act and the Natural Resource Recovery Act(s).

Who enforces these laws where you live? How is your community doing in these departments? If you had a concern about air or hazardous conditions, who would you call to remedy it? What are some of the consequences of violating some of these ordinances, codes and laws?

Do we need more laws or more enforcement?

3)

Solid Waste Management is needed in every city, town and place where communities exist. We live in consumer societies and have (yet) a finite amount of materials. There is a need to switch our perspective from seeing goods as disposable items to recycling most items. Our landfill space is limited. The air, soil and water need protection from toxins.

What composes the 'nature of trash'? As you will discover, most of it can be recycled. You can see that trash can easily be recycled and that most of the remaining materials can be reused.

How very dangerous are hazardous materials? Do they leak into the air, soil, water, the very food and water we eat and drink, the very air we breathe?

Here are two excellent sites! Check them out or find one of your own!

• http://extoxnet.orst.edu/
• http://www.seventhgeneration.com

There are many safeguards in place to prevent personal hazardous waste and toxic disasters. However, the EPA keeps a watchful eye on hazardous and toxic materials, which may endanger our health. It is enough?

Is your state in the top 'ten' most toxic states? In your work place,me or merchant locations, name a material that needs to pass through the Pollution Prevention Hierarchy. What is it and where (specifically) will it go? Are there recycling alternatives to the 'disposal' choices listed?

What is a solution? Find out if your waste collection company offers a recycling service. What kind of self sustaining system can be developed. Do we want trash from other communities? NIMBY!! What has your community devised as it's solid waste management program both now and planned for in the next five years?