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April 22 marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, a global celebration fostering a clean, healthy environment and a more prosperous future. While many of us are staying safe at home this Earth Day, we wanted to share some tips from Keep America Beautiful as a way to carry out spring cleanup without causing undue harm.
It is more important now than ever to clean, disinfect, and sanitize. However, now is not the time to do a big purge, which would result in leaving larger than normal amounts on the curb to be picked up. As people spend more time at home, waste collection systems across the country are experiencing a strain due to increased residential waste. Any items left on the curbside that can’t be picked up can create litter and become an unintended hazard. To keep our communities and trash haulers safe, please focus efforts on cleaning up, not cleaning out. Here are ways to spring clean without creating excess waste:
Clean up:
According to the CDC, COVID-19 can live on surfaces for an extended amount of time. By sanitizing and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces, including doorknobs, sinks, desks, computers, and phones, we can all keep our homes clean and help stop the spread of the virus and other germs. Sanitizing reduces the growth of germs and bacteria while disinfecting “kills” the germs and bacteria. The EPA has a list of cleaning products that are effective against the virus.
Donate:
With the closure of some donation centers, hold off on cleaning out and discarding items you no longer want. If you do clean out closets, attics, basements, pantries, etc., it is recommended to box up any unwanted items and store them until you can take to your local donation center.
Spruce up the yard: While some communities have made changes to recycling regulations, check locally for suspensions of yard waste, bulk item pickup and special collection services. To avoid adding extra trash, consider postponing any plans to collect and throw away yard debris, such as leaves or dead grass. If you do clean up your yard, consider starting a compost pile or bag up and store the debris until your local hauler is collecting again.
Upcycle:
Several items that you may already have in your home can be upcycled and made into masks to help slow the spread of the virus and reserve PPE for essential workers. Household materials, such as bandanas and t-shirts, can also be transformed into a mask without sewing by using rubber bands or hair ties. To protect yourself from the virus after use, it is advised to use a material that can be regularly washed. Learn more about how you can protect yourself and how to make masks at home.
Freshen up:
There are many spring-cleaning activities you can do while you are at home that won’t result in excess waste. Some activities to freshen your home include cleaning windows; dusting; organizing seasonal clothes or décor; washing cold-weather items, like sweaters and heavy jackets, before storing; organizing the fridge and pantry; flipping your mattress; wiping down blinds; and sweeping under large appliances.
Take the Keep America Beautiful® Spring Cleaning Challenge
Sheltering in place is healthy, helps flatten the curve, and it’s a great opportunity to sort through and organize. Post a before and after picture to show how you’ve transformed your space. Tag Keep America Beautiful on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram and use the hashtags #BeautifulSpringCleaning and #DoBeautifulThings.
Have a happy and safe Earth Day!