On April 22, 1970, the first Earth Day was celebrated, and for the last 47 years, it has grown into an environmental movement. According to the Earth Day Network’s website, Earth Day is the “largest civic observance in the world” with more than a billion citizens worldwide participating in activities.
This year, on the 48th anniversary of the first Earth Day, the focus will be on ending Plastic Pollution. Education is one of Earth Day Network’s mission points, and the campaign will work to educate the world about the health risk of single-use plastics, as well as its impact on oceans, water, and wildlife.
For detailed information about the health and environmental threats of plastic, and opportunities to take action, check out Earth Day Network’s website and download the Plastic Pollution Primer and Action Toolkit.
Take a look, also, at Lauren Singer’s Zero Waste Lifestyle TedTalk for inspiration on producing as little trash as possible.
Want to make a difference in Monroe County?
Recycle – Healthy Monroe – Monroe County’s recycling and green community program offers a number of choices from Battery and Cell Phone Recycling to Medication Disposal, Household Hazardous Waste, Tire Recycling and regular RecycleNOW drop off recycling.
Plastic Grocery Bags – Recycle the extra ones at the local grocery store. Better yet, replace them with multi-use grocery bags. Keep these bags in the car so they are not forgotten at home.
Adopt-A-Road – Available through the Monroe County Road Commission. Get a group together and keep a 2-mile stretch of roadway clear of roadside litter. An application form is available on their website.