This April, we will be celebrating Earth Day. There are many ways you can take part in Earth Day. We have provided just a few ideas below, but don’t be afraid to explore other ideas and come up with your own activities.
When is Earth Day? The 22nd of April every year.
The theme for Earth Day 2024? This year’s theme is PLANET VS. PLASTICS
EARTHDAY.ORG is unwavering in our commitment to end plastics for the sake of human and planetary health, demanding a 60% reduction in the production of ALL plastics by 2040
History of Earth Day
The first Earth Day was back in 1970. That was when about 20 million Americans took to the streets and protested against environmental pollution. They demanded a new way forward and helped to launch the modern environmental movement.
The protests and following action lead to outcomes like the Clean Air Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Acts, and the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This success was not restricted to America either, the movement spread to other countries.
Nowadays, the Earth Day Network is now made up of more than 75,000 partners in over 190 countries. All working together for the Planet.
How Does Recycling Help on Earth Day?
This year’s theme for Earth Day is RESTORE OUR EARTH. This is very exciting, and there are many activities you can do to support this theme. One of these actions is recycling.
Recycling is a great way to reduce your impact on the world and reuse the materials we have already taken from the earth.
Recycling can:
- save energy
- reduce CO2 emissions
- reduce water usage
- conserve raw materials
- reduce the amount of landfill
- reduce pollution
- support the circular economy
It’s not all about plastic either. Recycling paper, metal, glass, and other items can have a huge positive impact on the environment. For example, Paper production not only uses trees but requires a lot of water to make. Recycled paper, however, only uses about 20% of the amount of water used to make paper from raw materials. Buying recycled paper can help reduce carbon emissions, energy use and preserve trees and water.
What can you do to help?
Think about what you buy
We usually say reduce first, then reuse, then recycle but how about we add “rethink” first. What does rethink mean? It means considering your purchase and rethinking it. Questions such as do you really need it? Is there a better option? Perhaps a reusable option. Can you buy it second-hand? Is it made from recyclable materials?
These are some of the questions you can ask yourself before you hit the “Buy Now” button or take your credit card out of your wallet.
When we buy something, be it an everyday item or a luxury item, a lot of effort has gone into getting that item to us. The whole supply chain, from researching and developing the product to delivering it to our door, every step uses energy and resources.
Find ways to reduce and reuse
There are always ways to reduce what we use and reuse what we already have.
Here are some ideas :
- Refuse single-use plastics.
- Buy reusable items like straws or coffee mugs, or your own takeaway cutlery.
- Use recycled toilet paper and tissues.
- Try to minimize how much food you buy in packaging. If you can make things from scratch, this can save a tonne of plastic and, therefore, energy.
- If you are not so good in the kitchen or don’t have as much time, keep in mind the amount of packaging different items have. Buy bulk items when you can.
Always take your own carry bags. - Look for good quality products that will last.
This starter kit is a great way to set you up with everything you need to start shopping plastic-free.
These reusable produce bags are a great way to reduce your impact. Plus they are made from recycled plastic bottles.
Recycle, recycle, recycle
Take some time to learn about what can and cannot be recycled. Here are some articles to get you started.
- How to make sense of Plastic by Numbers
- How to Recycle: the quick reference guide
- Is Aluminium Foil Recyclable?
- Recycling plastic bags and soft plastics
Also, be sure to check out your local council of authority as there are often different rules in different locations.
Buy recycled
The use of recycled material in products reduces the need for virgin materials, such as iron ore, trees, and other resources. The result is that the natural habitats of animals across the earth are saved. The other result is that it saves a lot of energy.
Here at Everyday Recycler, we are working hard to find amazing products made from recycled materials for you. Be sure to join our subscription to be one of the first to know.
Support great companies
Another way to do this is to support the circular economy and buy back items that are already made from your waste. To support those companies and organizations that are already pulling us towards a circular world where there is no waste.
Here are a few great companies that are leading the way.
- Soko – recycled jewelry with social benefits
- Sabai Design – the most sustainable sofas on the planet
- Day Owl – making gorgeous backpacks from recycled fabrics
- Arvin Goods – making socks from recycled cotton
- Fair Harbor – recycled men’s swim trunks
- Zero Co – saving plastic with refillable cleaning and personal products
- Cariuma – making sneakers from recycled materials
- Coalatree – eco-minded goods for the outdoors
Find more great brands in our RECYCLED BRAND DIRECTORY.
Ways to get involved in Earth Day
Become an everyday recycler!
Subscribe to Everyday Recycler and join us on our journey of discovery. We are always learning and sharing more about the objects in our lives, what they are made of and how we can recycle them.
We also love discovering the great companies out there, changing the world for the better, and we love sharing them with you.
Find a digital event
Find a digital event to attend on the Earth Day Website. There are events all over the world that you can join in on.
Or you could check out the We Don’t Have Time website and join their Earth Day live program of talks. They have talks on the circular economy, food and agriculture, finance, and other topics.
Take Action
Make your voice heard
Download the Earth Day Action page and make your voice heard on what is important to you.
- Support the Earth Bill, or if you live outside the USA, send your local representative a letter asking them to INVEST IN OUR PLANET
- Tell businesses to stop deforestation
- The fashion industry must change
Join TerraCycle
If you haven’t already heard about TerraCycle, then you should check them out.
What is TerraCycle? TerraCycle is the future of recycling. Founded in 2003, TerraCycle has set up recycling processes for the hard-to-recycle materials, “Recycling the unrecyclable,” as they say. Not only that, but they have made it easy for everyday recyclers like you and me to access this system.
Many of their programs are free to join. All you have to do is sign up, check out their list of items you can collect, collect the items and then post them into TerraCycle. Better still, there are many places where you drop off the items, just check their website for more info.
Conduct a Waste Audit
A waste audit is a great way to understand what types of waste you create regularly. You can then use the information to look into ways to reduce your waste.
Learn Something New
If you have a little more time to yourself while on lockdown, why not use this time to educate yourself. Here are some great ideas:
Head over to our Everyday Recycler Start Here page to find out how to learn more.
- Learn more about the circular economy.
- Check the top 8 items polluting our ocean for some interesting facts on plastic pollution.
- Learn how to compost – start here Composting at Home.
- Learn how to make your own cleaners – Why not find some recipes for natural cleaners? Great to get the kids involved too. Here are some good ideas.
- Check out our reading list for Earth Day here.
Make a donation
There are many causes out there that you can help by simply making a donation. Take a closer look at our post, The five best ocean charities to support.
Here are our favorites:
- Ocean Conservancy – they are working to protect the ocean from today’s challenges, creating science-based solutions for a healthier ocean.
- Take 3 for the Sea – Why not join the movement at the same time. Take a bag with you on your walk around the block and pick up anything you see. Don’t just take a photo for the app but pick up the rubbish and take it home with you.
- 5 Gyres – Founded in 2009 for more than ten years, 5 Gyres have been empowering action against the global health crisis of plastic pollution through science, art, education, and adventure.
- The Canopy project – every dollar you donate plants a tree.
Happy Earth Day Everyone!
- Philip J, 2018, How Recycling Helps The Fight Against Global Warming, recycle away
- How to Reduce the Carbon Footprint of Your Water Bottles?, terrapass.com
- How Recycling Can Prevent Climate Change, Gorilla Bins
