Earth Day
2012

"When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world."
--John Muir, naturalist

Message from the Director

Earth Day is a perfect time to refocus our efforts to protect the environment, take stock of our individual contributions to a healthier planet, and make a commitment to do even more.

With a state population of more than 37 million, and with more than 30 million tons of waste still ending up in landfills each year, we can’t afford to be content with our past achievements. Each of us needs to be part of the solution! The good news is that small changes can make a big difference. Here are just a few simple ideas:

• If you accidentally leave your reusable bags in your car when you go to the grocery store, walk back and get them--you’ll start to remember after doing that a few times.
• Skip the plastic water bottles and send your kids to school and sports activities with a reusable water bottle, and take one to work for yourself.
• And next time your vehicle’s odometer rolls up another 3,000 miles, ask yourself if you really need an oil change. Check your owner’s manual or visit checkyournumber.org--you may find the manufacturer recommends 5,000 miles or more between oil changes.

Want more ideas? CalRecycle has created an Earth Day Calendar showcasing nearly 100 community celebrations, exhibits, and cleanup events statewide. We’re hoping these events will get you outside for the day and motivate you to take steps toward a more sustainable lifestyle.

Another place that can help turn motivation into action is the U.S. EPA’s “Pick 5” website. Here you can join a virtual community of people who are taking steps in their daily lives to reduce their impact on the environment.

Thanks to our collective efforts, California’s recycling rate is on a steady increase: We’re currently at nearly 65 percent, and we’ve set a goal of 75 percent by the year 2020. We’ve developed a statewide infrastructure that turns much of our waste stream into a supply stream, whether it’s recycling old tires into new road pavement, or taking yesterday’s food scraps and turning it into tomorrow’s compost. More and more of us are saying no to things like single-use plastic bags, and we’re thinking twice about the long-term effect of our decisions as consumers.

Nice job, California, and keep it up! We have a planet to save.

Caroll Mortensen
Director