Earth Day is an annual event, celebrated worldwide on April 22nd.
It is a day to raise awareness for the environment that we live in and how we as the public can help better our surroundings.
This year the Earth Day network aims to achieve a world without plastic pollution. The network is campaigning towards changing human attitudes regarding the use and disposal of plastics.
They want to lead and support the use of a global framework to help reduce plastic waste and to work with universities, schools and teachers to help achieve their aim.
They also want to help empower journalists across the globe to report on the problem and its emerging solutions.
“I think we need to take better care in our waste. It’s important to know how to recycle correctly,” said Mariam Boveri, 32, a social worker from Islington.
The news comes as Waitrose announced that in autumn they will no longer give away coffee, as part of their loyalty scheme, in disposable cups. Customers will have to bring their own containers.
According to the plasticoceans.org website, approximately 500 billion plastic bags are used worldwide per year, and 14% of all litter comes from beverage containers.
What can you do to help? Their website offers advice and tips on how to reduce your plastic waste but also how you yourself can get involved too.
They have broken it down in to three steps and included a toolkit on their site, available to download for free to help you prepare to tackle this issue.
It includes the knowledge on different plastics, how harmful they are and how to dispose of them. It also includes information on how to reduce, refuse, reuse, recycle and remove the plastics – the five Rs.
However, even though the Earth Day network are trying their best to raise as much awareness as possible, some people didn’t even know the day existed. One islington resident Jordan Glenn, 23, admin worker said: “What even is Earth Day?”
“I wasn’t aware of it but now I am,” added Boveri.
There is recognition about the campaign, and rightly so as Kristin Porcher, 26, sales assistant said. “Actually funny enough it came up on my phone calendar a couple days ago.”
She added that everyday citizens doing their bit can help the planet. “I like how the public can get involved as I think it’s important to educate us as the process in which we dispose of the plastics will have a massive effect.”
With organised events worldwide you too can get involved to help solve this issue by clicking the link here
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