Environmental pollution and infrastructure pressure in growing urban populations

Pollution Control

With growing population in the city, greater pressures on infracture and natural resources has affected the environment in greater ways. Increase in population causes infracture to deteriorate, traffic congestion, lower air and water quality, and loss of open space. Population increase brings with it more vehicles on the roads that put greater emissions in the air and greater pollution problems that affect the land and water quality. All of this will cause more health problems. In order to deter the greater pollution with the increase in population, more measures of pollution control need to be implemented.

Pollution control legislation for point measures would cost an estimated 0.3 million. The focus could be on making the weaknesses in already existing law stronger with stronger enforcement. The emissions standards that establish annual amounts and kinds of pollutants emitted into the air and water by users of certain products has disadvantages that include allowing emissions of less than the standards free of charge, firms are restricted in the methods of compliance, and it does not take into account the differences among the firms or differences in regions. (The Economics of Pollution Controls at the Local and Global Levels, 2006) The command and control regulation that requires the use of specific pollution control devices on certain sources of pollution or apply strict emission standards to specific emitters has the disadvantages of all emitters are treated the same, regardless of level of emissions, and provides no incentive for emitters to seek less expensive ways of reducing emissions or to reduce emissions more than the required amount.

Fines can be implemented based on the amount of emissions over the required amount by varying the amounts of the fines over the required amount. The more they are over the required amount, the greater the fines. Incentives to seek less expensive measures to reduce emissions can be given discounts off the fines if proof of the measure is given at the time the payments are made. The funds from the fines can be used in the enforcement process. It could be a measure of enforcing the emissions reduction process and provide more funds to the program.

Random emission testing would cost approximately $0.6 million. Vehicle air pollutants are carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrogen oxides, particles, volatile organic compounds, and sulfur dioxide. (Free vehicle emissions testing) Two teams of transport inspectors can be placed on the roads on a daily basis. The use of a 4-gas analyzer that measures levels of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons would tell the levels of tune ups done on vehicles in the city. Recommended emission levels set for vehicles of different ages, taking into account of technology advances could be set for level control. By doing random emission checks on vehicles, preferable targeting vehicles that are smoking, it would encourage citizens to maintain their vehicles for better performance and less emission in the air. Emissions that are over the level could fall into the legislated area of receiving a fine for stronger encouragement. Funds from the fines will also help to finance this program.

Encouraging alternative transportation, such as walking, using bicycles, and carpooling would cost approximately $0.4 million. Billboards placed at key points around the city, such as government buildings, vacant lots on busy roads, highways, and public parking lots, with messages pertaining to use of alternative methods of transportation, would create more public awareness to change habits, cut personal costs, and build individual health at the same time. Public awareness is an important issue to encourage citizens change habits, not only for personal issues, but for the reduction of pollution as well. Encouraging alternative transportation measures will reduce the amount of emissions and air pollution in the long run.

Establishing green spaces and urban forestry will cost approximately $0.2 million. Setting building zones that put people outside the forestry is an effort to protect the urban forest areas. Encouraging a city composting will can help recycling, replenish, and fertilize the forest areas. Building public awareness and encouraging recycling helps to preserve the lands and reduces pollution at the same time. Designating composting areas and encouraging citizens to deliver certain table scraps, such as vegetable peelings, cardboard, paper, and other composting ingredients, can bring about more natural ways to preserve the forest areas.

The total cost of this plan is approximately $1.5 million. The City Council provides a budget of one million for tackling the environment issues. The funds that come from fines of the emission violations can help cover the extra cost. Once the billboards are put in place, they would only have to be replaced as they weather, which puts the majority of costs in placing them in the beginning. Encouraging the composting would cut the fertilizer costs of the maintenance of the forest areas.