The Earth Month Ecochallenge attracted thousands of participants this year, helping translate “Earth Day intentions into impactful actions and lasting habits.” During the challenge, people and organizations committed to foster and reinforce #ecofriendly habits. While those Earth Month challenges are nearly complete, you can join the challenge at any time in an effort to spur collective behavior that secures a better future. One easy action to launch your efforts is to #recycle used goods by making a tax-deductible #donation to ClothingDonations.org, which will resell them to fund valuable #veterans programs. #EarthDay2025
Tag: landfill
Recommended Reading for Earth Month
To celebrate Earth Month, Yale Climate Connections recommends several books that build upon Rachel Carson’s seminal tome, Silent Spring. Waste Wars, for example, exposes how garbage has spawned a multibillion-dollar global business. Close to Home takes a backyard approach to climate science, showing how everyone can contribute to science and sustainability. And The Moral Circle asks humans to consider the needs of all species affected by human activity and technology. Check out any or all of the titles at your local library or download them to an e-reader or tablet to save a tree! #EarthDay2025
Earth Day Accomplishments to Remember
Earth Day 2025 is April 22! This year’s theme is “Our Power, Our Planet,” emphasizing a call to triple global renewable energy generation by 2030 through solar, wind, hydroelectric, tidal and geothermal power. But let’s take a step back to see where the #environmental movement has been in its 55-year history.
While it may be difficult to believe in today’s political environment, the idea behind Earth Day is credited to Sen. Gaylord Nelson (R-Wis.). He enlisted the help of campus activist Denis Hayes to bring grass-roots energy and involvement to #conservation. They choose April 22 — a weekday between spring break and final exams — to maximize student participation.
When they named the new event Earth Day, it attracted widespread media attention. More than 20 million Americans — 10% of the total U.S. population at the time — participated in the first Earth Day in 1970 to demonstrate against the environmental impacts of industrial development and #pollution. The modern environmental movement was born.
The initial Earth Days led quickly to the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts and the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The growing movement inspired similar legislation worldwide, and the United Nations chose Earth Day 2016 to sign the Paris Climate Agreement.
Now the world’s largest annual civic event, Earth Day has championed #climate literacy and education throughout the world. EarthDay.org initiatives have helped plant hundreds of millions of trees, spread #sustainable agricultural practices to small farms, and reduced plastic pollution in waterways.
This Earth Day and every day, you can find ways in which you and your family can #reduce, #reuse and #recycle to lower your personal impact on the #environment. One way is to #donate the things you don’t need to ClothingDonations.org to keep more high-quality, used #stuff out of landfills.
And to join in protecting the planet, participate in an Earth Day 2025 event near you!
Earth Day 2024 Focuses on Reducing Plastic Pollution
Earth Day is almost here! The annual celebration of the planet and its ecosystems reminds consumers that it’s everyone’s responsibility to protect the environment and secure a sustainable and healthy future.
The theme for Earth Day 2024 is Planet vs. Plastics. In order to protect human and planetary health, EarthDay.org is targeting a 60% reduction in the production of plastics by 2040, with the ultimate goal of a plastic-free future.
When plastics break down, they release toxic chemicals into the ecosystem, contaminating the food, water and air consumed by humans and other living creatures. Plastics also demand vast amounts of resources to create, so anything you can to avoid their use is good for the earth.
Start by carrying a reusable bag for your purchases. The average plastic bag is used for less than 20 minutes, but can survive hundreds of years in landfills. And despite the best efforts, they have proved to be nearly impossible to recycle; only 1% are returned to stores.
If you eat meals on the go, carry a set of reusable flatware instead of accepting a plastic fork, knife, spoon or spork. Borrow a set from the kitchen or invest in a camp-style kit to contribute less to plastic pollution. Add a stainless steel straw for good measure!
Plastics are everywhere. “Fast fashion” — cheap garments that are designed to be disposable — are a leading source of pollution, too. Many are made of petroleum-based microfibers — plastics that pollute the waterways when washed. And most cheap garments end up in landfills after only a few months’ wear.
To dress more #sustainably, shop smarter: Buy fewer higher-quality #garments that will last several seasons or years rather than trendy throwaways. Scour #secondhand and #thrift stores for quality #clothing, and you can save money while protecting the earth.
And always #donate any lightly-used #clothing you no longer wear to ClothingDonations.org instead of throwing it away. Those garments can have a second useful life instead of clogging the local landfill. These and other small steps can contribute to conservation. Happy Earth Day!