15 Ways to Honor Earth Day in Royal Oak

Today marks the celebration of Earth Day, which was founded in 1970 in the U.S. as a day of education about environmental issues.

Earth Day is now a globally celebrated holiday. More than one billion people in 192 countries will observe the 43rd anniversary of Earth Day, according to the Earth Day Network.

In honor of Earth Day, here is a list of 15 things you and your family can do that will help you help the environment and often save money in the process. 

1. Buy local at the Royal Oak Farmers Market.

2. Have your kids make their friends’ birthday cards and bring gift in decorated paper bags or a cool reusable bag. Kids love getting a handmade card — as do adults.

3. Bring your own bags when you go grocery shopping. 

4. Shop at consignment stores such as the Council Resale Shop or Sally's on Fourth Street.

5. Rip out some lawn and create a garden bed where you can grow your own food this summer. 

6. Dispose of your hazardous waste properly. A variety of tips for what is hazardous and where to dispose of it properly in Oakland County can be found here.

7. Ditch those plastic sandwich bags and get some washable containers or bags. 

8. Cut down on car trips and run your errands on your bike or on foot. Need a bike? Check out American Cycle & Fitness.

9. Donate your gently used books and media to the Royal Oak Public Library.

10. Look for an environmental service project you can do with your children, such as removing trash and non-native plants and planting trees. Volunteer Match is a website that helps volunteers connect with local projects.

11. Need wood chips for your garden or some firewood? Arborists often will be happy to provide it to you for free. They can also help you select and plant trees to provide privacy and shade and even years of fresh fruit. Find a certified arborist through the Arboriculture Society of Michigan.

12. Dump your bottled-water costs. Buy snazzy metal water bottles for everyone in the family and a personal filter for your kitchen faucet, and you could save hundreds of dollars.

13. Replace your old light bulbs with LED bulbs. They last 15 times longer and use 75 percent less energy. Find stores with bulbs here. 

14. Expand your hand-me-down circle. Organize a clothing swap for your co-op preschool or a group of friends. Everyone brings gently used and clean kids’ clothes to your garage; parents take as many items as they donated. The rest goes to charity.  You can also swap toys and books.

15. Replace your showerheads with low-flow models. Low-flow showerheads can save you up to 15 percent of water-heating costs and reduce your water usage by as much as 20,000 gallons a year.

Kathleen F. Miller contributed to this article.