Using air conditioning only when it's necessary. Running a gas-powered lawn mower for one hour emits the same amount of pollution as driving your car from Washington, D.C., to New York City and back. Never burn leaves, branches and other debris in your yard. Burning this material produces harmful emissions that can contribute to smog and other types of air pollution. Participate in recycling programs.
Recycling keeps trash out of incinerators and reduces emissions associated with burning solid waste.
Pollution Twenty-five years ago, we knew far less than we do today about how our actions can affect the air around us. Smokestacks pumped large volumes of pollutants into the atmosphere without restraint, cars were designed with little attention to emissions, and gasoline was gasoline. We, as individuals, also were less concerned about our own actions and their impact on the environment, including air quality. Since that time, however, we've made major progress in reducing air pollution. It would take 20 of today's new cars to generate the same amount of pollution as one mid-1960s model car.