How “green” are you? These days there is a barrage of information out there on TV, the Internet, in magazines and in newspapers telling you that you ought to be “green” and think “green.” But how much do you really know? I am sharing a simple quiz from the Environmental Protection Agency that will help you compare your basic environmental knowledge with the knowledge of citizens around the country. Let’s see how you do!

1. Household waste: Which household material is considered hazardous waste?
a) plastic packaging
b) glass
c) batteries
d) spoiled food
e) don’t know

2. Water pollution: What is the most common cause of pollution in streams, rivers and oceans?
a) chemical discharges from factories
b) surface water runoff from yards, city streets and farm fields
c) midnight dumping of chemicals
d) used motor oil dumped in storm drains
e) don’t know

3. Electricity: How is most electricity generated in the United States?
a) hydroelectric power
b) solar power
c) nuclear power
d) burning coal, oil and wood
e) don’t know

4. Ozone: what does ozone in the Earth’s upper atmosphere protect us from?
a) cosmic rays
b) cancer causing sunlight
c) meteorites
d) acid rain
e) don’t know

5. Air pollution: What is the largest source of carbon monoxide in the United States?
a) factories
b) motor vehicles
c) trees
d) landfills
e) don’t know

6. Plant and animal species: What is the most common reason that plant and animal species become extinct?
a) water pollution
b) hunting
c) ozone depletion
d) loss of habitat
e) don’t know
Here are the answers and a comparison of your level of environmental knowledge with other survey participants:
1. C: batteries. Only 67 percent of survey participants got this right. Recycle those batteries at KLB’s quarterly Recycle It! Fairs.
2. B: surface water runoff from yards, city streets and farm fields. Along with the water comes fertilizer, pesticides, motor fluids litter and debris. Certainly we — because of the daily choices we make — really are the solution to water pollution, but we evidently don’t know it yet because only 24 percent of the survey population got the question right.
3. D: burning coal, oil and wood. I bet you missed this one. Only 28 percent of other survey participants answered this correctly. Do you understand why higher oil prices affect much more than just our gas tanks?
4. B: Cancer-causing sunlight is shielded somewhat by the ozone layer in our atmosphere. Only 57 percent of survey participants understood this.
5. B: Motor vehicles are the largest source of carbon monoxide in America. We Americans — including me — are just addicted to our cars! Sixty-nine percent answered this correctly.
6. D: loss of habitat. We humans sometimes seem to be taking over the Earth at the expense of other species. Most survey participants (70 percent) understood this.

I have one more environmental question for you. What can you do this spring to make a healthy difference for our local environment?
Volunteer with one of the many Great American Cleanup events coming up in the next several weeks! Here is the schedule and basic information.
• Riceboro city cleanup day: 8 a.m. March 26
• Neighborhoods and communities cleanup days: April 16; times vary
• Flemington city cleanup day: 8:45 a.m. April 16; meet at city hall
• Walthourville city cleanup day: 8:45 a.m. April 16; meet at city hall
• Allenhurst city cleanup day: 8:45 a.m. April 16; meet at city hall
• Hinesville citywide cleanup day: 8:45 a.m. April 23; meet at Bradwell Park
• Midway city cleanup day: 8:45 a.m. April 30; meet at city hall
• Gum Branch city cleanup day: 8:45 a.m. April 30; meet at city hall
• Read Across Liberty Day: April 8 (volunteers needed)
• Earth Day celebration: 3:30-7 p.m. April 22 (volunteers needed)
All volunteers will receive official Great American Cleanup T-shirts.
KLB provides all the supplies and water for cleanup efforts. City cleanups are followed by a volunteer-appreciation picnic.
Please register ahead so we can make sure we have enough supplies and food at each location.
For information or to volunteer, call KLB at 880-4888 or e-mail klcb@coastalnow.net.
Please participate; green starts here and it really does start with you.