Small Ways To Protect the Environment in Polluted Cities
Eco-friendly actions for difficult urban settings
Living in Lima, Peru, pollution and sustainability issues are tough to ignore.
The city’s air quality is noticeably poor, thanks to a shockingly dry climate and total reliance on motor vehicles; the water isn’t considered safe to drink without boiling; around three-fourths of Lima’s wastewater flows directly into the Pacific Ocean, untreated; and the solid waste recycling rate is estimated at an abysmal 4%.
Amid these distressing concerns, my partner and I make an effort to reduce pollution and conserve precious resources. I would like to be making a bigger positive impact, but one must start small.
In the absence of institutional support for proper waste management and eco-friendly choices, here are a few environmentally friendly actions we take at home. These are the “extra” habits we’ve developed to go along with more general measures like avoiding single-use packaging and practicing water conservation.
Composting
