Clean Up Your Act 



and Care for Your Coast 



by Kathy Hart 



When it comes to protecting, caring for and determining how 

 to develop our coastal environment, you can't expect government 

 or advocacy groups to do all the work. 



Proper stewardship of our coastal lands and waters begins 

 with you, the individual who works, plays or lives by the sea. 



Below is a list of 66 action tips for a better coastal environ- 

 ment. Take a minute and read through them. The suggestions are 

 simple and easy to apply to your lifestyle. 



Even if you do not live along the sound or sea, your activities 

 still have an effect. Undoubtedly, you live in the watershed of a 

 river that eventually makes its way to the ocean. 



IN YOUR HO/VIE... 



1 . Recycle everything you can: newspapers, cans, glass, 

 aluminum foil and pans, motor oil, scrap metal and plastics. 

 Contact your local Keep America Beautiful coordinator, recycling 

 manager or solid waste agency to find out what can be recycled in 

 your area. 



2 . Save your kitchen scraps (no meat) for the compost pile, 

 and avoid use of a garbage disposal because it can add too many 

 solids to an already overloaded home or municipal sewer system. 



3 • Use reusable containers for storing food instead of plastic 

 wraps and foil. 



4. Turn off the water when it's not actually in use — while 

 brushing your teeth, shaving, washing dishes and cleaning foods. 

 A gallon of water can run out of your faucet in less than 60 

 seconds. 



5 • Fix leaks. A dripping faucet can waste 20 gallons of water 

 per day; a leaky toilet, 200 gallons per day. To test your toilet for a 

 leak, add a few drops of food coloring to the tank water. Color 

 will show up in the bowl if there is a leak. 



C> . Install a water-conserving showerhead. They are inexpensive 

 and reduce flow by at least 25 percent. 



7". Place a plastic jug filled with water in the toilet tank to 

 reduce the amount of water flushed. 



8. Wash only full loads in washing machines and dishwashers. 



9 . Be sure faucets are completely off to eliminate dripping. 



1 O. Buy a suds-saver washing machine when you need to 

 buy a new machine. 



11. Check for leaks outside. Faucets, hoses, hose connectors 

 and sprinklers can leak. 



12. Don't put hazardous household substances — paint 

 thinner, paint, furniture polish, pesticides — down your drain or in 

 your trash. These products can pollute groundwater supplies, 

 surface water or the air. Save these items for the special hazardous 

 waste collection days sponsored by city and county governments. 



13- Choose household cleaners carefully by reading the label. 

 Use the least toxic product available, and buy only what you need. 

 Products labeled with "caution" are considered the least toxic. 

 Those with "warning" are moderately toxic, and highly toxic 

 chemicals are marked with the skull and crossbones. Be sure to 

 keep the labels on products so you can properly identify and 

 dispose of them. 



14. Clean with non-toxic substances such as baking soda, salt, 

 vinegar, ammonia and elbow grease instead of bathroom and 

 kitchen cleaners. 



15. Use sink baskets to prevent clogs, and plungers to fix 

 them. 



Continued on the next page 



COASTWATCH 11 



