Seriously, why is "Earth Day", singular? Don't get me wrong-- it raises wonderful awareness for caring about the environment and taking care of the earth one day of the year is better than not taking care of her at all. Plus, we all get to look at everyone post pictures of a hike they went on a few months ago or a sunset they captured outside of their driveway.
However, many people partaking in Earth Day festivities fail to spread their actions into the rest of the year (or even outside of social media). Humans have made a new geological layer deemed the "technosphere" formed purely out of trash, our president doesn't seem to believe in climate change, and more species die each day to deforestation. Here are 5 ways to start doing your part.
1. Ditch the straw
Even if you don't have a fun metal or glass straw at the moment, it's easy to politely refuse them at restaurants. Straws are too small to be properly recycled, and only add to the 8 million tons of plastic annually dumped into the ocean.
2. Eat locally
Supporting your farmer's market isn't just yummier, its better for the environment too. Though a quick run to the supermarket may be more convenient, waiting until the farmers market to purchase fresh produce saves fossil fuel from
3. Turn off the lights
This should be a no-brainer, but each night plenty of people leave every light in their house on for hours, and for absolutely no reason. Don't expect someone to turn it off for you, get up and do it yourself. What's scarier, an imaginary boogeyman or the excessive depletion of natural resources?
4. Cut down on fast fashion
When you're a broke student, it's hard to escape the tempting plethora of cheap and trendy clothing found at places like Forever 21 and Topshop. However, these retailers are environmentally disastrous, their products being referred to as "disposable clothing" due to their low quality and tendency to end up in the landfill after a season. Before checking out the mall, go thrift shopping or make an investment into a staple piece that you know will last you a long time.
5. Don't be afraid to tell others to do the same
Gently reminding a friend to shut off the sink when they're brushing their teeth or suggesting they sip their drink without a straw is not annoying-- it's caring! Help out our planet by helping out a friend, in the end it benefits everyone.
