On April 22, people all around the world celebrate Earth Day. The holiday started back in 1970 to support environmental protection and raise awareness of protecting Earth’s natural resources for future generations. You might remember learning how to reduce, reuse and recycle in elementary school to celebrate Earth Day, but there are many more ways you can get involved. Here is a list of how you can positively contribute to the Earth on April 22, and every day after.
Organize a neighborhood cleanup: Unfortunately, trash and recyclables can be found on every street corner, especially in NYC. Get a group of your friends together and organize a cleanup at your local park, sidewalks, and other popular places around your neighborhood. Don’t forget to wear gloves and properly dispose of the products!
Start a compost bin: Especially on campus, we see a lot of leftover food being thrown into our trash cans. Starting a compost bin would significantly reduce the amount of trash that we send to landfills and the carbon emissions used to transport it. It is also a great addition to soil that helps it retain moisture and nutrients!
Swap out your kitchen products for more sustainable ones: A lot of our single-use products like plastic bags, paper towels, and straws are thrown out to be sent to a landfill, or even pollute our oceans. You can take action by simply purchasing more sustainable and reusable items such as reusable storage bags, biodegradable sponges, eco-friendly dish soap and reusable K-Cups.
Take a pledge to fight fast fashion: Any new article of clothing you buy off the rack or online has been made by what is known as fast fashion. The apparel industry is stripping Earth of its resources and producing a ton of waste that is polluting our air and is never recycled. Fight fast fashion by thrift shopping, shop for quality, not quantity and learn to repair clothing.
Plant a tree: A popular and simple way to give back to the Earth, planting a tree has many benefits. Trees provide us with oxygen, reduce runoff and are homes to many of our wildlife.
These are a few of the many ways you can give back to the Earth this upcoming Earth Day. Let’s protect our home today and every day after.