This Earth Day, Show the Earth What It's Worth

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation sent this bulletin on 04/12/2018 03:12 PM EDT
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
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Earth Day is just around the corner on APRIL 22nd and with that we're reminded to show the Earth some love!

Make the Earth a Brighter PlaceThe goal and importance of Earth Day is to, of course, raise awareness about environmental issues and to become more conscientious of our overall environmental impacts as individuals. However, it's also about educating others about the importance of environmental sustainability and remembering to act as leaders and role models of those initiatives at home, at work, and in our communities. Planting trees and litter cleanups are always great ways to celebrate Earth Day! If you are looking for some fresh atypical ways to celebrate, follow the tips below to help make the Earth a brighter place on Earth Day and every day.

At Home

  • Check in with your waste hauler or municipal transfer station. Recycling is an important part of everyday life we should be practicing, but recycling right is just as important. Check your recycling hauler or municipality's website for an update on acceptable and unacceptable items.
  • Waste Generation: Conduct a home waste audit to see what types of waste you're generating and how to reduce it.

For Kids Nurture Nature, Don't Litter

  • Participate in the New York Recycles Poster Contest
  • Encourage kids to learn about the environment, waste reduction, recycling and composting
  • Get crafty and make art or crafts out of recycled materials

For the Office

  • Improve your recycling program with these office recycling tips.
  • Switch off to show you're in. Conserve energy by turning off office lights. Show others at your office you're in by switching off your desk light and using natural light.
  • Host a reusable cup challenge and enter staff into a raffle if they "get caught green handed" using a reusable cup.
single use cups

With Friends

  • Get social: Buddy up and use citizen science apps like Marine Debris Tracker.
  • Find out your environmental "app"titude: Calculate your plastic footprint and learn how to reduce it with apps such as My Little Plastic Footprint.
  • Friendly Competition: #SaveTheFood - clean out the odds and ends in the fridge to have a leftovers competition cook off with family and friends

For Anyone

  • Take a stand, not a straw: Skip the straw on Earth Day and every day and if you must use one, choose reusable options. Ask for no straw with drinks, ask restaurants and other establishments to stop using single use plastic straws or to adopt an "offer first" policy.
  • Give to an environmental organization in a friend or loved one's name. If you're purchasing a gift for someone (or for yourself! cause #treatyourself), consider one from a company that donates part of the proceeds to an environmental organization.

Funding Opportunities

Conferences

Upcoming Events

April

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We Want To Hear From You!

Is there a topic you'd like to learn more about? Or a public event or workshop related to recycling (organics, textiles, electronics, traditional recyclables, etc.) you'd like the greater community to know about? Email us at organicrecycling@dec.ny.gov