Happy Earth Day!

The big day is finally here!  Earth Day 2008.  Events have been taking place all weekend.  People are paying extra special attention to our planet, at least for one day. 

Close to home, on the way to the bus stop today, I spotted an empty beer can tossed in our woods (sigh.)

Although there wasn't a bombardment of ideas for the First Ever Eclectic Writer Early Earth Day Reader Challenge, we did receive a few great responses from some of our dedicated readers and blog friends. For example, Colleen shared this thought:

"I like your idea of putting trash cans out at neighborhood bus stops and other places where groups of people congregate. Of course, the trash collection companies would need to cooperate with that, but I don't think it would be too difficult to add a few more stops to their route. Innsbruck, Austria, had NO problem with garbage on their streets or in the woods. I think part of that was because they stressed recycling so much. (you were fined if you didn't put your trash in the right container) But also, they had wastebaskets set up at every bus stop, on corners and also attached to the poles of streetsigns.

I said it before, but I'm going to say it again because I REALLY like this idea: use your own shopping basket or canvas bags when shopping, instead of taking the plastic or paper bags from stores. Think of how much that would save!"

Another dear blog friend and reader from across the pond, Louise, had this to say:

"Good for you, Anne! There is a stretch of road near where I live in the UK with a bit of woodland that regularly has food wrappers and drink cartons along the side of the road and it is where parents wait in cars to pick up their kids from the local school - wrong at so many levels!

Raising awareness is key - for example we have a new recycling policy for the refuse collection which nobody really liked when it was introduced - our bins are emptied only once every two weeks. However, I have been surprised just how much of my refuse now goes into the new recycling bin. Just having to think about separating recyclable from non-recyclable waste has made me much more conscious of packaging and how much stuff I personally throw away."

My mother shared these ideas by email:

"When using the car. please take a bag [any kind] to have in the car should you stop for coffee. food. or anything that you plan to eat on the GO! Then, when you finish, you could put it back into the mentioned bag instead of throwing it out the window and cluttering the neighborhood you are driving through!"

I also liked another idea she shared with me by phone. She makes it a habit to walk around her front yard once a week to collect any litter that's been tossed.  Doing it weekly keeps the property clean and gives her a chance to get outside and get some exercise!

Here's a few more ideas from yours truly:

• Hang a bag in the back seat of the car between the kids' seats so they can automatically toss their happy meal trash in the garbage. This will help prevent stray straw papers and napkins from flying out of the car and onto the street as they get in and out of the car.
• Incorporate "green chores" into your children's regular helping duties. For example, have them take responsibility for emptying the trash from the car or separating out their recyclables when they finish with a can or plastic bottle. Give "eco" points for jobs well-done that can be saved up for a special treat or outing.

Most importantly, set an example through your actions and behaviors EVERY DAY, not just on Earth Day. Putting trash in the right place and picking up after ourselves is simply civilized behavior that demonstrates respect to all living creatures.  Tossing trash out the window of the car, dropping garbage on the sidewalk instead of carrying it home or placing it in a trash bin, or refusing to recycle is just sheer laziness and slovenly behavior. There is no excuse for it and there should be no tolerance for it.

Instead of just participating in Earth Day, use it as a starting point to make your year-long commitment to keeping trash off the streets and out of the woods and helping our neighborhoods stay clean.