Celebrate Earth Day's 41st Anniversary

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This week, we’re getting eco-friendly and talking about Earth Day 2011, which marks its 41st anniversary this Friday, April 22. The first Earth Day was founded on April 22, 1970, by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson, who was trying to bring about a better understanding of the effect we have on our planet, and calling on Americans to take action to protect the environment.

Millions of Americans now band together across the country in their neighborhoods, supporting grassroots campaigns that support recycling, energy conservation and conservation in general. From recycling programs to park clean-ups, there are many ways we can all make a positive impact on our environment every day. Marple Newtown Patch suggests a few ways you can make every day Earth Day.

Recycle

The U.S. is one of the largest producers of trash, yet we only recycle about 31 percent of our waste, according to earthday2011.org. This Earth Day, make a vow with your family or co-workers to start your own recycling program. Recycling newspapers, soda cans and glass bottles is just the beginning, but there are many other creative ways you can participate. Did you ever think about making those plastic milk jugs into spring flowerpots, or using old toothbrushes to clean hard-to-reach spots in your home? Check out Delaware County’s recycling website for more recycling ideas.

Buy Re-purposed, Organic and Fair Trade Items

From fruits and veggies to coffee, clothing and gifts, these days there are endless environmentally-friendly products out on the market to choose from. In the greater Marple Newtown Patch area, you can find organic and Fair Trade groceries at a variety of places, including , Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s.

If you’d rather dine out, many nearby restaurants and cafes serve organic ingredients, such as and . Many galleries and gift shops have green items available as well, like and .

Clean Up

Spend a day at the park soaking in the sunshine with family and friends, while helping clean up the environment. All you need is a box of garbage bags, gloves and broom to spruce up your favorite park. has more than a dozen picnic areas which could use some picking up here and there. Something to keep in mind is to check in with the park ranger at the park headquarters, just in case particular pavilions are in use.

Paperless Billing

Most companies offer paperless billing these days. You can set up your bill pay on your bank’s website in most cases, which has many benefits. It saves paper, stamps and the fuel to send a bill that you could just pay electronically. Plus, it can save you time as well.

Ride a Bike

Did you know that most trips Americans make are short? Apparently 49 percent are actually less than three miles, according to biketoworkinfo.org. So why not try biking to work, school or to do errands? On a round-trip commute of 10 miles, you could actually save 10 bucks if you bike instead, according to the website. It also says for every one mile pedaled rather than driven, you can save one pound of carbon dioxide. Plus, you’ll stay out of traffic and get some exercise and fresh air in the process.