By Nanette Wiser
By Nanette Wiser Eco-kindness and sustainability never go out of vogue. Advocate for environmental protection on April 22, Earth Day, at beach clean ups, Shred-A-Thon (Seminole SPC), the Green Thumb Festival (p. 46) with a billion friends around the globe who want to protect the planet from things like pollution and deforestation. In 1970, 20 million individuals (10% of the U.S. population) mobilized to call for greater protections for our planet. This became the world’s first Earth Day. Pinellas County leads Florida with many innovative programs and research. USF and Eckerd College’s marine science and sustainability programs are working hard to fight climate change. Did you know that Pinellas County has 42 Gulf Coast reef sites made from environmentally safe discarded materials (concrete pipes, steel beams or ships), that provide valuable underwater habitats for marine life? Go green now. In 2022, start by adapting some of our eco-friendly tips right now. Make a difference by taking part in activities (picking up litter, planting trees), supporting environment advocacy organizations and 24
APRIL 2022 | ParadiseNewsFL.com
attending a local Earth Day event. Learn how to make our world a happier, healthier place to live. www.EarthDay.org
Yard Smarts: Sweep up yard waste and trash around storm drains to prevent it from being swept into our waterways.
Relearn to Recycle: Recyclables should be clean, but not spotless. Know your local recycling rules on your city or county website. Dispose of electronics and chemicals safely. Switch paper billing to online billing. Encourage your schools, business, and cities to recycle.
Use Non-Toxic Cleaners: Consider homemade options and safe, non-toxic cleaning products. Avoid ionic surfactants, nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs).
In Your Kitchen: Cut down on food waste, use smarter storage containers and don’t run the water. Use refillable non-plastic water bottles, eliminate straws, and paper plates/napkins. Buy organic food to keep your body and the environment free of toxic pesticides Go meatless two days a week and reduce greenhouse gases. Go to www.harvard-foodprint-calculator.github.io to assess how your meals impact the planet. At the Beach: Choose reef-safe sunscreen. Avoid ingredients such as oxybenzone, avobenzone, homosalate, octinoxate, octisalate, octocrylene, and/or nanoparticles.
Avoid Plastic Pollution: Ditch single use plastics, bags, and bottles. Microplastics now show up in seafood and human blood. Reuse & Repurpose: Turn a glass jar into a vase, repurpose a toilet tube to hold power cords and get crafty with Pinterest/ETSY. Gently Used Treasures: Look for furniture, dishes and clothes at a local thrift or vintage shop? Life’s A Gas: Without a car, that is! Ride a bike, take the BITE Trolley or rent an electric scooter downtown. Plan errands to minimize gas usage. Yay for Duke Energy, City of St. Pete for supporting electric cars, charging stations.
