8 Eco-Friendly Ways to Celebrate Earth Day
Earth Day is April 22, 2018! You can use Earth Day to learn more about the environment and to discover small but helpful ways to take care of the environment.
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Earth Day History
The idea for a national day for the environment came to Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson after witnessing the massive oil spill in Santa Barbara in 1969. Nelson built a staff of eighty-five to promote events across the nation. He chose April 22 as the national day to celebrate Earth Day, which falls between spring break and final exams for college students.
Don’t Drive
Instead of driving, walk, bike, or take public transportation to your destination, even if it’s just for the day. It may take you a little while longer than usual, but you’ll be happy to know that you’re making a difference in the environment. Maybe it will become a regular thing.
Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle
We always here about the three R’s, but they are essential ways in protecting the environment. Reduce the amount of trash you make and the amount of energy you use. For example, take faster showers, and turn the lights off when you leave the room. Reusing is finding a way to use something a second time, or for another purpose before it becomes trash, helping you to create less waste. Recycling is when trash can be used to make new goods which can be sold again. This can be anything from using old fabrics for new purposes, to not throwing away your glass and aluminum so it can be recycled into new products or packaging. Not doing any of the three R’s can pollute the Earth’s air, water, or land.
Related: 8 Ways to Easily Reduce Waste in Your Home |
Unplug Appliances
Try unplugging your television for a day. Yes, a whole day. It’s not that bad, especially if you are in college because you have so many other things to think about! Instead of watching TV, take a walk, go on a picnic, read, or just get some fresh air.
Use Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products
We all want our homes to be clean and germ free. But if you come across a product that warns you to wear gloves and not breathe in toxic fumes, that’s a sign that you’re not using a healthy product. Research some budget-friendly and environmentally-friendly cleaning products that don’t use harmful chemicals.
Use Your Own Grocery Bags
Many of us can admit that we have a bag full of plastic bags stored in our home from grocery shopping. Make a habit of keeping those bags in your car so you can reuse them when you go shopping. You can even invest in sturdier, reusable bags that you can fold up and keep with you. You’ll definitely be helping the environment in this way.
Help Out in Your School’s Garden
You can learn about how the earth works by being involved in your school’s garden and plating flowers, fruits, and vegetables. Getting your hands in the dirt is a great way to understand the impact of pollution on the planet.
Volunteer at a Community Clean-Up and Recycle Drive
Many universities host community clean-ups where they pick up trash in the neighborhood. If your school doesn’t, organize it! As you’re cleaning, don’t forget to recycle items than can be recycled. A recycling drive is when students bring gently used items to swap out. Anything that’s leftover can be donated to a local organization like Goodwill. Items can range from sneakers, phones, toys, books, games, and sports equipment. There are even organizations to recycle used eyeglasses. Do a little research for activities in your area. There’s a million small ways to make a big difference.