Celebrate World Nature Conservation Day

World Nature Conservation Day takes place annually on July 28. The day is a time to celebrate nature as well as advocate for the preservation of the environment. Here are three actions you can take on July 28 to celebrate. 

Reduce, reuse and recycle, also known as the “3Rs”, is a great way to help protect the environment from harmful materials such as plastic. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, “research shows that plastic pollution is persistent and may take between 100 to 1,000 years or more to decompose, depending on environmental conditions.” Minimizing plastic usage is an excellent way to reduce environmental damage. 

Within the 3Rs, reuse can mean a variety of actions such as repurposing items you already own beyond their original use to mitigate waste or by purchasing second-hand products. 

The United States Environmental Protection Agency reported that “recycling and composting of municipal solid waste (MSW or trash) saved over 193 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2018.” Before recycling, make sure to take the proper recycling preparations, including cleaning and drying the intended recycling materials and checking the requirements for your local trash and recycling pickup. 

These practices can go beyond World Nature Conservation Day, and can be implemented into your everyday routine.