Earth Day 2019: How you can make a difference this year

Apart from joining the Earth Day Network's official campaigns, there are a ton of little things you could do in your personal capacity. And not just on Earth Day, but throughout the year.

Cut down on disposable plastics Going Zero Waste' has been trending in recent years, with people finding creative ways of cutting down on plastic. Living zero waste could be as simple as switching to reusable cloth bags or saying no to straws.

The movement first gained traction when Lauren Singer from Trash is for Tossers shared her process for eliminating waste. Singer managed to cut down her plastic use to such an extent that four years' worth of trash fits in a mason jar.

Watch: Lauren Singer's trash jar Join a local park, river, or beach clean-up Not only does it benefit the area, but hosting or joining a clean up is a great way to get involved with your local community. If you are the host, make sure you set enough time aside to plan everything, get the word out and arrange for trash collection.

Be sure to create an event on Facebook, inform your local newspaper and either prepare a press release or a flyer.

Plant a tree Reforestation is a serious concern. The Earth Day network has facilitated the planting of tens of millions of trees in the last decade. The network targets the areas most in need of reforestation.

You can assist by either planting trees locally or donating to the program at a cost of $1 (less than R15.) Get planting, because trees produce oxygen and can reverse the effects of climate change.

Photo: Envato Elements Replace your light bulbs Consider replacing traditional incandescent light bulbs with LED light bulbs. Why use 60 watts for a regular light bulb when an LED bulb only uses 10 to produce the same amount of light?

In addition, LED light bulbs last up to 25 times longer and are more affordable than traditional light bulbs.

Carpool or lift club Carpooling cuts down on the number of cars on the road, which means less carbon and other gasses polluting the air. It's also convenient and saves you money in the long run.

Tags: Environment, conservation and sustainable energyWorld News

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