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Each year, Earth Day celebrates the importance of protecting the environment and keeping our planet green. First celebrated in 1970, Earth Day has covered many different topics, from pollution to restoring our planet. 

Are you looking to get involved this year to help promote a green and healthy environment? Here are 8 ways you can celebrate Earth Day this year!

Participate in The Great Global Cleanup

Each year, The Great Global Cleanup organizes people across the world to clean trash found in neighborhoods, parks, rivers, trails, beaches, and other community areas.

Many groups across the United States organize events each year to pick up trash on Earth Day. You can find or register a cleanup on the Official Earth Day site. You can also reach out to local environmental organizations to connect to those who are participating in the Great Global Cleanup this year.

Have a Picnic

Another unique way to enjoy Earth Day this year is to gather your family and have a fun picnic outdoors. You and your loved ones can appreciate nature in your favorite park or mountain trail and enjoy everything the outdoors offers!

Bonus: you can make the food you eat Earth Day themed to make the day more fun! Bake Earth Day themed cookies, pack meals made with locally grown vegetables, or find ways to safely cook your meal sustainably over a campfire rather than a stove.

Buy from Local Farms

It’s important to support your community’s farms to help encourage local farmers to produce fresh fruits and vegetables. Local growers work each day on their farmland to grow fresh plants and produce, which can improve the environment and keep the soil in the area healthy.

Visit your local farmer’s market this year and buy fresh produce from your local farmers. Afterward, you can go home and make an Earth Day dinner for your family!

Ditch the Car

Another idea to celebrate Earth Day is to avoid using your car for the whole day. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that passenger vehicles emit 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide every year.³

If able, opt to ride a bike or walk to school or work to help stop carbon emissions. If your job is further away, public transportation may be an option to help reduce pollution on Earth Day.

Plant a Garden

Earth Day can be celebrated by going outside and planting a garden! Did you know that there are many health benefits of gardening, including relieving stress and reducing the risk of dementia by 36%?⁴

Go outside and plant flowers and trees to help make the earth look beautiful this spring season. You can also do other yard work such as picking weeds to keep the soil in your yard fresh.

Make Recycling Bins Available

Did you know that 28 million bottles and jars are thrown away each year? The EPA estimated that 75% of waste in America can be recycled, however, we only recycle 30% of it.

One reason why people may not recycle is that there may not be recycling bins available next to trash cans. You can set up recycling bins in your local community at various parks, public walkways, beaches, school campuses, churches, and other places where people go. Adding recycling bin options makes it easier for people to properly recycle their waste rather than contribute to the landfills.

Make Crafts Using Recycled Materials

Making crafts out of recycled materials is another way to find a use for items that you may have thrown away. Some ideas for utilizing recycled materials include:

• Making a quilt out of old T-shirts
• Melt down old crayons to make new ones
• Use old cans and bottles to create organizers for your desk
• Use cans to make planters

There are also many Pinterest that utilize recycled materials, and many of these crafts are perfect for young children!

Find Ways to Reduce Waste

Earth Day is about reminding ourselves that we need to keep our land green by reducing the amount we put into the landfill. Try to find ways you can reduce waste in your home, such as learning to sew to reuse old clothing or utilizing a reusable water bottle to reduce the number of plastic bottles that go to waste.

Another way to reduce waste is to only replace an item when it is necessary. For example, instead of buying a new pair of shoes that you like, you can wait until your old shoes are worn down enough to justify buying another pair.

Celebrating Earth Day

Are you ready to celebrate Earth Day? Gather your family and friends to make a special Earth Day celebration this year!

Saber Healthcare is an organization that provides services to more than 115 buildings across the states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, Indiana, Delaware, and Florida. To learn more about our company and the services we provide, click here.

Saber Healthcare is an organization dedicated to providing consultant services to long term care providers. This article is for informational purposes and is not meant to be seen as professional advice. Please consult with a medical expert before relying on the information provided.

Sources

1. “Earth Day.” Wikipedia. 21 April 2022. Accessed 21 April 2022. Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Day
2. “Greenhouse Gas Emissions from a Typical Passenger Vehicle.” Environmental Protection Agency. 21 July 2021. Accessed 21 April 2022. Link: https://www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/greenhouse-gas-emissions-typical-passenger-vehicle#:~:text=typical%20passenger%20vehicle%3F-,A%20typical%20passenger%20vehicle%20emits%20about%204.6%20metric%20tons%20of,8%2C887%20grams%20of%20CO2
3. “How Gardening Benefit Seniors.” Saber Healthcare Group. 12 March 2022. Accessed 21 April 2022. Link: https://www.saberhealth.com/news/blog/health-benefits-of-gardening
4. “11 FACTS ABOUT RECYCLING.” Dosomething.org. Accessed 21 April 2022. Link: https://www.dosomething.org/us/facts/11-facts-about-recycling#:~:text=Americans%20throw%20away%20about%2028,to%20LA%20(and%20back!).