Actionable Ways to Celebrate Earth Day All Year

What Can I Do to Celebrate Earth Day?

As Earth Day approaches, I like to take the time to check in and evaluate how I am doing with sustainable living. As a wildlife and nature enthusiast, I want to do my part to fight climate change and contribute to the overall health of the environment. As a traveler, I see firsthand the ramifications of pollution and global warming around the world. And as a pet owner, I am reminded daily about the different animals that depend on the choices that we humans make. Very few people are ever going to be able to live the “perfect” eco-friendly lifestyle. We can, however, check in to see if there are any changes that we can make that will help. Environmental problems can seem insurmountable, but if everyone helps a little bit, the overall difference can be huge!

The Basics

We have all heard of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. This is what most of us have learned so we can be better stewards to the earth. Unfortunately, ‘Recycle’ has now turned into more of an advertising gimmick that retailers use to convince us that their packaging is okay for us to buy. Many of the things that have the recycle emblem on them can only be recycled at certain facilities if we break it down and clean it a certain way. One good example of this are pizza boxes. These boxes cannot be recycled once pizza has been put in them.

We need to start to pay attention to what our local recycling facilities will accept. My local recycling facility only accepts certain types of plastic, aluminum and tins cans, or cardboard. All items need to be cleaned. It is important to know what your facility accepts because each place has a contamination rate amount before the whole load goes to the dump.  The contamination rate is the number of items in a batch that cannot be accepted because the items are not recyclable for whatever reason. When this happens, it defeats the purpose of Recycling. In addition, many cities have currently stopped their recycling programs due to the high cost. This means that it is better for us to focus on ‘Reduce’ now instead of hoping that things will be ‘Recycled’.

Here is to the hope for a future where recycling becomes more widespread and popular again! Until then, keep recycling, but let us focus more on reusing and reducing our waste.

Simple Ways to Celebrate Earth Day

1. Switch from plastic bottles to bars 

We are still switching over our bathroom products from bottles to bar versions. Our shampoo, conditioner, face wash, and body soap are all in bar form.  Next, we plan on looking for alternatives to our toothpaste and lotion. As a bonus this also makes airport travel much easier with no liquids in our carry-on!

2. Reusable straws

I prefer drinking out of straws so I always carry my reusable straw around with me so I can stop using disposable straws and protect the turtles and other animals that can choke on them. We also keep a spare set of metal straws in our cars for friends or when we forget our Final Straws at home.

3. Reusable water bottles

Save money and limit waste. Plastic bottles can technically be recycled but in many cases, they still end up in the dump. By carrying a reusable water bottle around, you use less plastic and can save a ton of money because you are not paying for each water bottle!

4. Upcycle

‘Reuse’ is another great option to help limit what goes to the dump. When you are spring cleaning, look at the items you want to get rid of with new eyes. Can you repurpose it in some way? We took our old dining room table and an end table to make different-sized DIY Canopy Beds for our pets. We also save items left over from different construction projects and find ways to use them for different projects instead of throwing them out. You can also either sell or give items away. If your town doesn’t have a recycling program, you can use things like boxes and packing paper for different DIY Dog Enrichment Ideas.

5. Rain barrel

If it is legal where you live, you can collect the rain that is coming off your roof and use it for your plants and gardens. This saves money and is a great way to conserve water. You can either buy one or build it yourself. Keep an eye out on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace for used ones!

6. Plant a vegetable and herb garden or shop at a Farmer’s Market

Planting your own food or buying local is another good way to save money. It also cuts down on transportation costs and the chemicals that are used to make the produce last longer. An additional benefit to buying local is that it passes on more money to your local farmers instead of the farmers having to share the profits with grocery stores and transport companies.

7. Plant native (and non-toxic) plants 

Planting native plants is great for the local environment. If it is not a native plant, it is invasive. Some invasive plants spread quickly and will eventually replace the plants that belong in the area. This can hurt the balance of the ecosystem and negatively affect the wildlife that depends on those plants. If you are looking for volunteer opportunities, you can most likely find groups in your area that help rid areas of invasive species. A more personal benefit to using native plants is the money you will save because they will require less water and fertilizer to help them grow. If you have pets, make sure you also check that the plants you choose are non-toxic so you can keep your fur kids safe.

8. Compost

Compost is a much more earth-friendly option than using chemical fertilizers. Fertilizer ends up seeping into the ground and into our water tables. This water ends up in rivers and lakes which has negative effects on fish and other animals. This is one of the reasons that there are recommendations to limit the number of fish you catch and eat per week. These chemicals end up in the food that we eat and water that we drink. Pay attention to what you use in your gardens and lawns. Using natural remedies is healthier for all of us.

9. Eco-friendly poop pick-up

We want to be good, responsible dog owners which means picking up our pet’s waste. This is important because it limits the spread of disease (through fecal matter) and keeps our neighbors happy because they do not accidentally step in it. Look into buying compostable poop bags when you are on your walks. Try to pick up multiple piles in one bag (this does take practice and talent). For backyard pick-up, we use a long-handled dustpan and a small rake and dump the feces into an empty dog food bag. This way we cut down on the number of plastic bags used to pick up dog poop. This method is also much easier on our backs!

10. Avoid using poisons for pest control

No one wants rodent problems but try to use natural remedies to get rid of pests. The poison that you use can be carried off and /or eaten by other animals like pets. I had found a block of rat poison that another animal had carried into our yard that could have been deadly to my dogs. We have had a neighbor that had lost their dog that way. The rodents that eat the poison then die and in turn can poison other animals that have eaten them. This affects different animals like birds of prey, foxes, and again dogs, and cats. There have also been cases of small children getting sick from these chemicals.

11. Buy from companies that give back!

I love coffee and make a cup every day at home. Instead of buying my coffee from Walmart or Kroger’s, I started ordering it from websites that donate some of their proceeds to causes I care about. It costs about the same (just wait for free shipping opportunities) and I buy several bags at once. Endangered Species Chocolate and Conservation Coffee are just two examples of companies that donate back to conservation. Grounds and Hounds is a coffee company that donates to dog rescue organizations. Just make sure to do a bit of research to ensure that the company does indeed donate as advertised.

Let’s Do This!

We can all do our part to help the environment and what better time to start than on Earth Day? Even if you do not have time to help pick up trash in parks or on the side of the road, there a plenty of opportunities to make a difference in our everyday lives. The best part is that many of these things can save us money or make our lives easier when we are out and about. You do not have to do anything drastic, just start with something small. To celebrate Earth Day this year, Danny and I are landscaping using native species in our new home.  We are also installing a rain barrel, we will start composting, and we will continue to switch more bathroom products over to more eco-friendly solutions. Tell me in the comments how you plan on celebrating Earth Day this year?

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