The celebrations of the 2020 Earth Day might feel different this year with everything that’s going on in the world, but you can still keep the environmental protection goals alive. Earth Day is not going to be celebrated this year, with festivals or public gatherings. Yet somehow the holiday spirit lives on, leaving individuals and families to celebrate it at home.
Once you’ve discovered these Earth Day stats, you’ll definitely want to do your part in helping the planet. Even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, here are five ways you can maintain an environmentally friendly approach.
Keep trash in trash bins
With so many of us self-isolating at home right now due to COVID-19, the amount of waste and recycling produced is increasing. Make sure you don’t allow the trash to overflow into your recycling bins.
If products such as disinfectant pads or rubber gloves end up in recycling it creates a major ripple effect. Most recycling centers sort by hand, and working with contaminated products makes it difficult to maintain their already thin profit margin.
Reduce food waste
Many of us have faced trouble getting all the food we would like from the grocery store. And that illustrates the food waste issue. According to the USDA, about 30 to 40 percent of all food in the United States goes to waste, even in a normal year.
Help reduce food waste by using the space in your freezer or pantry to organize meal planning. You’d be shocked to find out how many god recipes you can make with the ingredients on hand. And very important, don’t throw the leftovers after you’ve enjoyed the meal! Using them for a snack or a meal in the future will cut down on visits to the supermarket and help with your budget.
Repurpose
Medical professionals often have to dispose of personal protective equipment (PPE) after a single-use, but this does not mean that disposable products are always the right option for home-usage. A hand towel and soap will do the job for simple surface washing, and the household disinfectant is as good as a disposable wipe.
For more information on best practices see guidelines for household cleaning and disinfection in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The DIY method is indeed ideal for repurposing all sorts of material. There are countless ways to turn potential junk into something useful, like making face masks from spare material.
Garden
Home gardening has long been a curiosity for many people but they have never found time to try it. Now that so many of us are spending more time at home, it’s the perfect time to create your dream garden, whether you want to grow food to supplement your groceries, grow herbs to spice up your meals, or just enjoy the pleasures and relaxation from gardening.
Cultivating a connection with your surroundings in today’s world is mentally satisfying and a perfect way to celebrate Earth Day.
Embrace lasting change
The pandemic has brought tremendous change to our lives. When society returns to normal we’re going to have to determine if any of those changes will become permanent. If you have found any activities of self-isolation that are beneficial, consider integrating them into your daily routine.
Lifestyle practices like reduced travel in favor of virtual meetings, reuse of material, and cooking at home are important ways to support Earth Day spirit all year long.
