Brenda & Julia are camping in the forest. After eating a meal, they realize they have trash that they need to throw away, but there are no trash cans nearby.

What should they do with their trash?

The correct answer is:

The best way for Brenda & Julia to deal with their trash is to take it with them when they leave and throw it away in a trash can.

Packing the trash out and throwing it away later will ensure that the campsite is left clean for the next people who use it. It also ensures that the trash won’t get eaten by wildlife or pollute a nearby stream or lake.

Why shouldn’t the trash be burned in a fire?

Why shouldn’t the trash be buried in the ground?

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This egg farm has hundreds of chickens. The chickens create a lot of manure that could pollute nearby streams.

What should be done to prevent the manure from polluting nearby streams? 

The correct answer is:

If the manure is composted first, using it as fertilizer for crops is a good way to recycle waste from chickens.

Composted manure provides farmers with a natural alternative to synthetic fertilizers. It is also much cheaper to give manure to nearby farmers than to pay to get rid of it at the county dump.

Raw manure often contains harmful bacteria. Composting the manure before spreading it out on the fields kills harmful bacteria that could contaminate streams.          

Why can't the chickens just be kept away from nearby streams?

Although keeping the chickens away from streams and other water bodies is helpful in preventing pollution from the manure, rain can still wash manure into streams in the form of runoff. The uncomposted manure could contain harmful bacteria that might pollute the water in the stream.

The accumulation of manure also creates unhealthy conditions for chickens and people, so one way or another, the manure will need to be removed from the farm.

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Mike and his Dad need to change their van’s oil at home.

What should they do with the used oil from the van?

The correct answer is:

The best way to get rid of used motor oil is to take it to a facility that recycles used oil.

Places that often take used motor oil:

- Auto parts store

- Auto repair shop

- Recycling center

- County dump

- Gas station

Why is it important to take used motor oil to a place that recycles used oil?

Motor oil is toxic to humans, plants, and animals.

Oil that is dumped on the ground is likely to seep into the soil and find it's way into groundwater or flow into a lake or stream.

Oil thrown in the trash usually ends up in a land fill. The oil could eventually seep into the soil when it is in the landfill and contaminate groundwater.

Oil that is dumped down the drain is likely to find it's way to a water treatment facility. These facilities, however, do not have the ability to take used oil out of the water before it is released back into the environment.

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Insects are harming the crops on this farm.

What would be the best way to get rid of the insects and still protect the watershed?

Note: There may be more than one correct response for this question.

The correct answers are:

Planting a variety of crops and using natural predators are both great ways to get rid of harmful insects and still protect the watershed. (Note: This question had multiple correct responses.)

Crop Diversification

This farm has planted a variety of crops, such as beans, corn, squash, lettuce, beets, onions, and many other types of crops. Most plants aren't affected by the exact same diseases or insects, so if one crop fails (such as lettuce), it is likely that the farmer will still have other crops that remain undamaged (such as beans and corn).

Natural Predators

Natural predators eat insects that may harm the plants on the farm, such as aphids. Using natural predators reduces the need for toxic chemicals, such as pesticides.

Why is using pesticides harmful to the watershed?

Toxic pesticides that are sprayed on fields can end up being washed into nearby streams and polluting the water. Toxic pesticides can also kill natural predators, like ladybugs, and other wildlife.

Why are farms important to people?

Farms produce much of the food that we eat, including vegetables, fruit, wheat, corn, and nuts. Because we rely on farms for food, it's important to find ways to grow food in a way that is least harmful to the environment.

Great job! The watershed looks so much cleaner already. Scroll down for the next question.

This paper mill (where paper is made) is next to a river. The mill creates a lot of wastewater that contains toxic chemicals.

What is the best way for the mill to protect the watershed when they get rid of the wastewater?

The correct answer is:

One of the best ways for the mill to protect the watershed is to use less toxic chemicals when they make paper.

One major toxin in paper mill wastewater is chlorine. Chlorine is used to bleach paper and make it white. However, chlorine also produces dioxins that end up in the mill's wastewater. Dioxins are highly toxic to humans, wildlife, and plants.

Eliminating the use of chlorine at the paper mill can reduce the amount of toxins that end up in the wastewater. When the wastewater is released back into the environment, whether a river, the ocean, or a public park, it will be less toxic to the watershed.

Why are paper mills important to people?

Paper mills are the main source of paper for people. People use paper for all sorts of things from books to toilet paper. Because paper is something people use and value, it's important that we find ways to produce it in a way that is least harmful to the environment.

What can we do at home to reduce pollution from paper mills?

1. Reduce the amount of paper that you use. The less paper you use, the less paper will need to be created.

2. Recycle your paper once you are done with it. Or alternatively, find a way to reuse your paper for something new.

3. Buy paper that is 'chlorine-free' and at least 30% post-consumer recycled content

And last, remember that paper comes from trees! When you follow the steps above, you also prevent forests from needing to be cut down.