Earth Day is Every Day - 5 Ways to Celebrate
Looking for some simple ways to make a difference this Earth Day? We’ve got you covered.
At Solana Center for Environmental Innovation, we believe you can do something to help the environment no matter who you are. Even small, practical steps in the right direction – though they might feel insignificant in the moment – can lead to meaningful impact over time.
It’s our mission to mobilize the local community through innovative outreach to address the region’s most pressing environmental issues. With that in mind, this Earth Month (and every month) we invite the community to join us in celebrating the environment by taking incremental steps toward making a difference. Here are five simple ways you can celebrate Earth Month:
1. Become a Volunteer
Solana Center for Environmental Innovation has a variety of hands-on volunteer opportunities to make a difference throughout San Diego County. Whether you have a little bit of time to give or a lot, being a Solana Center volunteer is an excellent way to get involved and give back directly to the San Diego environment.
2. Donate
Make a donation to help Solana Center offer more workshops, divert more waste, and educate more San Diegans on how to become better environmental stewards. Every dollar you donate goes directly to funding the work necessary to make real change to the environment.
3. Recycle your organic materials
Looking for a way to process your food waste instead of it ending up in a landfill? There are many options and we are here to help find the best one for you. Whether you want to learn how to compost or you have access to an organic recycling program through your city of residence, diverting your food waste is important. By recycling right, you can keep your food waste out of San Diego’s landfills and prevent the creation of greenhouse gasses while closing the loop between organic waste and healthy soil.
If you’re not sure you’re ready to commit to composting just yet, start by evaluating how much food waste you are producing at home. Begin by saving your unwanted food scraps for one day, one week or one month for an eye-opening look at your waste stream. You won’t need a compost bin or other fancy container; a regular bowl or bucket will suffice.
If your waste hauler doesn’t yet offer organic recycling and you don’t have the time or space to compost at home, try out Food 2 Soil. With each 25-pound bucket of food waste you bring, you’ll prevent 16.9 gallons of CO2E Carbon Dioxide greenhouse gas emissions from going to the landfill.
4. Make your workplace zero-waste
Waste occurs in many areas of a business. Regardless of your industry (or even your role in your organization), there are simple steps you can take toward helping your business become a zero-waste workplace. Start by sorting workplace waste into categories, or by procuring environmentally-friendly supplies such as reusable mugs, plates, and cutlery in the break room or responsibly sourced paper for the printer. Not sure where to start? Bring in an environmental expert from Solana Center to assess your current situation, make recommendations for sustainability, and support your business in its journey to becoming a zero-waste workplace.
5. Recycle your electronic waste
E-waste only represents about 2% of the waste in America’s landfills, but equals around 70% of the overall toxic waste. To help keep these toxins out of our groundwater supply, old kitchen appliances, computers and cell phones that you no longer need should be discarded properly. Spring cleaning is the perfect time to clear your home and office of electronic clutter. Thankfully, recycling electronic waste has never been easier or more accessible. You can bring in unwanted electronics to the Solana Center to be recycled during our business hours on Thursdays or Saturdays. We also offer free e-waste pickups for businesses in partnership with Urban Corps of San Diego.
There is a great sense of accomplishment and community we can feel with each little step toward environmental progress. Solana Center for Environmental Innovation is here for all your waste diversion needs throughout Earth Month and all year long.
Earth Day History
In 1970, the inspiration for Earth Day began right here in California, when Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson witnessed the damage from a massive oil spill on a visit to Santa Barbara, and committed to creating an event dedicated to teaching the public about the environment.
At the time, there was no concerted effort to address environmental issues, so this marked the first time a group this large came together with the common set of values in support of our planet.
Channeling the spirit of the Vietnam War protests to educate and inspire people, the event began as a national teach-in, with the date of April 22 chosen because it was between Spring break and Summer vacation, allowing college students to engage and lead.
Rallies were initially held all over the country, and more than 20 million people participated that first year. This was roughly 10% of the population, and the effort was primarily led by college students!
In San Diego, thousands of people participated in the very first Earth Day, with large rallies taking place at UCSD and SDSU.
The first Earth Day was extremely effective in raising awareness – between 1970 and 1971, there was a 2500% increase in the public sentiment that environmental protections were critical. The EPA was also established in December 1970 and other federal environmental legislation was enacted as more government officials realized the importance of protecting the planet.
In 1990, on its 20th anniversary, Earth Day went global, with countries around the world participating in coordinated efforts.
Celebrating Earth Day Today
Today, more than one billion people from 190 countries participate in some form of Earth Day celebration, making it the largest secular civic event in the world.
For those of you celebrating Earth Day virtually – there are a number of terrific online events where you can get inspired to take action, or just take in the beauty of art, nature and song.
City of Encinitas and EcoFest are planning a live stream. Take a look at their Instagram page for more details.
We want to see how you’re celebrating Earth Day with your family! Share and tag us @SolanaCenter on social media to be featured in our Earth Day celebration Story!
