The Good For the Environment

Carpooling, recycling, and planting trees are all activities that are good for the environment. Write an essay convincing readers to actively participate in one of these activities.

            Air pollution causes a serious threat to our nation’s health. In every breath that we take we breathe in thousands of chemicals that are potentially harmful to our bodies. Air pollution can have critical consequences to the health of human beings, and can severely affect the natural ecosystems. Air pollution has become a global problem. Cities with large numbers of automobiles often suffer most rigorously from problems of air pollution. By reducing the amount of automobiles driving around, we, as a whole, can greatly reduce the pollution. Carpooling would very much help the environment.

            Americans buy about 29.8 billion plastic water bottles a year. To every ten bottles one will end up in the landfill. Less than one percent of plastic water bottles are recycled, as a result almost all plastics are burned or end up in a landfill. By recycling products such as clothing, carpeting, detergent bottles, and lumber can be produced. Creating new plastic bottles from recycled material saves two- thirds less energy than creating it from raw materials. By recycling we can save energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reuse, and save landfill space.

            Planting trees in your neighborhood in actuality is one of the best things you can do for the local environment and for the planet. As we all know trees help the environment, but you may be surprised by all the benefits that planting trees can provide. Besides producing oxygen and removing carbon dioxide and contaminants from the air, trees have many other social, economic, and environmental benefits. Trees also help to reduce ozone levels in urban areas. In New York City, a 10 percent increase in urban canopy translated to a reduction of peak ozone levels by around 4 parts per billion. (Source: Luley, Christopher J.; Nowak, David J. 2004. Help Clear the Smog with Your Urban Forest: What You and Your Urban Forest Can Do About Ozone.) Trees also soak up sound and lessen noise pollution. This is especially important for people who live near freeways. In some cases, a well planted group of trees can reduce noise pollution by up to 10 decibels. (Source: New Jersey Forest Service.) My personal favorite is when it’s a hot day the trees provide nice cool shade.

            By contributing to any of these activities we can greatly reduce pollution. In all we help our environment. After helping, you will surely feel a sense of accomplishment.