Earth Day is literally right around the corner — tomorrow, April 22 — and if you haven’t made any plans to celebrate this day, allow us to offer a few suggestions!
Beach or Park Cleanup
No matter where you live, there is likely an organized beach or park cleanup happening in your area. Participating in these events helps build relations between community members, increases awareness of waste issues, and of course, beautifies the space being cleaned, all of which can be very gratifying for the effort expended.
Reduce Plastic Consumption
Plastic accounts for an estimated ten percent of human-generated waste worldwide, much of it coming from single-use products that can and do end up in the environment, even if care is taken to recycle them. Bottled water is one of the biggest culprits of plastic waste, so make an effort to refrain from purchasing bottled water in favor of a reusable bottle. When possible, choose products that come in packaging that’s not plastic.
Plant Something
Plants are essential to the planet’s health, as they maintain ecological balance by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. While trees are the biggest players in this cycle on land, all plants are capable of cleaning our air, so planting flowers and herbs is just as good a choice as planting a tree.
Repurpose Something
We all have items in our homes that have fallen into disrepair or are no longer useful, but instead of simply tossing them in the trash, think of creative ways to repurpose them. If creativity isn’t your strong suit, you can check the internet or hit the library for inspiration.
Improve Your Energy Consumption
Installing solar panels or restructuring your heating/cooling system isn’t always feasible, but you can improve your energy consumption by paying attention to your habits and amending them step by step. Little things like turning off lights in rooms that aren’t being used or adjusting your heat or AC settings to come on less frequently can make a big impact on your overall energy consumption, which usually manifests to you in the way of reduced costs — something worth celebrating every day, not just on Earth Day!
