Earth Day: Be the Change You Wish to See

This Sunday April 22nd is Earth Day. According to EarthDay.org, ‘Earth Day 2018 is dedicated to providing the information and inspiration needed to fundamentally change human attitude and behavior about plastics.’ Oftentimes people get overwhelmed with all of the things that they can’t change in the world instead of thinking about the things they can control and the ways they can make a difference. Small things add up to big changes when we work together. If we each commit to making small changes, together we can make a world of a difference.

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EarthDay.org identifies three steps to helping end plastic pollution; the first is to Learn about the problem and solutions, the second is to take action, and the third is to engage with others and help spread the word to inspire change. Broken down in a simple to understand cycle: Reduce, Refuse, Reuse, Recycle, and Remove; reduce the amount of plastic you use, refuse unnecessary plastic products and packaging, reuse products to eliminate waste, recycle properly, and remove pollution from the environment.

In celebration of Earth Day I’ve decided to share a list of ways you can make small changes in your own life to begin making a positive change in the world in which we live. Most of the following are suggestions of simple things you can do to help the environment and reduce your environmental waste footprint.

What you can do to make a difference

Reduce and Reuse
- Plastic bags and cups are one of the biggest sources of plastic pollution, and one of the easiest to avoid.
  - Use reusable shopping bags wherever you shop: grocery store, supermarket, even clothing stores!
  - Use reusable water bottles and coffee mugs
    - Cut down on bottled water with a reusable water bottle
    - Cut down on throw-away mugs with a reusable coffee mug
    - Cut down on throw-away cups by using a real coffee mug if you’re staying in the coffee shop
  - At a restaurant that offers plastic straws, say no thank you to the straw!
- Make more homemade meals with fresh ingredients that use less packaging
  - Try to buy groceries without unnecessary packaging
  - Try to buy products that are packaged in recycled/recyclable materials vs. plastic
- Pack your own lunch and use reusable glass food containers
Recycle
- Recycle bottles and cans at specific locations for proper recycling
- Recycle all paper goods. Don’t put them in the trash!
- Don’t put batteries and digital goods in the trash. There are many local places that collect these items at scheduled times that can properly recycle them.
- Don’t throw away items that are in good condition.
  - Have you recently cleaned out your closet or purchased new items for your home and you’re tossing the old stuff you no longer want? Find a local charity or thrift store that resells items and donates the money to a charitable organization.
Conserve energy and resources
- Unplug appliances that aren’t being used
- Turn off the faucet when you’re brushing your teeth
- Don’t run the shower until you’re ready to get in
Keep your environment clean
- Don’t liter!!! Tossing your trash in a nearby trash can is so simple and yet some people can’t be bothered to properly dispose of their own trash. Don’t be that person. Get rid of your trash. No trash can? Put it in your car and toss it when you get home.
- Live near the shore? Volunteer your time at a local beach cleanup. Live near a river? Volunteer at a local river cleanup.
Consider environmentally friendly products
- Consider purchasing or leasing an eco-friendly car

Can this be recycled?

Earthday.org’s plastic pollution toolkit is a fantastic resource with tons of information. One thing I found particularly useful is the section on recycling. Just because a container has a recycle symbol doesn’t mean it’s truly recyclable. Check out the image below for more information.

One of the main things I want to stress is the idea that you can make small changes to help make a difference. By changing your behaviors, being aware of how you interact with the world, and taking ownership over the changes you can make, you will make a difference. Be an eco-smart conscious consumer by doing what you can to reduce plastic pollution and unnecessary waste. The less unnecessary products you buy, the less you’ll throw away, and thus you’ll begin to reduce your environmental footprint.