Water

1. Use only the water you need, and reuse when possible.
   Used household water, or "grey water" is being re-used in Zambia for gardening.
   • Learn more about water conservation and a water saving program in the United States.
2. Dispose of solid and liquid wastes and medications safely.

   Take advantage of medication take-back programs or household hazardous waste collection programs that accept medications, pharmaceuticals, oil, paint and other liquid wastes.

   If there are no take-back programs near you, contact your state and local waste management authorities and ask about how to dispose of unused medication.

   Follow any specific disposal instructions that may be printed on the label or accompanying patient information

3. Protect your local water source from pollutants, excess pesticides and garbage.
   Everyone lives in a watershed -- the area that drains to a common waterway, such as a stream, lake, estuary, wetland, aquifer, or even the ocean -- and our individual actions can directly affect it. For example, watch the weather and apply necessary chemicals when the rain won’t wash them away, and dispose of livestock or pet's waste appropriately or litter off the ground.
   • Learn how to protect watersheds with EPA's Adopt Your Watershed Program!
   • What is nonpoint source water pollution?
   • Learn about the problem of ocean debris
   • More about water pollution
   • Live in the United States? Find your watershed!

Air

1. Pass on gas! Take public transportation, carpool, plan your day to reduce trips and vehicle emissions
   • Learn more about how EPA is helping to promote cleaner fuels and vehicles worldwide!
2. Make sure your home's air is healthy, learn about indoor air pollutants from indoor energy use and toxins.
   • Learn more about indoor air quality
   • EPA and the international Partnership for Clean Indoor Air
   • The Partnership for Clean Indoor Air
3. Reduce your potential for exposure to mercury
   • More about mercury
   • United Nations Mercury Program
   • See how EPA, the U.S. Department of Defense and the Russian Ministry of Defense have partnered up to recycle mercury!
   • EPA and the Global Mercury Partnership
4. Plant a tree. Or plant many trees!
   • Students help plant South Africa's "Tree of the Year"
   • Check out EPA's official blog post about 'Million Trees Los Angeles'
   • Learn about how trees can help the 'Heat Island Effect'
5. Prevent additional air pollution by finding alternatives to burning your waste
   • Learn about EPA's Clean Air and Energy Partnership Projects in China
   • See how EPA is working with India to improve air quality
   • More about EPA and international air quality partnerships

Land

1. Use pesticides safely! Reduce or eliminate where possible.
   • More about pesticides
   • Learn about EPA's Involvement with the Arctic Contaminants Action Program
   • More about the Arctic Contaminants Program and its Community Action Initiative
2. Learn about composting, try it out!
   • More on composting
3. Learn about 'Greenscaping'! Try it out at home and promote it in your community
   • What's greenscaping?
4. Learn about the native species and the negative effects of non native plants and animals in the environment. Plant native species in your gardens, encourage important pollinators such as bees and birds by planting gardens full of their favorite plants. Join a team in your community that removes non-native species.
   • More information on invasive species
   • EPA's Watershed Academy on non-native species
   • The Invasive Plant Patrol (IPP) at the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy in San Francisco, CA leads community hikes to find new invasions of exotics and remove infestations before they get out of control.

Energy

1. Save energy at home Choose energy-saving appliances if they're available. Look for Energy Star!
   • Learn more about Energy Star in the United States
   • Energy Star in Europe!
2. Go renewable! Create your own power from wind, the sun, water, or biofuels.
   • Embassy Lusaka is using 500 liters of used cooking oil a week to power their generators and vehicles!
   • Teen’s Do-It-Yourself Energy Project Gives African Village New Hope
   • Check out the Geneva United Nations Solar Energy Project!
   • Fact Sheet U.S. Mission to the United Nations in Geneva Solar Energy Project
3. Find alternate ways to reduce use of diesel and other fuels for transportation, production and energy.
   • United Nations Environment Program Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles

Waste

1. Reuse. Upcycle! Take something that is disposable and transform it into something of greater use and value.

   Embassy Lusaka in Zambia is donating its rubbish to upcyclers who create useful or artistic things from them. Examples of the types of items made from this rubbish are grocery bags, wine bottles, soda bottle tops, cardboard, paper and shredded paper.

   Widows and single moms of Chikumbuso, Zambia crotchet strips of plastic grocery base into indestructible reusable bags to support a school for their children and community orphans.

   Soda and beer bottle tops are transformed into furniture and other décor!

2. Recycle metals, plastics and paper
   Zambia - Collecting and delivering glass to make beads, generating income for a community school for impoverished children.
   • US Residents can find recycling centers here
   • EPA Facts on Plastics
   • Learn about the problem of ocean debris
3. E-cycle Recycle and/or properly dispose of electronic waste such as computers and other gadgets
   • Learn about EPA e-waste projects in Africa!
   • More about E-Waste (PDF) (4 pp, 988K, about PDF)
4. Don't litter! Properly dispose of trash and waste
   • Check out the weekly eco-gram at the Tirana, Albania Embassy!
   • See this EPA Kids page for where litter can end up!

Advocacy

1. Share Your Commitment
   • Share tips and stories on Facebook
   • Share thoughts on Twitter (use hashtag #p5e)
2. Raise Awareness! Talk to others about the state of the environment, locally or globally
   • See what government leaders discussed at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-15) in Copenhagen, Denmark
   • See this interview with Bishop Desmond Tutu on climate action