Earth Day - 2021

Want an easy way you can help the environment? 

Gather all your unused prescription drugs and drop them off at a participating location for DRUG TAKE BACK DAY, April 24th. Find the nearest location to you HERE. 

Drugs will be disposed of properly instead of throwing them in the garbage, toilet or down the drain where they come in contact with animals. This is an annual event around Earth Day. If you miss Take Back Day, there is also a separate list on the site for year round locations. 

For more Earth Day content, visit my website blog.

Earth Day

©DonnaMiskend, Coney Island beachgrass planting

Volunteers stepped up this past Sunday to plant beachgrass in Coney Island with the NYC Parks Department. Once the beachgrass takes root, it will form sand dunes that will act as a natural buffer against windblown sand and help with area flooding. It was a great way to spend a few hours at the beach making a difference to help the environment. 

Earth Day celebrations are happening throughout the month of April, but there are nature related volunteer opportunities all year round.

Read more on my website.

Environment - EARTH DAY

Plastic is everywhere. It sits in our landfills, fills our oceans, and threatens wildlife and plant species. It can be overwhelming to think about. Here is ONE simple thing we can all do - ditch polyester clothing and switch to natural fibers.

This isn't to say that growing and manufacturing natural fibers isn't fraught with its own environmental issues such as increased water usage with for example, cotton plants. Changes in theses industries does need to be more widespread to safeguard the environment. And as you can see with this example alone, there will be ecologically responsible and irresponsible companies. Everything is connected.

But for the moment, let's focus on PLASTICS. As a consumer, we have a powerful voice. Asking for, and supporting the natural fiber industry, and more specifically eco responsible farmers, manufacturers, designers and retailers, will help to reduce the use of polyester, a plastic fiber. Plastic material we know takes years to break down and, as it does, presents even more of a threat to plants, animals and us as it enters our food chain. And, with even smaller pieces of plastic entering our environment, it becomes more difficult to clean up. Switching to natural fibers for our clothing, bedding and other home textile goods is a great start. Examples of natural fibers include: cotton, hemp (yes, from the cannibus family, but with a chemical makeup different from marijuana cannibus), linen (made from flax plant fibers), and bamboo. These fabrics are available, and will become more so if you as a consumer opt to buy products made with natural fibers.

EARTH DAY- a little late, so make it Earth Year!

We live in a disposable society. I see a lot of things people throw away in our building that could still be used. I visit the library at least once a week, so I take any books I find with me, but there are plenty of other places that will take them too. Most things will just wind up in a landfill. With a little research on the web and a few phone calls, you can make a huge difference not only in reducing waste, but also to our community organizations where every penny counts.

Here are some ideas of where you can donate unwanted items:
Books - a library, school, Veteran's facility, hospital, senior center, community center, thrift store.
Vintage items - clothing and other vintage items (dishes, telephone, furniture, etc.) are great for your local school drama departments and professional theater companies to add to their prop departments.

TDF Costume Collection

Donated costumes are the reason the Costume Collection is able to provide not-for-profit organizations with wardrobe for their productions. If you’d like to help TDF continue their mission, please consider donating your costumes or vintage clothing items. All donations are tax-deductible. To arrange a donation or for more information email the TDF Costume Collection or call (212) 989-5855.

Wearable Collections

is a NYC based company focused on keeping clothing, textiles and shoes out of landfills while generating funds for charities.

info@wearablecollections.com

Office supplies - schools, animal shelters
Towels, sheets - animal shelters
Misc. Items:
Get creative. what could that broken chair become? The seat could become a table top or shelf.

Habitat for Humanity 

not only takes furniture and appliances that meet current environmental standards, but they also take building and decorative materials. So if you are remodeling, contact them to see if they will take any of the flooring, tiles, lighting or other materials.

Happy Earth Year...

Environment- Enviro-Cycle - cell phones

Periodically I will post information about great causes you can support, important awareness issues, and how you can make a difference related to the environment and animals.

In today's post the topic is deforestation due to illegal logging. I was saddened and angry that so much illegal activity continues to thrive. Consumer demand for exotic wood found in the rainforests is big business. According to one account I read, a single tree can be worth $10,000. The real cost is the effect on our environment as rainforests help to regulate climate. Yes, they also provide unique food sources and drugs, but what about the effects on the animals, endangering species and destroying their habitats? The changes eventually effect us as a species too. How can you make a difference? Buy sustainable wood, and only wood from a company that is transparent in it's sourcing and follows best environmental practices. To learn more about this issue and a company that works to thwart illegal logging, watch the video about Rainforest Connection. They can use your old cell phones to help combat the problem. Get involved - before you upgrade your phone as a trade in, consider donating your old cell phones to them HERE