Earth Day is an annual event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection.
First held on April 22, 1970, it now offers a wide range of events coordinated globally by EARTHDAY.ORG and includes 1 billion people in more than 193 countries. The official theme for 2024 is Planet vs Plastics.
One key way we can help invest in our planet is through recycling. Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours — or the equivalent of a half a gallon of gasoline. And there is no limit to the amount of times an aluminum can be recycled.
A typical family consumes 182 gallons of soda, 29 gallons of juice, 104 gallons of milk, and 26 gallons of bottled water a year. That’s a lot of containers — make sure they’re recycled!
Staggering isn’t it? We live in a world filled with products and packaging that often are overlooked for their potential second life. Another item that is often overlooked for its ability to be recycled are tennis shoes. Most of us wear them on a daily or weekly basis and often struggle with what to do with them when we feel they’ve reached the end of their life. Do we toss them in the trash?
Got Sneakers not only recycles tennis shoes, they also evaluate them to see if perhaps they can be passed on to someone else to be worn longer. Other ways to help… switch from using single use plastics like water bottle, straws and sandwich bags. Consider a glass water bottle and straws or perhaps make reusable fabric lunch bags for snacks and lunches.
Did you know that the average clothing item may be worn as few as ten times before discarding? We can help by not contributing with fast fashion and instead be intentional on the items we do purchase and wear them longer before tossing them out. Consider buying second hand, choosing natural materials such as organic cotton, linen, or recycled fabrics, donating clothes to shelters, and renting clothing for special occasions. Using less water during laundry can also be reduced by spot cleaning clothing when needed rather than running a load of laundry when some items could suffice with a steam or spot clean. Designer Tommy Hilfiger even promotes that jeans should not need washing unless of course you’ve spent the day rolling in mud.
Bikes for the World is another organization out there making a difference. They provide bikes to low-income people in developing countries. Bikes donates and repaired and made ready to help provide transportation to work, school and more. Plus Bikes for the World employees skilled employees to repair and maintain the donated bikes.
Locally you’ll find St. Louis BWORKS offering bikes to our local community. They accept donations of both adults and children’s bikes.
- Bicycles (see above)
- Carpet
- CD’s & DVD’s
- Clothing (if you’re crafty use them for bags, totes, children’s clothes and more)
- Computers
- Eyeglasses
- Ink Cartridges
Are just a few of the many things you can recycle. Styrofoam aka expanded polystyrene, EPS, is something found in many packages and often it’s hard to find a place to recycle. You can connect Alliance of Foam Packaging Recyclers or Earth911 for help find local recycling centers.
Other ways to get involved on Earth Day… sign up to help clean up your communities be it a litter pick up day or river cleanups as well as tree planting. Go car-free and bike to work, school, use local transit or walk where possible.
Local Earth Day Events
- WashU Earth Day Festival – Thursday, April 25 | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM | McDonnell Pediatric Research Building, Lobby and Patio
- This years festivities include a Farmer’s Market, free bike tune up for staff, faculty and students and more!
- St. Louis Earth Day Festival – April 20 & 21