This Saturday marks the 47th annual Earth Day, a day to honor and reflect on the environment and all the associated concerns that face it in our modern day and age. Earth Day is not just a time to worry about the Earth, but to celebrate it and all that we can do to support and improve the quality of our environment.
Earth Day is a call to act, and a reminder for all of us to improve our habits; no matter how eco-conscious we think we are. It should serve as a reminder for us to examine our personal impact on the environment each year. Think of it as New Year’s Day for the Earth. This is a time to make new “resolutions” and review the progress we’ve made in the last year.
Is 2017 the year you want to start recycling or install rain barrels in your yard? Do you want to implement you own ban on disposable take-out bags and commit to using reusables? How about driving less and walking and biking more often? Or perhaps you would like to start keeping a bucket in your shower to collect the water that runs while you wait for the shower to get warm?
There are so many things that each person can do to reduce their environmental impact, and they range from small, simple acts like switching to energy efficient bulbs, to large, costly investments like installing solar panels on your roof or buying a new, fuel efficient car. Every person can contribute something and make a change regardless of the size or cost of the gesture. It can be as simple as refusing an unnecessary plastic bag or asking for a mug when you’re staying at the coffee house.
Likewise, your Earth Day’s resolution this year can be to spread the word to others. Let your favorite restaurants know that they should consider an alternative to Styrofoam cups and takeout containers. Encourage your friends and family to pick up an eco-conscious habit like recycling. Suggest that your neighbors change their irrigation schedule to run during the coolest parts of the day. You might not convince everyone to make a change, but one comment could make a huge difference if it does have an impact.
I find that many eco-conscious people are comfortable with a certain amount of sacrifice – usually whatever they are currently doing – but are unwilling to step out of the comfort zone and push themselves even farther. But our environmental resolutions aren’t just for the Earth; they are also for us. We can improve the quality of our lives and the lives of those around us by the changes we make.
Imagine what you could do with the money saved by not having to pay a garbage bill? Or what you would accomplish in the time you would gain (eight full months of your life!) by eliminating all the junk mail you receive. It might seem like the effort isn’t worth it, but all these things add up.
Learn from those around you and use the nearly endless resources that are now available to us. So many people around the world have embarked on experiments to do things like eat only food grown within one hundred miles or live without using electricity for one year, that there is a lot of knowledge to draw from and learn what works and what doesn’t. Get inspired to make a change and stick to it!
If you need some inspiration, we hope you will join us on Saturday, April 29th, for the culmination of a series of Earth Day events showcasing “trashy fashion” made from reused materials that could not be recycled. We will be showcasing the best of the recycled runway looks and hosting a recycled art contest during an open house at our facility on Shelby Dr. in Sedona from 10am-2pm. Please drop by and check out all the winning looks and submissions and take a peek at our recycling center.
And if you need help deciding what your Earth Day resolution should be, feel free to give us a call at (928) 204-1185 for some ideas or visit www.earthday.org to see what people around the world are doing to honor our planet. Happy Earth Day!
by Meghan Kincheloe, Sedona Recycles
Sedona Red Rock News
April 19, 2017