10 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day All Year

Earth Day is Tuesday, April 22. But Earth Day – Every Day, right?

Here are just 10 ways you can be eco-friendly long after Earth Day is over:

1. Plant a tree: Trees produce oxygen and help reduce air pollution. A single tree can absorb 10 pounds of air pollutants a year, and produce nearly 260 pounds of oxygen, according to the nonprofit American Forests.
2. Recycle reusable materials: The average person generates more than four pounds of trash every day and about 1.5 tons of solid waste per year, according to DoSomething.org.
3. Donate or recycle used electronics: Electronic waste includes computers, cell phones, televisions and other electronic devices in working or non-working conditions that are no longer used.
4. Cut back on driving: Use public transportation, organize a carpool, ride a bike or walk whenever possible. Leaving your car at home two days a week will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 1,600 pounds per year, according to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions.
5. Reduce your energy use: Unplug electronics when you’re not using them. In the average home, 75 percent of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off.
6. Use reusable bags: Each year, Americans throw away about 100 billion polyethylene plastic bags and about 10 billion paper bags, according to Earth911.
7. Buy locally: The average meal in the U.S. travels 1,200 miles from the farm to your plate, according to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions.
8. Clean up the earth: More than 51 billion pieces of litter land on U.S. roadways each year, and litter cleanup costs the nation almost $11.5 billion each year, according to the nonprofit Keep America Beautiful.
9. Explore the outdoors: Get to know your community better and explore the beauty of nature. Go for a walk, run or hike with friends and family, or a group.
10. Participate in eco-friendly activities: Earth Day is April 22, but many people extend the celebration to make it Earth Week.