By: Karley Wajda
Staff-Writer
Living on Earth is something everyone gets to enjoy – but only if we care for this planet. Earth Day took place on April 22, but that doesn’t mean we should stop being stewards. Here are 10 activities that you can do to help keep our home healthy.
1. Bring your own bags to the store. All plastic that has ever been created is still on the earth. By bringing reusable bags, you can help keep plastic products to a minimum. You may also invest in reusable produce bags, which are made of mesh instead of plastic.
2. Pick up trash while you take a walk – don’t assume that someone else will get it.
3. Ride your bike to work, school or somewhere else, instead of taking a car. Especially if you live in a bike-friendly area, this can be a great way to get exercise and travel more sustainably.
4. Replace the lightbulbs in your home with LED lights. Switching out lightbulbs to LEDs can be an easy way to save energy within your home, and they also last longer, which means less waste.
5. Recycle whenever possible. By making sure recycling is done properly, you can allow for man-made products to be reused rather than making more. Be mindful of whether your waste is recyclable as well as whether it can be recycled in your area; for example, plastics with the number five inside the recycling symbol may not be accepted by your local recycling company.
6. Go thrift shopping for clothes. Buying second hand clothes reduces the amount of resources used for new textiles, such as water and cotton. This is also a good way to avoid falling into micro-trends, which involve buying new styles that go out of fashion quickly and end up in a landfill.
7. Carpool whenever possible. Carpooling can help save carbon emissions, especially in a car-centric area like Northern Indiana. If possible, you can also consider taking public transportation. Did you know that IU South Bend students can ride South Bend Transpo buses for free with their Crimson Card?
10. Educate yourself on sustainability and share the news with others.
Earth Day is a day to celebrate the planet we were given. Making small changes can make a big difference.
