While there are great ways to celebrate Earth Day this
Saturday, April 22, we should be incorporating Earth-friendly practices in our
daily lives. Earth Day shouldn’t be one day—we should uphold the values of this
special day every day. So by all means, go out and volunteer, attend rallies
and events, and educate yourself this Saturday. But use Earth Day as the
foundation to start practicing more sustainable living every day of the week.

Celebrate Earth Day Every Day
Transportation
Recycle
If you don’t already recycle at your home or business, now
is the time to start! Most communities offer some form of recycling.
Single-stream recycling tends to be the easiest since you don’t have to
separate materials. Throw newspapers, plastic bottles, cardboard, and more all
in one recycling container. Check your local resource recovery or waste
management department for details on how to recycle in your neighborhood.
For those of you living in an apartment, see if your
property management has recycling bins. If they don’t, work with them on
setting up a recycling program. You can contact your local trash and recycling
service to get started.
The same process applies to your office. If you don’t
already recycle at your office, check with building management first to find
out if recycling is available in your building.
Take recycling a step further and buy recycled products. Most
local big box stores sell recycled printer paper, paper towels, and other paper
goods. You want to buy a paper product that is made of 100% recycled post-consumer
paper. Or look for the FSC-certified seal, which maintains that the paper
was “sourced in an environmentally friendly, socially responsible, and
economically viable manner.”
Native Plants
Ditch that manicured lawn in favor of natural landscaping.
Native plant habitat restoration supports wildlife much more so than a “perfect”
lawn laden with pesticides. As the National Audubon Society says, “By creating a native plant garden, each patch of habitat
becomes part of a collective effort to nurture and sustain the living landscape
for birds and other animals.” You can find which plants are native to your area
by using their database.
Invest Wisely
Pay attention to your investments. Many related companies
are typically bundled in mutual funds and 401k plans. If you don’t check which
companies are in your chosen plan, you may be investing in a business that is
detrimental to the environment. If you care about the Earth, you need to care
where your money is invested.
Spend Sensibly
Sticking with the money theme, you should also try buying
wisely. Do you really need another pair of shoes or a new phone? In the United
States, we tend to buy indiscriminately. If you want something but don’t really
need it, then don’t buy it. And when you do buy products, do your research. How
are those designer jeans made? Would it be better to shop for gently used
clothing at vintage or thrift stores?
Do you have any easy eco-friendly tips on leading a more
environmentally friendly life? Share below or on Facebook and Twitter.
0 comments :
Post a Comment
Comment below and let us know what you think of this post.