By Courtney Elisech
UNIVERSITY CENTER – Interested in helping the environment this Earth Day? The Environmental Club at Delta College has you covered. Stop by Delta College’s main campus and pick up a free tree seedling from the Environmental Club on April 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the West Main Hallway near the gym.
“We are giving away 100 Eastern White Pine seedlings and 100 Eastern Red Cedar seedlings,” said Professor Kristopher K. Nitz, the advisor for the Environmental Club. “The trees come from the Midland Conservation District. We will also be giving away brochures on how to properly plant your tree seedling.”
Tables will be set up for the seedling’s giveaway as well as an additional area to learn about the importance of single-use plastics. Look out for a table from the Sustainability Office as they will also be celebrating Earth Day.
“There are tons of ways for individuals to reduce their waste and create a positive impact on the world, and the first step is to care!” said Emmalynn Boulton, president of the Environmental Club. “The club is celebrating by passing out our trees and making plans to get the community garden in motion!”
How to help the environment from home
Make simple changes to your life that can help the environment as well. Switch to reusable everyday items such as reusable grocery bags, snack and sandwich bags, and water bottles or coffee cups.
Tons of plastic waste comes from cleaning product bottles and hair care products. Start making your own cleaning products in reusable glass containers, they’ll be stronger and better for you than store bought and you will reduce waste with the new containers.
Replace your plastic shampoo and conditioner bottles with shampoo and conditioner bars. They last a remarkable amount of time, cut down on the frequency of washing your hair, and come in recyclable packaging.
How can you conserve water? Use your leftover drinking water to let the plants quench their thirst. Don’t let the water run while you brush your teeth. And the last way is the old saying “if it’s yellow let mellow, if it’s brown flush it down” will always apply. You don’t have to flush the toilet with each use.
The most important thing you can do is to simply recycle. Recycle everything in the right places and ways. Try it for a week at home, separate everything into trash and recycling, and you will be surprised by how much actual trash you have versus things that should be recycled. Reduce your footprint on the planet starting today.
