Earth Day is observed globally on April 22 every year to celebrate our planet and highlight the importance of protecting the environment around us.
In 2024, the theme for Earth Day is Planet vs. Plastics. The goal of this theme is to call for a reduction in the consumption and production of plastics in order to protect the health of both people and the planet.
There are several ways that each of us can contribute to reducing our use of plastic:
- Bring reusable items with you
Make an effort to carry reusable items such as water bottles, coffee cups, and shopping bags with you when you go out so that you can avoid purchasing single use versions of the products.
- Shop sustainably
Before you purchase a new item, consider Bea Johnson's 5 R's of a zero waste lifestyle when you're shopping: refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle. When you do make a new purchase, learn about what the companies you shop at are doing to reduce their environmental footprint and what the products you are buying are made of.
Tip: Did you know you can repair your clothes at the library? The Aaniin branch has a sewing machine that you can use to perform some basic repairs such as hemming or fixing small tears. Check out a title on sewing and clothing repair and book an appointment at the Aaniin Makerspace to get started!
- Join a community clean up
Join a community clean up! Whether you're joining a locally organized litter clean up or a larger initiative such as the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup or the Love Your Lakes program, you can help to make our community a cleaner place!
- Learn what goes where
Markham has its own guidelines for what can and cannot be recycled or disposed of. Learning about what items go where can help to make sure that your items end up in the right place. Check out the City of Markham's What Goes Where? tool if you are unsure about where to put something.
- Look for plastic-free alternatives
When you're shopping, take a look to see if you can find any plastic free alternatives. Look into bar soaps and shampoos or contact your local bulk food store to see if they will allow you to bring your own jars and containers when grocery shopping.
Learn more about the impact of plastics on our planet and how we can reduce our use of plastics in our daily lives!
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