Pollution in Bryan and College Station, Texas

Pollution
Pollution is a problem that societies must all find ways to combat. Different communities have found different ways of dealing with it. The Bryan-College Station area has found its own way of dealing with this condition. Some of the most noticeable ways include increasing public awareness, providing ways for the average person to contribute to the solution, and promoting events that help control the problem.

Pollution Prevention
Bryan-College Station creates community awareness by promoting a National Pollution Prevention week each year. Local television and radio stations broadcast the designated prevention week in advance in order to spread the word throughout the community. Reminders and instructional guides are listed in the local newspaper and delivered by mail to residential houses and businesses. The Bryan-College Station Recycling program offers free recycling bags, ties, and tip booklet during the prevention week. The booklet contains reasonable tips for families and businesses to comply with on a daily basis. (2006, Sanitation).

Reduce Waste at Home
Turn off lights and electrical appliances when not in use.
Recycle plastic bottles, glass, aluminum and steel cans, newspapers, magazines, used motor oil, and oil filters.
Minimize water use by taking shorter showers and fix leaking faucets.
Pack lunches in a reusable containers rather than disposable brown bags.

Reduce Waste at the Office
Minimize using fuel while heading to work by carpooling with coworkers, take public transportation, walk, or bike instead of driving.
Use paper that is not needed as scraps rather than disposing of it.
Promote a recycling program for soda cans and newspapers.

The Bryan-College Station public works department also promotes other upcoming events in order to lessen pollution and waste throughout the community. The Household Hazardous Waste collection program offers a day when community residents can bring hazardous waste items to dispose of. These products consist of old paints, drain cleaners, degreasers, used motor oil, toxic chemicals, etc. This month's event took place Saturday, October 21, 2006. Other important events include: Texas recycle day, Christmas tree recycling, and education week in public schools. (2006, Sanitation).
The programs created and promoted within the Bryan-College Station community help prevent further damage to our environment. Keeping our streets and land areas free of trash provides a clean safe environment for residents. Collecting hazardous materials on a regular basis prevents our water system, lakes, ponds, and other bodies of water or land toxic-free. Police officers and Sheriff Deputies are constantly on the look out for residents disposing of harmful chemicals or littering. Tickets or warnings are given to people caught polluting our environment.

Gardening
Elmer Krehbiel is a Master Gardener within Bryan-College Station. The article found in The Eagle newspaper provides helpful and easy tips to successfully garden. Krehbiel believes gardeners should prepare soil for the roots of trees and shrubs in advance in order for plants to thrive. Soil should be plowed, tilled, or spaded to at least one foot in depth for the roots to grow. Why is planting trees and shrubs helpful towards pollution? Elmer states, "Some of the reasons to plant shrubs and trees are to provide shade and reduce cooling cost, add beauty and tranquility, provide food and shelter for wildlife, prevent erosion, increase property values, cleans air pollution, reduce noise pollution, generate pure oxygen, minimize flood damage, aerate the soil and purify our ground water." (2004, Krehbiel).

References
Bryan-College Station. (2006). Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved November 2, 2006 from http://www.bcschamber.org
Krehbiel, E. (2004). Prepare soil now for trees, shrubs. The Eagle. Retrieved October 31, 2006 from http://www.theeagle.com/homegarden/100104krehbiel.php
Sanitation. (2006). City of College Station: Public works department. Retrieved October 30, 2006 from http://www.cstx.gov