Get Tips on How to Reduce Harmful Chemicals in Groundwater

Move from chemical to physical, at least when it comes to weeds. Dig the weeds out rather than spray them away.

When it comes to weeds in the garden or yard, many people reach for chemical herbicides to control them. But these chemicals can damage soil and are believed to harm our health. Fortunately, there is a healthier alternative— digging the weeds out of your garden by hand! This method may require more patience and effort than simply spraying a chemical solution over your plants but can be just as effective when done properly – not only will you protect yourself and the environment from dangerous chemicals, but you’ll also give your plants access to rays of sunlight which they need for optimal growth.

Check out the Barnstable County Household Hazardous Waste collection days pages so you know what and where to get rid of hazardous chemicals.

Are you familiar with the hazardous waste lurking inside your home? From storing to disposing of, it is important to understand how to properly handle such materials. With Barnstable County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Days coming up soon, now is the perfect time to get informed about the different policies and procedures for proper household hazardous waste removal—so you can keep yourself, your family, and our community safe from harm! Join us as we take a deep dive into Barnstable County’s Household Hazardous Waste Collection Days page and learn more about what kind of items are accepted as well as other details surrounding responsible hazardous waste management! Watch this video for an overview of the program!

Be mindful of water use. Limit use when possible and think about spacing out big water use events like laundry days. (i.e. do a load every other day instead of 6 loads on the weekend.)

Water is essential to life and vital for the health of our environment. Unfortunately, both freshwater and marine waters are becoming increasingly polluted from human activities such as agriculture runoff, industrial dumping, drought, and tapping too much water from underground aquifers. There is no denying that taking care of our precious source of water is more important than ever before. Consider these few tips on how you can start conserving water: be mindful when using it by limiting consumption when possible; think about spacing out big jobs – like laundry or car washing – over several days rather than relying on one day each week to do all your tasks; install efficient showerheads in bathrooms and use covered buckets while showering instead of running tap water freely; turn off any faucets after usage. By taking the extra steps to conserve this natural resource we depend upon, everyone can play a role in protecting nature’s most vital element today and into the future!

A specific idea on the chemicals down the drain: remind folks not to rinse paint brushes and rollers in sinks or tubs after painting their walls, ESPECIALLY if using a chemical cleaning agent.

It’s common knowledge that many paints contain harmful chemicals, and it is imperative to take the necessary precautions when disposing of paint canisters. However, a lot of people fail to recognize the potential pitfalls in rinsing out their remaining paint cans down the drain. Whether done inside or outside, this practice introduces numerous toxins into our environment that put surrounding ecosystems and human health at risk.

Don’t use garbage disposals/grinders. Food scraps should go in the trash or compost pile!

Lots of people think that disposals are necessary for keeping their kitchen smelling clean and their sink running smoothly, but this isn’t true – composting or putting food scraps in the trash is actually much better for the planet. In this blog post, we’ll explore why it’s important to not use garbage disposal/grinders and what alternatives exist instead. Let’s get started!

Phase out things in your kitchen/home that contain PFAS.

If you’ve heard anything about PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) recently, it’s likely that you’re aware of the mounting concern about its presence in many everyday items. This is especially true for those products we use in our kitchens (and homes), where these chemicals can linger on surfaces, dishes, and even food! However, with a bit of research into which products contain PFAS, it’s entirely possible to make practical swaps to phase out this potentially dangerous chemical from your gastronomical space without sacrificing convenience or healthiness.

Never put unused/expired pharmaceuticals down the drain!

While it may seem like a convenient way of disposing of them, putting unused or expired pharmaceuticals down the drain can cause dangerous chemical reactions that could affect your health and environment. In this blog post, we’ll look at why it’s essential to properly dispose of unwanted drugs and how you can do so safely and responsibly. We’ll discuss the potential consequences that could arise from improper disposal, both for humans and wildlife. Ultimately, it pays to take the right steps in getting rid of any hazardous substances – regardless of if they come from legitimate medicines or not.

Ecological Sanitation and Circular Sanitation

Ecological Sanitation and Circular Sanitation are two emerging strategies to improve the environmental sustainability of our day-to-day cleaning, washing, peeing, and pooping practices. The general idea is that we can reduce the number of resources wasted (water and energy) and increase the number of resources that we recycle rather than throw away (nutrients and water). Practices that fall within these strategies include urine diversion, humanure composting, food scrap composting, rainwater collection, greywater recycling, etc.

Flushable wipes are not flushable!

Have you ever used “flushable” baby wipes or sanitary wipes thinking that it was safe to flush down the toilet? Unfortunately, many people might not know that “flushable” wipes are not really flushable; they can cause clogged toilets and sluggish drains. Please do not flush anything except toilet paper and the variety of natural things that come out of your body. Everything else has the potential to damage your septic or sewer system.

Finally, listen to this fascinating One Drop Leads to Another podcast episode (linked below) featuring Arlene Blum, celebrated biochemist, who discusses ubiquitous toxic chemicals in our environment and how to reduce them!