Campaigns to protect the environment can start in our homes

By Bambang Parlupi

JAKARTA (JP): The ozone layer is thinning, acid rain is falling on us and animal and plant species are slipping into extinction every day.

Still, sometimes we fail to make the connection that what we do in our homes may be of importance in the big environmental picture.

"The community's knowledge about the use of natural resources is still at a low level," said Rizki, an environmentalist with the Jakarta Green Club. Extravagance and consumption are responsible for the continued depletion of natural resources.

"Campaigns to preserve the environment must be carried out on any and every occasion -- at home, at school or even in the office," he said.

The chairwoman of the Banjarsari Environmental Committee, Mrs. Bambang Wahono, said the ideal place to go green was in the place we know best.

"Environmental preservation efforts must start in the home," she said.

Here are some of her recommendations, as well as those of the Jakarta Green Club, WWF Indonesia (Gaya Hidup Baru, Bagian Dari Kelestarian Kita) and Singapore's Ministry of the Environment.

Energy: Children must be taught to conserve energy, such as turning off the lights and the air-conditioner in rooms that are not in use. Electronic equipment should also be unplugged when the family is out of the home, acts which will not only conserve energy but also help the family pocketbook with reduced electricity bills.

Water: We often waste water, despite it being a precious commodity in many places in the country and the world. Make sure that your home's water pipes are in order by regularly checking for leaks. Turn off the tap as soon as you have finished with the water you need.

If you have a traditional bathroom using a water scoop, consider switching to a shower with a faucet set at a moderate output of water. You will probably be able to save about a third of the amount of water used in bathing.

Do not throw away water used for washing clothing as you can also use it to clean the floor. Also, make sure that there is a place in your yard where water can be absorbed. This is useful to filter the water before it goes into the ground, and is better than allowing the water to flow into rivers or local water sources through the gutters.

Garbage: "It's true that one source of garbage is the household, but it is also right to say that proper handling of garbage may start in the home," said Mrs. Wahono, who is also chairwoman of the Dahlia Group of Women Farmers.

She said that environmental pollution due to garbage could be reduced in the home -- and not all garbage needed to find its way to the dump.

Kitchen garbage, like the parts of vegetables that are not eaten and discarded fruit skins, may be utilized as compost. Organic garbage, the kind of garbage that easily decomposes, is nutritious for plants and enriches the soil.

It is relatively easy to produce natural fertilizer through a compost system at home. Household garbage is put in a tin and covered with soil -- it is left to decompose over a period of one month to two months. The resulting compost may be directly used as a plant medium and for regreening purposes.

As for the inorganic garbage that is disposed of every day in a household, it may be broken down right away through incineration. However, plastic and styrofoam must be separated from the rest of the garbage. If this garbage is burned, dioxin, which is made up of chloride (Cl) and seromatic hydrocarbon (benzene), will be generated. Used batteries must be kept away from water and soil because the mercury and cadmium of these batteries are hazardous to the environment.

Glass bottles, milk cans and plastic bottles may be washed clean and used for other purposes, such as plant pots.

Three Rs: The concept of reduce, reuse and recycle is a credo that families who want to go green can use in their daily lives. It is already found in business, with some products carrying a triangle with interconnected arrows, the symbol of being environmentally friendly.

"A green lifestyle can materialize by reducing natural resource wastage," said Mrs. Wahono. "Environmental damage cannot be prevented, but it can be reduced to the lowest level possible."

For example, motorized vehicles are one of the major sources of air pollution in urban centers. If possible and if the distance is not too far, people should walk or ride a bicycle. Unleaded gas should always be used if you have to use a motor vehicle.

It is also useful to bring a cloth bag from home when you go shopping. Supermarkets give billions of plastic bags free to buyers, but, unfortunately, these plastic bags have an adverse impact on the environment. Many of these bags are made of nonbiodegradable plastics.

The reuse of goods deemed no longer usable can be accomplished rather simply. Just think twice before you decide to buy a notebook. You can make one yourself, using used paper. Many of us often buy mineral water in plastic bottles. In fact, taking drinking water from home, in one of the old plastic bottles, is much better than buying it -- and saves you money.

Recycling iron and tin can save 74 percent of the energy used in the production of raw materials. Paper, cardboard and bottles can be recycled.

The writer is an environmental activist.