Friday, March 6, 2026
The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
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The CSC Eagle Newspaper – Chadron, NE
Editorial

We can all help curb excess carbon emissions

Eagle Staff

With the wide-open spaces that surround Chadron, there is a tendency to think that we are environmentally friendly due to the lack of smog. The skies are clear and the air is fresh and because of the Nebraska wind our carbon emissions are carried elsewhere.

The average American’s carbon footprint is approximately 20.4 metric tons per year. A person’s carbon footprint is calculated by their use of motor vehicles, household energy, airplane flights, public transportation, and food and waste figures.

There are many ways that people can reduce their carbon emissions that are easy adjustments. The newest trend of BPA-free water bottles are reducing the amount of packaged plastic water bottles. These BPA free water bottles are reducing toxins such as dioxin that is released into the air along with the amount of non-biodegradable waste.

A misconception about packaged plastic water bottles is that they can be recycled, not all plastics are readily recyclable. The number inside of the triangle on plastic will indicate if the plastic container is able to be recycled. Packaging that is safe to recycle is marked with the numbers 1, 2, 4,  or 5.

Not all plastics are bad; some are plant based allowing them to be biodegradable. The process still takes a considerable amount of time to decompose. Even though it is biodegradable it should not be a person’s go-to plastic container. Alternate options such as the BPA-free water bottles should be used as often as possible.

Unfortunately some of the other options to reduce carbon output are not as simple of an adjustment. With the warm weather that has recently arrived in Chadron, a person could easily travel by foot rather than driving a large SUV or truck, especially for short distances. This will not only cut down on the carbon footprint, but will also give your wallet a break.

If you are concerned with what your yearly average carbon emissions is, you can refer to carbonfootprint.com for an estimated calculation of per/person footprint or on a larger scale for a business.