# In honor of Eatth Day: What do you do for the environment? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 22, 2019, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-honor-of-eatth-day-what-do-you-do-for-the-environment/832888 "2019-04-22T13:51:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2019, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-honor-of-eatth-day-what-do-you-do-for-the-environment/832888/1 "2019-04-22T13:51:48Z")
I recycle as required by the law. I use a real coffee cup and refill it, instead of getting new paper cups every time. I buy used clothing whenever possible. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2019, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-honor-of-eatth-day-what-do-you-do-for-the-environment/832888/2 "2019-04-22T14:39:08Z")
Sadly, our town does not offer recycling. When I’ve attempted to take recyclables to nearby towns that do offer recycling, I’ve discovered that they do not accept recyclables from non-residents. But we do compost all compostables including our human waste (we have a septic system). Much of our food waste is turned into eggs by our hens. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2019, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-honor-of-eatth-day-what-do-you-do-for-the-environment/832888/3 "2019-04-22T15:17:51Z")
My wife and I live in a modest sized house less than 5 miles from our workplaces. We don’t eat beef. Most days we don’t directly use any fossil fuel. (My wife drives the plug-in hybrid and I usually bike to work. Of course we use electricity, but I’m counting that as indirect use, and we also live near a nuclear power plant.) ---
**Author:** ![Royal\_Nonesutch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecb155/32.png) [@Royal\_Nonesutch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Royal_Nonesutch)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2019, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-honor-of-eatth-day-what-do-you-do-for-the-environment/832888/4 "2019-04-22T15:28:31Z")
Living in Krakow, I don’t own a car, I take the tram almost everywhere (use Uber or a taxi on rare occassion) and drink my beer out of returnable (for a deposit) glass bottles or aluminum cans and recycle just about everything possible, which thanks to segregated bins on the public streets is simple to do, even when away from home, out walking around. ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2019, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-honor-of-eatth-day-what-do-you-do-for-the-environment/832888/5 "2019-04-22T16:06:34Z")
vasectomy, I challenge anyone in western society with children to beat my reduction in cost to the environment:) ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2019, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-honor-of-eatth-day-what-do-you-do-for-the-environment/832888/6 "2019-04-22T16:20:09Z")
I take public transit. I haven’t missed having a car. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2019, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-honor-of-eatth-day-what-do-you-do-for-the-environment/832888/7 "2019-04-22T16:28:36Z")
For the most part I don’t do anything special for Earth Day; I tend to do the things year round as most of us do. I “pre-cycle” by keeping paper and plastic out as much as I can, I avoid having left over toxics like paint and all by controlling what I buy in the first place, I use things “to death” and avoind things with short life spans. There are a couple clean-ups I like but none are hinged on that particular day. (Yeah - not quite your OP. But I went with the title and it combined) ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2019, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-honor-of-eatth-day-what-do-you-do-for-the-environment/832888/8 "2019-04-22T16:34:04Z")
I recycle aluminum for money. I compost for my garden. I grow my own vegetables to save money and as a hobby. I don’t do any of these things for the environment. It can take care of itself. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2019, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-honor-of-eatth-day-what-do-you-do-for-the-environment/832888/9 "2019-04-22T16:53:22Z")
I rake buses too, mostly because I do not have any sense of direction, and also walk a lot, both for exercise and my mental health. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2019, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-honor-of-eatth-day-what-do-you-do-for-the-environment/832888/10 "2019-04-22T17:03:37Z")
Well, you’ve put me in a bind. If I tell people, they’ll get defensive and claim I’m judging them. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2019, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-honor-of-eatth-day-what-do-you-do-for-the-environment/832888/11 "2019-04-22T17:09:20Z")
Heh. When is the right time to rake a bus? After it leaves I don’t do anything special for Earth Day. We, as a family, do many of the things mentioned above as a matter of daily living, not as a one day event. In the same vein, I don’t plant a tree on Arbor Day specifically, but we plant various types of trees throughout the year. I could make a “token” effort bus pun, but I won’t. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2019, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-honor-of-eatth-day-what-do-you-do-for-the-environment/832888/12 "2019-04-22T17:55:42Z")
> [@doctor jackson](#): > > heh. When is the right time to rake a bus? > > after it leaves > > i could make a “token” effort bus pun, but i won’t. ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░█▀▀▀█░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░█▀░░░█░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░█▀░░░░█░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░█▀░░░░░█░░░░░░░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░█▀░░░░░░█░░░░░░░░░░ ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄░░░▄█▀░░░░░░░▀▀▀▀▀▀█▄░░░ ░░░░░░██▄▄█▀░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░█░░░ ▄▄▄▄▄▄██░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░█░░░ ████████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░█░░░ ████████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░█░░░ ████████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░█░░░ ████████░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░█░░░ ████████▄▄▄▄▄░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░█░░░ ████████░░░░░▀█▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▀░░░░ ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ---
**Author:** ![Urbanredneck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ea5d25/32.png) [@Urbanredneck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Urbanredneck)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2019, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-honor-of-eatth-day-what-do-you-do-for-the-environment/832888/13 "2019-04-22T18:57:52Z")
I work with the boy scouts and we encourage the boys to get out and enjoy nature. Camping and hiking is one of the best ways to get them to appreciate nature and want to take care of it. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2019, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-honor-of-eatth-day-what-do-you-do-for-the-environment/832888/14 "2019-04-22T23:08:46Z")
I pick up litter every day. I just got a second recycling bin which our county is now using to collect waste to be composted. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2019, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-honor-of-eatth-day-what-do-you-do-for-the-environment/832888/15 "2019-04-23T01:49:07Z")
> [@Sigene](#): > > vasectomy, > > I challenge anyone in western society with children to beat my reduction in cost to the environment:) Bingo. When we decided to get married, Mrs. Cretin and I also chose to remain childless by choice. About a year later I had my vasectomy at age 21. Of course, our motives weren’t to save the planet; We simply knew that we’d never want children of our own. And we were right- we’ve been a happy couple for 3 months shy of 50 years without a moment of regret, and we get to be smug about our carbon footprint. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2019, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-honor-of-eatth-day-what-do-you-do-for-the-environment/832888/16 "2019-04-23T04:57:49Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > Heh. When is the right time to rake a bus? Eatth Day! ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2019, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-honor-of-eatth-day-what-do-you-do-for-the-environment/832888/17 "2019-04-23T05:16:37Z")
> [@Sigene](#): > > vasectomy, > > I challenge anyone in western society with children to beat my reduction in cost to the environment:) I took someone else’s baby, kill people and I don’t have a car. ---
**Author:** ![Dereknocue67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6de8d8/32.png) [@Dereknocue67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dereknocue67)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2019, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-honor-of-eatth-day-what-do-you-do-for-the-environment/832888/18 "2019-04-23T08:57:21Z")
I didn’t set any forest fires. That should count. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2019, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-honor-of-eatth-day-what-do-you-do-for-the-environment/832888/19 "2019-04-23T11:01:40Z")
> [@Sigene](#): > > vasectomy, > > I challenge anyone in western society with children to beat my reduction in cost to the environment:) Introducing levonorgestrel into a town’s water supply might have you beat. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2019, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-honor-of-eatth-day-what-do-you-do-for-the-environment/832888/20 "2019-04-23T11:57:05Z")
I used low VOC paint to paint my garage yesterday, but I’m not sure that that outweighs the mountains of trash that I generated in the totality of the endeavor. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-honor-of-eatth-day-what-do-you-do-for-the-environment/832888.md?page=2)