On April 22, millions of people celebrate Earth Day, a holiday created in 1970 to honor the earth and raise awareness about pollution. Today, Earth Day is recognized around the world. Do your part to make the world a better place with these Earth Day activities from Atkins.
Go car-free for the day.
Leave your car in the garage for the entire day. If you have to travel long distances, opt for public transportation. Better yet, hop on a bike or walk to work, school, or wherever you need to go.
Bring reusable shopping bags along on your errands.
Stash reusable bags in a front hall closet so you can grab them on your way out the door to go shopping. Some grocery stores even offer a small discount for bringing a reusable bag. When you’re at the store, tell the clerk if you don’t need a receipt, or ask for it to be emailed to you, to cut down on paper waste.
Organize a trash cleanup in your neighborhood.
Rally the troops in your neighborhood and spend a couple of hours doing a trash cleanup at a local park, beach, school, or simply around your neighborhood. Grab a pair of latex gloves and several garbage bags. Many hands make light work.
Reduce your electricity.
Turn off the lights in your house when you’re not in the room and unplug phone and laptop chargers from the wall; chargers (and anything plugged in, for that matter) zap energy even if they’re not connected to your devices.
Plant a tree, a garden, or flowers.
April 22 is a great day to toil in the soil. Head to a nursery for expert advice on how to pick out the best tree for your yard. It’s one of the healthiest things you can do for the planet, as trees remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release oxygen back into it. Live in a city? Find out if there’s a community garden nearby where you can grow vegetables or flowers in a small plot of land.
Use a reusable water bottle.
Say sayonara to plastic, one-time-use water bottles for good. Purchase a refillable water bottle and get in the habit of carrying it with you. It’s better for the environment and your wallet.
Get the kids involved.
Struggling to come up with Earth Day ideas for kids? Make a pinecone-and-peanut butter bird feeder or craft a nature collage with fallen leaves, twigs, and grass. Go on a nature walk to simply appreciate the scenery and look for wildlife. Ask your kids to help sort the recycling.
Volunteer.
If you’re still stumped on how to celebrate Earth Day, check out EarthDay.org to see what Earth Day activities are happening in your neck of the woods. You can also use April 22 as motivation to find a cause to volunteer for regularly. There are numerous charitable organizations with eco-friendly focuses such as organic farming, river cleanups, animal care, and more. Find the one that piques your interest and get started.
