Earth Day is right around the corner, so you know what that means… time to give back to the very planet we live on! It should all be our duty every day to make conscious choices to protect our planet, but especially as we celebrate Earth Day. With prevalent issues arising such as climate change, pollution, and deforestation threatening our ecosystems, it’s important to take charge towards change.
The good thing about Earth Day is that it brings together people of all walks of life working towards the same cause! We’ve put together five ways you can celebrate our planet this Earth Day!
Participate in a Local Clean Up
How many times do you drive or walk past trash littered on the street? This is your time to give back! Sign up for a local clean up in your area. Joining a local clean-up is a great way to get with likeminded people and help spread awareness of current environmental issues. Don’t know exactly where to find one? Look up local events in your area! Most cities put on multiple events in the weeks leading up to Earth Day.
If you’re a part of a run club, take your runs a step further and start plogging the month of April at your weekly runs!
Remember to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
Yes, the exact concept you learned when you were a kid! Sounds silly as an adult, but taking these extra steps is SO important. Make sure you’re making an effort to properly throw away your trash. Help reduce waste buildup in landfills by recycling plastic, glass, paper, and even metal. Work on being mindful when purchasing items. Do this by choosing products with minimal packaging and avoid buying single-use items.
Reusing products when you can is also beneficial. Bring reusable bags when your shopping instead of disposable ones. Use washable napkins and towels instead of paper products. Donate clothes, furniture, and any electronics you’re no longer using instead of throwing them away.
By participating in these actions you celebrate Earth Day every day, you’re helping reduce your own personal carbon footprint.
Save Energy and Water on Earth Day and Every Day
Sometimes it’s important to go back to the basics. We all live busy lives and the little things that matter can get brushed aside. Remember to ALWAYS turn off the lights when you’re leaving a room. As well as, take advantage of natural light and open your curtains during the day instead of using artificial lighting. Don’t keep any electronics or charger plugged in if they’re no longer in use. Try to limit the time you’re taking a shower or doing dishes to conserve water resources.
Take it a step further and switch to LED lights. LED lights use up to 80% less energy than traditional bulbs. You can even look into purchasing energy-efficient appliances. ENERGY STAR- rated appliances meet strict energy efficiency standards, which cost less to operate and help reduce your carbon footprint this Earth Day.
Host a Sneaker Reuse and Recycling Drive
Over 300 million pairs of shoes are thrown away each year into landfills. Since sneakers are not biodegradable, they can take more than 40 years to decompose all while emitting harmful chemicals into the environment in the process. What can you do to help these ongoing issues? Host a Sneaker Reuse and Recycling drive this Earth Day!
Sneakers4Good works with the running and athletic community as a sustainable initiative to help keep sneakers out of landfills. Instead of throwing them away, the sneakers are shipping to micro-enterprises in developing nations through the reuse economy. Since the start of our program, we have helped rescue over 37 million pairs of sneakers from ending up in landfills!
Educate Yourself and Community this Earth Day
One of the most powerful tools for creating lasting environmental change is education. Earth Day provides the perfect opportunity for this! Knowing how your everyday choices are affecting the planet helps drive the change needed. Understanding climate change and conservation helps individuals make conscious choices and think about their carbon footprint first.
Stay up to date on current environmental trends. Read books, watch documentaries, and even attend workshops. Knowledge becomes power. When we educate ourselves and others we can advocate for greener policies and help build a more sustainable world for all generations to come!
Earth Day shouldn’t just be a one day of the year celebration. We should all make conscious choices to take a sustainable foot forward every day and make choices that benefit our planet. Let’s make Earth Day an everyday commitment to ensure that our planet is here for generations to come!
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