The term “environment” covers all the elements of the natural world, from the earth, the oceans, the air and the climate to the plants and animals that live there. It also relates to where we live, how we live and the people that surround us. Many of our pollution problems are really problems of misplaced resources. For every item we recycle or reuse, that's one less piece of trash that can become a part of the marine debris cycle threatening people and wildlife. Everything we use in our daily lives is made from natural resources such as trees, petroleum, sand, water, soil, and metals, many of which are non-renewable. By throwing these materials into our landfills, we drastically reduce the remaining supply of non-renewable natural resources.
What are some things that can help stop pollution and save water and energy? Here are some tips...

- Brush your teeth, but turn off the tap.
- Unplug the TV, switch off the lights,
- Take a shower, don’t have a bath,
- Walk, ride your bike or bus to school,
- Give old clothes to charity,
- Recycle paper,
- Join a green group, and plant a tree!
- Don’t litter!
- Make good choices while you're shopping: look for recyclable or biodegradable packaging!

Here's how long it takes for some commonly used products to biodegrade, when they are scattered about as litter:
Cotton rags: 1-5 months
Paper: 2-5 months
Rope: 3-14 months
Orange peels: 6 months
Wool socks: 1-5 years
Cigarette butts: 1-12 years
Plastic coated paper milk cartons: 5 years
Plastic bags: 10-20 years
Leather shoes: 25-40 years
Nylon fabric: 30-40 years
Tin cans: 50-100 years
Aluminum cans: 80-100 years
Plastic 6-pack holder rings: 450 years
Glass bottles: 1 million years
Plastic bottles: Forever

So, we should do all our best so as to protect the environment from pollution if we are to lead a happy and healthy life!