To acknowledge Earth Day (April 22) in previous years, I’ve collected garbage, turned down my heating, and even painted a life sized Atlas (the Greek titan condemned to hold up the celestial heavens for eternity) and coordinated for people to receive a succulent if they make an Earth Day pledge.

This year I took it a step further and honoured ‘Earth Month.’ Starting on April 1ˢᵗ, I shared one thing a day which I had adopted because it is a more sustainable option to an existing alternative/habit.

A large barrier to people up taking more sustainable habits is a cognitive one.

People have a hard time understanding how their infinitesimal contribution is going to solve climate change. But if every person on the planet were to adopt many infinitesimal changes to their routines… the result is observable. A perfect example, the benefits to the environment we’ve seen as a result of COVID-19. Instead of everyone saying, “We can’t shut down/change routes/ switch to a fuel efficient alternative,” everyone had just had to stop. This is an extreme that I don’t expect/want to continue, but it proves if the world can pull together for this virus, we can do it for another reason too. If every one/business were to reconsider how they operate — many infinitesimal adjustments will amass to an observable change.

Here are the 22 changes/initiatives I undertook in April. My instagram features the full story.

Day 1: Wash out your recyclables

Recycling items that are contaminated by food, destines them for the landfill.

Day 2: Buy zero-waste cleaning supplies

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that containers and packaging make up 23% of landfill waste. You can just refill the same one again and again. Those containers are made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE). High-density as an adjective suggests they’ll be able to handle it.

Day 3: Use compostable poo bags

There are an estimated 900 million dogs in the world, that’s a lot of plastic poo bags. And poo. Make the switch to compostable and it can go in your greenbin.

Day 4: Turn over garden beds for Spring

One third of all food produce is wasted. On demand vegetables is an asset. Plant your own!

Day 5: Hang your clothes to dry

The dryer uses as much as 12 percent of the electricity in a typical household. Get your home smelling like fresh laundry scent the natural way.

I don’t do this often, maybe more when I can do it outdoors.

Day 6: Buy some trees

A single [full grown] tree absorbs about 48 pounds of carbon a year, called a carbon offset. This type of initiative will help to reduce your carbon footprint.

Day 7: Use cloth napkins

Think about how many you use. Yes, you then have to take washing and drying them into consideration. Just add them to the next load of laundry as you use them.

Day 8: Go outside to enjoy

Studies reveal that exposure to green space reduces the risk of type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, premature death, preterm birth, stress, and high blood pressure.

Day 9: Reuse produce bags

Or just take loose fruits and vegetables. These are made of low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and often jam up machines at the recycling plant.

Day 10: Make zero-waste coffee

The amount of K-Cups trashed into landfills as of today could wrap around the planet more than ten times. You have other options.

Day 11: Wash your reusable food bags

Check your city’s waste program to know if they’re recyclable. But they have to be cleaned first, so you may as well reuse them.

Day 12: Use zero-waste shower supplies

Empty shampoo bottles are single use plastics as well. Also made of HDPE these guys will haunt your kid’s kid’s kid’s kids.

Day 13: Carbonate your own water

As someone who drinks a lot of carbonated water, this makes so much sense — a lesser waste option.

Day 14: Use reusable cling wrap

Most cling wrap is made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a flexible form of plastic. PVC can take up to 1000 years to degrade.

I bought these in July 2019 — still going strong. @Abeego

Day 15: Opt for cellulose sponges

Originally made from natural sea sponges, modern day sponges are most commonly made from synthetic materials, most commonly, polyurethane — a form of plastic.

Day 16: Try composting

DIY composting is a lot, but even participation in your city’s green bin program is better than not. This is considered diversion from landfill. Ontario’s landfill space is expected to be exhausted by 2032 (12 years!) — I can’t imagine it’s much different in your city.

Day 17: Use reusable cotton eye pads

It takes 20,000 liters of water to make 1 kg of cotton (not to mention pesticides). We use these to take off nail polish, eye makeup, everyday. If every woman in the world (3.8Bn) uses one of these per day, every day… that’s a lot of cotton.

Day 18: Separate your lid (recycling) from your coffee cup (garbage)

This will vary by municipality, but it’s easy to look up and even easier to get in the habit.

Day 19: Buy some plants

It’s amazing to watch how the earth takes care of things you put in the ground. Reflect on how you take care of the Earth.

Day 20: Use reusable grocery bags

This seems like an obvious one, but there are increasingly convenient ways to always have one on hand to avoid the dreaded plastic bag.

Day 21: ‘Refresh’ something you are ready to throw out

Upcycle, repurpose, refurbish. Sometimes old things just need to be paid attention to again.

Day 22: Earth Day! ♲

I even watched a stream instead of streaming something off Netflix

Then

I picked up 750 meters of garbage found on the side of the road

Finally, to conclude a hard Earth Day’s work, I celebrated the joy of being alive. There is so much that we can do to make our infinitesimal difference, then pass it onto others — as I’m trying to do here. I hope you adopt one/some of these practices! Until April 22, 2021!

22 Days in April