Tomorrow is Earth Day, an international event that promotes environmental awareness, protection and sustainability. Recognizing this, here are some ways for teens to practice sustainability not just for Earth Day but every day.
Composting
According to The National Environmental Education Foundation, food waste is the largest component of landfills in the United States at 24%. Landfills harm the environment in a multitude of ways, contaminating water and creating pollution. Composting can help remove some of the waste in landfills by diverting waste out of landfills. The process of organic matter decomposition, like food waste or any other natural waste, by microorganisms, like worms or bacteria. The practice of composting consists of using a compost bin and mixing specific food waste with yard waste or cardboard in a 2-1 ratio. Composting can be very beneficial to anybody who has plants, as compost can help improve soil health and provide nutrients to plants. The city of Los Angeles provides two-gallon kitchen pails for collecting food scraps as well as a compost bin, which is a part of the city’s composting program.
Using reusable items
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states that in 2019, plastic products were responsible for 3.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions throughout their life cycles, with 90% of these emissions coming from the production of plastic products. Single-use plastics contribute to multiple environmental problems as they end up in landfills, poison wildlife and can affect food chains. Finding and using alternatives to everyday products that are reusable can help combat this. It is as simple as switching to a reusable metal water bottle, a tote bag for groceries, or using reusable silicone bags. Using reusable items is beneficial both to the consumer and the environment, as buyers get a longer-lasting product and plastic and other one-time use materials are reduced.
Reduce water usage
The percentage of freshwater on Earth is depleting rapidly. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the average family in America uses more than 300 gallons of water per day at home. Home water usage contributes to the decrease of freshwater supplies, making water conservation more important than ever. There are a few ways to reduce water consumption at home, including fixing leaks, taking shorter showers or turning off the water while brushing your teeth. Reducing your water usage can have benefits like lowering utility bills and preserving habitats for marine wildlife.
Changing what goes on your plate
Even something as personal as substituting or changing what is in your diet can have a positive impact on the environment, specifically cutting down on the consumption of livestock. According to the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, livestock production makes up 14 to 18 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, including 32 percent of methane emissions. Furthermore, beef is one of the highest producers of greenhouse gases among food products, meaning that making a small change from eating beef to eating chicken can make a difference. A Feb. 18, 2026, article by the Los Angeles Times found that if one in 10 Americans swapped beef for chicken once weekly, it would reduce carbon emissions by 13 billion pounds annually.
