• An example of pollution on a personal scale Is Illegal dumping. People choose to dump their waste Illegally Instead of choosing an official service because trash disposal Is not convenient enough. There are not enough locations to bring bulk waste and pickup services are expensive, starting at $129 for eight or more cubic yards In Waco. Additionally, only two out of five Wacoans we Interviewed were aware of this service.

• This Is cost prohibitive for people who do not have this money to spare when they could choose to dump their waste for free Illegally.

• Though, there Is a price to pay for Illegal dumping, and that Is fines If caught as well as damaging the natural resources In our communities.

Every year, factories and farms dump thousands of kilograms of phosphorus and nitrogen into our waterways. For example, each year, about 135,000kg of phosphorus and 1,275,000kg of nitrogen wash through the Bosque Rivers into Lake Waco. This is the equivalent of the weight of over 700 Tesla (Y).

Although we cannot confirm the cause of this pollution, it is highly likely to originate from factories or farms. More Information needs to be available to help reach the root of this problem.

What Is the Impact?

• Stimulates the growth of blue-green algae, which Is toxic when blooming and kills animals and makes people sick.

• Negative impacts on the beauty of the environment