Conversation of fossil fuel
Answers
Answer:
Fossil fuels are non-renewable materials such as petroleum (oil and gas) and coal. In addition to causing local air pollution, the burning of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and contributes to climate change. Moreover, many fossil fuels are reaching their "peak" production, making extractions too expensive. For these reasons, you may want to curb—if not end—your use of these materials. You can do your part through the “three Rs” (reducing, reusing, and recycling), conserving energy, and making smart transportation choices.
Method 1 of 4:
Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling
1
Reduce your use of plastic. Unless it’s marked “compostable,” plastic is made from petroleum. It can linger in the environment for hundreds of years and never break down completely, polluting the soil and groundwater. When plastics are not disposed of properly, they kill animals who mistake them for food.[1] You can help to prevent this from happening by:
Buying or making reusable bags. Leave a couple in your car/on your bike for shopping. Tuck a small one into your purse for unplanned trips to the grocery store.
Asking your local grocery store to replace plastic bags with recycled paper bags or cardboard boxes. Even “biodegradable” plastic bags can end up in landfills, where they don’t break down properly. This makes them just as dangerous as regular plastic.[2]
2
Reuse plastic containers to store food. Make sure the resin identification code (the number inside the recycling arrows) is 2 or 5. You can usually find these codes on the bottom of the containers. Plastics with these codes are generally safe to be reused for storing food. Any other number is either unsafe or not durable enough for reuse.[3]
If your plastic is not considered to be food-safe, you can recycle it or reuse it for arts and crafts. For example, plastic tubs are great for storing water to rinse paintbrushes with.
3
Refuse plastic as often as possible. Take the time to examine product packaging when you go shopping. Avoid goods packaged in plastic (including polystyrene) whenever possible. If your grocery store sells products in bulk, take advantage of it and fill up using your own containers.[4]
If you have a choice between paper or plastic bags, stick with paper. Of course, it would be even better if you brought your own bags.
Some restaurants and take-out places will allow you to bring your own food containers. Ask ahead of time if this is possible.
4
Buy locally. Food and other household goods often travel in fossil fuel-powered vehicles over 1,000 miles (1,600 km) from their points of origin to store shelves. A great way to accomplish this is by:[5]
Buying food from your local farmer’s market.
Join a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program.
Growing your own food.
5
Recycle what you can’t reduce or reuse. Making new containers and paper products uses more fossil fuels than recycling old ones.[6] Check online for the guidelines of your local recycling center. Search for what they will and won’t recycle. Check their sorting requirements,.