Earth Day: Origins & Goals

The 40^th observation of Earth Day is April 22^nd. That's next Thursday, for those of you trying to figure out when April 22^nd is and aren't even sure what today's date is.

Be good to the earth, recycle, repurpose, yada, yada yada… I have to admit I have never really celebrated Earth Day. It never seemed like an important day, which sounds really flippant, but it's true.

Oh sure, I recycle; I drink out of reusable water bottles (BPA-Free, of course: See Posts from March 8^th and 10^th); I put my groceries in canvas bags (when I remember to bring them in from the car); I plant flowers, herbs and vegetables, etc. But I don't live "green" in any real sense. I do a very small part – the easy stuff.

In the Spring of 1970, before I was born, Senator Nelson created Earth Day as a way to "force this issue onto the national agenda." He has inspired me to be more conscious in my choices and to teach my children to do the same.

But that was before I read about United States Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin and his tireless message of preserving and protecting our natural resources.

Since becoming a parent, the world's environmental issues have taken on a new meaning. I think and feel more deeply about children in war-torn and poverty-stricken countries with no clean water; global warming; loss of natural habitats for the world's dwindling population of polar bears; poor air quality; waterways so polluted that fish can't live in it and kids can't play in it, etc. I want the earth and all of its natural splendors to be available to my children and their children and on and on.

Earth Day was the product of local grassroots action to increase environmental awareness but it also focused the nation's political agenda on urgent environmental issues. Nelson insisted the first Earth Day's activities be created not by organizers in Washington, but by individuals and groups in their own communities.

As a result of this empowering vision, 1 in 10 Americans participated in the first Earth Day, drawing extensive attention from the media and jump-starting an era of bold environmental legislation. After a decade marked by partisan rancor and social division, Nelson hoped Earth Day could form "a new national coalition whose objective is to put quality for human life on a par with Gross National Product." In Washington, at least, environmental politics did for a time become the obsession of both parties.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was created as a result of Nelson's work to bring attention to the importance of protecting and preserving our air, water and land. Since 1970, the EPA has been leading the nation's environmental science, research, education and assessment efforts.

The mission of the EPA is to protect human health and the environment. To accomplish this goal, the EPA develops and enforces regulations; awards grants; studies environmental issues; sponsors partnerships; teaches people about the environment; and publishes information regarding the environment.

As it turns out, this year of the 40^th observation of Earth Day, has seen much "green" legislation. The federal government, several states and municipalities enacted and have begun enforcing or will in the coming months began enforcing laws pertaining to proper disposal, recycling and pollution, among others:

• Effective this month, EPA will enforce a new Lead Paint Safety law that will cover renovations of facilities built before 1978, aiming to protect children from exposure to lead-based paint. Under the new law, "Lead: Renovation, Repair and Painting Program," workers will have lead-safe work practice standards and required certification/training for paid contractors and maintenance professionals.
• The biggest federal environmental law that took effect on the first of the year is the new EPA reporting requirement for greenhouse gases. They mainly apply to companies in specific industries that generate more than 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide. The EPA estimates that the reporting regulations will cover 85% of greenhouse-gas emissions in the United States.

• The state of Washington quickly followed the new federal rule with a set of stricter greenhouse-gas reporting requirements, which will also took effect on Jan. 1 2010. The state law includes food processors, industrial landfills and natural-gas businesses that are excluded from the federal rule. Washington also lowered the baseline for reporting from 25,000 to 10,000 metric tons.

• As of Jan. 1, 2010, California utilities are required to use renewables for 20% of their energy production, and by 2020, renewables must comprise at least one-third. 

•  Also, beginning on the first day of this year, California's Integrated Waste Management Board (IWMB) put together a program that encourages businesses, apartment complexes and mobile home parks to institute recycling. The mandatory recycling directive will set goals for cities and counties, allowing them to implement individual programs as long as they comply.  
• Starting in August, a new law in New York will require all future construction and major renovation projects on New York state government buildings to follow new building standards set by the New York Office of General Services that will cut emissions. 
• The state of Delaware joined a handful of other U.S. states and cities to pass legislation requiring expanded consumer access to plastic bag recycling. Similar to those already passed in the states of California and New York, the new law requires retailers and chain stores that give out plastic bags to consumers to provide collection bins for their recycling, beginning in Aug. of 2010.  
• Effective Jan. 1, 2010, the Maine Electronic Waste Recycling Act of 2009, expanded electronic recycling requirements to printers and video consoles, and requires electronics manufacturers to pay an annual state registration fee to help cover recycling costs. The state will also start determining the recycling responsibility of manufacturers. 
• Also in Maine, companies that make compact fluorescent light bulbs and other lighting that includes mercury must adopt recycling programs.  
• Minnesota law now mandates that yard waste or source-separated compostable materials may not be placed in a plastic bag for disposal unless the bag meets all the specifications in ASTM Standard Specification for Compostable Plastics (D6400) or the material is emptied from the plastic bag once delivered to the transfer station or compost facility and the bag is then removed from such transfer station or facility. This law was effective Jan. 1, 2010, with the exception to cities of the first class that currently contracts for the collection of yard waste until January 1, 2013.

There will continue to be a need to vigilantly preserve and protect our earth from pollution and destruction. It is our duty as its inhabitants to be respectful of the environment so that future generations can enjoy fresh air, clean water and beautiful natural landscapes. In the words of Handy Manny, we should celebrate Earth Day every day. What kinds of things do you do with your kids to teach your kids to be earth-friendly?

On Wednesday, I will post some recycling tips and provide a few "green" Web sites with useful information on how you can go "green" too. Over and out…

Anna