Pollution Prevention

Pollution prevention is key to our health, scenic vistas, ecosystems and the global climate. Pollution prevention involves various disciplines, including transportation, building and planning, waste diversion, energy use and business practices.

Protecting our air, land, water and health

Boulder County works to minimize pollution across the spectrum of operations, and also provides education and outreach to the community to reduce pollution. These efforts include:

• Supporting Boulder County Public Health's Environmental Health Division, which addresses air quality, pollution, hazardous waste and water quality.
   
• Maintaining a low-emissions, fuel-efficient fleet of vehicles
   
• Encouraging and enabling alternative transportation
   
• Reducing energy consumption and using renewable energy sources
   
• Supporting community efforts through participation in Partners for A Clean Environment
   
• Protecting water sources through the Watershed Approach to Stream Health program
   
• Building low-pollution, energy efficient county buildings
   
• Setting land use policies that reduce pollution.

Everyone can participate in the protection of the environment through the choices we make every day. In business we can find and use alternative, less hazardous chemicals, or use smaller amounts and only when absolutely necessary.

At home, we can prevent pollution by recycling, riding the bus or a bicycle instead of driving, using non-toxic cleaning products, and handling insect and weed problems without pesticides. Also, we can make every effort to conserve energy and water.

For more information about pollution prevention programs and how you can participate, visit Boulder County Environmental Health Divisions P2 web site.