Altadena Crest Trail (Photo – Gareth Peries)
Earth Day is on April 22 and you probably don’t need me to tell you that things aren’t looking so good for the planet.
By Cheryl Auger
We seem to be oblivious to our relationship to extinction, fires, droughts and accelerating weather. It is important to know we can all do things that collectively will have a positive impact on climate change.
Here are some of those activities:
- Unplug non necessary devices.
Homes can save on average about 30% of their consumption and business can save about 50% of their demand. Collectively, that adds up. - Start composting
Start composting or find a compost program to manage your organic waste or join a make-soil host!. - Plant a tree
(Or several!) - Say no to single use plastics
Bring your own reusable bags, utensils and containers to farmers markets and to restaurants for your leftovers or take-out (AB 619 supports this)! - Trash clean-up event
Organize a trash clean-up event in your neighborhood or local park. - Stop buying bottled water
Reports show that your bottled water might contain coliform, arsenic, iron, phenols, BPA, fluoride and microplastics and nanoplastics and get exported to third world countries and Mexico as waste. - Join your local Buy Nothing group
Find your group at buynothingproject.org/find-a-group. - Reduce your animal consumption
Try Meatless Mondays or swap a dairy product for something plant-based! - Ditch the car
Ditch the car for a scenic walk or bike ride. - Air dry
Save energy by air drying your laundry! - Swap your plastic packaging for something more eco-friendly, like glass or paper containers.
- Less packaging
Switch to produce without packaging like cantaloupes, other melons and apples. - Repair an item that can still be used.
- Conserve water
Reduce shower times, wash full loads of laundry, turn off the faucet when not in use, etc.
[This article has been updated from an earlier version.]
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