It’s Waste-not Wednesday AND EARTH DAY!
How much waste do you create? Try carrying all your trash for a day to remind you that it doesn’t just go away! A movement toward a “zero waste” lifestyle seeks to bring awareness to every form of waste we create or contribute to. See more about Zero Waste here: https://www.ecocyclesolutionshub.org/ab…/what-zero-waste-is/
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Day 21 of 30: ONE DAY TIL EARTH DAY
It’s Turn-it-off Tuesday! Every year at the end of March, people across the globe partake in a movement known as “Earth hour” to support nature by consciously turning off the lights for one hour. But why stop there? Take today to celebrate another Earth Hour by turning off lights and other electronics, opting instead for activities that don’t use energy. You can make a substantial difference in your energy consumption and can help reduce effect of global warming on the planet. Make it a weekly event and celebrate Sunday nights without lights. By the last Sunday night of March next year, you’ll be a pro! Watch this short video of famous global locations like the Eiffel Tower go totally dark in 2019: https://globalnews.ca/…/5102…/earth-hour-2019-lights-impact/ It’s Meatless Monday!
The average American consumes roughly 54 pounds of beef, 46 pounds of pork and 83 pounds of chicken each year. The water alone that it takes to produce just a pound of each one of the these is about 1,799 gallons, 576 gallons and 468 gallons respectively. That’s 2,644 gallons of water to produce 3 pounds of meat! To put this into perspective, it only takes 357 gallons of water to produce 3 pounds of potatoes. If just one person gave up their burgers, bacon and nuggets, that single person would save 162,486 gallons of water annually! Who says one person can’t make a difference? More and more studies are showing that consumption of animal products is one of the largest reasons for some pretty serious environmental issues today, as well as some health concerns. Take action by reducing your consumption of unsustainable animal products! Here are some fun recipes using beans, which can offer as much as or more protein than some meats. https://www.meatlessmonday.com/…/our-top-10-favorite-bean-…/ It’s Sunshine Sunday!
It’s always great to get outdoors, especially with a companion. While walking your dog sounds simple enough, you must be sure to clean up after your pet. Pet waste pollutes the environment, from the ground it sits on to the waterways it washes into (as well as the eyes that have to see it -- yuck!). Use bags made specifically for the disposal of pet feces, or grab an extra disposable grocery bag. If you forget a bag, there are Mutt Mitt stations along the Corridor and in other public spaces. We all love enjoying our own pets -- and each other’s! Post a photo of your pooch (or other pet) in the comments! Day 18 of 30
Everyone contributes to the cycle of society, whether that’s good or bad. Make sure you’re on that right track with your daily lifestyle! Take action with us locally or visit https://www.un.org/en/actnow/ to join the global call to action! For more sustainable choices you can make, visit https://sites.google.com/view/cbgi/volunteer-opportunities/slow-the-flow-from-home?authuser=0 Join the movement for the environment! Day 17 of 30
It’s Eco-Focus Friday! There are two separate sewer systems in Ashland: the storm sewer and the sanitary sewer. Rain, snow and other “stormwater” goes to the storm sewer. “Wastewater” from your home sinks, toilets, dishwashers, and showers goes to the sanitary sewer. The sanitary sewer leads to the City’s wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) where wastewater is cleaned up before being put back in the lake. The storm sewer, however, leads directly to the Bay with no filter or treatment. That means anything else going into the storm sewer (such as through grated storm inlets along the street) also flows into the lake. Debris entering the lake -- especially yard waste and litter -- leads to pollution and nutrient loading. Organic materials increase the chances for harmful algae blooms (HABs) in the water. Litter can break down into micro-plastics and endanger wildlife. Help the lake by keeping storm drains clean! Adopting a storm drain is one way we can reduce the overall pollution entering our water source. Picking up litter or yard waste and clearing the storm drain 5 feet in either direction is an easy way to positively impact water quality. Decorate your drains with phrases such as “drains to lake” or “no dumping” using appropriate materials and proper safety measures to bring awareness! Adopt-a-Drain through the Chequamegon Bay Green Infrastructure Project to be recognized on their map of local sustainable initiatives! Visit https://sites.google.com/view/cbgi/volunteer-opportunities/slow-the-flow-from-home/adopt-a-storm-drain?authuser=0 Day 16 of 30:
It’s Thrifty Thursday! Clothing and fabric take a lot of resources to create. Many of these materials also come from unethical sources and unsustainable practices. Did you know it takes 2,700 litres (713 gallons) of water to make a cotton t-shirt. That includes all of the water in growing the cotton, processing it, and then think how often you wash it? Below are some smart ways to reduce waste. Save money, and water! Rather than throwing away a piece of clothing or other fabric items and materials, try fixing it up! Sew up a hole or cover it with a patch -- or learn how to fix a knitted item. The more we fix rather than throw away, the less that ends up in landfills -- and the less that has to be produced in the future. This can also save you money! Check out this playlist of tips for sewing, knitting, mending clothes, and more: https://www.youtube.com/watch… Or, try making art out of scraps: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4VLqPrE_vI Day 15 of 30: We're half way through the month, and only 12 days until Earth Day It’s Waste-not Wednesday! Food waste is a big part of what’s in a landfill. These and other biodegradable materials decompose in landfills. However, the air-tight environment they’re in causes them to release methane. Methane is a gas that’s even worse for the atmosphere than carbon dioxide, a common air pollutant from burning fossil fuels. Try to reduce the food waste entering your waste disposal system. Do your best to finish your food or keep it as leftovers instead of throwing it away. If you do have food waste to dispose of, see if you can compost it! Composting is a waste management alternative. Combining yard waste and food scraps you can create a rich soil right in your back yard. Check out this composting guide and start composting today: https://www.coawi.org/DocumentCenter/View/347/Backyard-Composting-Guide-PDF?bidId= Or purchase a compost bin at a reduced price through the city: http://enviroworld.us/ashland It’s Turn-it-off Tuesday! “Energy vampires” are devices that drain energy anytime they’re plugged in, even if they’re not being used. These devices can be a major contributor to wasteful energy usage -- and you might not even know it! Do your part to reduce your use: unplug appliances and chargers not in use, or use a power strip with an “off” switch. Stop the suck! See what the Alliance for Climate Education (ACE) has to say about energy vampires: https://acespace.org/…/07/13/13-things-about-energy-vampi…/… |
Earth Day, Every Day!Keep checking back for daily actions, or follow along on our Facebook event.
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