Staff Editorial

Only YOU can prevent Earth from becoming uninhabitable

 

Earth Day is upon us and Mt. Hood Community College is hosting a Campus Clean Up, Saturday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., to commemorate Earth Day. That’s not the only thing planned to celebrate Earth Day.

Throughout next week there will be a series of events offering entertainment and information on how to keep our planet a happy planet. However, we should not only be eco-friendly for one week. Humans as a whole should work consistently to keep our environment clean. That doesn’t necessarily mean go chain yourself to a tree to stop bulldozers from plowing down the forest. It’s the little things we do in our everyday lives that could help keep a safe environment.

One of the easiest steps to helping the environment is recycling. Most types of paper are recyclable like cereal boxes, notebook paper, paper bags and newspapers.

METRO is a regional government agency that works with the local government creating policies and plans to preserve the environment. They offer a tool on their website, www.metro-region.com, which allows people to find the closest recycling companies in their area.

Search for a company depending on what you need to recycle, like glass bottles, yard debris, metal, motor oil and more.

Composting is another good step to preserving the environment. METRO’s website states compost can be used to provide nutrients to plants, reduce the need for fertilizer, controls weeds and saves water.

To make a compost pile use a bin or if you’re in an apartment use a container with a lid. Items like old plotting soil, twigs, dried grass and leaves, grass clippings, fresh leaves, hedge trimmings, coffee filters and tea bags can be placed in the bin. The MHCC Science Club maintains a compost heap in parking lot Z.

However, do not put diseased plants, weeds with seed heads, pet feces, dead animals, bread and grains, meat or fish parts or dairy products into compost piles. Make sure items are chopped into small pieces because it composts faster. Keep the pile damp and have different air passages, the microorganisms in the compost pile will function better.
According to the Metro website, “the most efficient decomposing bacteria thrive in temperatures between 110 degrees and 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Thus, the hotter the pile, the faster the composting.”

Carpooling helps reduce air pollution. Figure out the distance from point A to point B. If you are only a couple blocks away, go for a nice stroll. And if you’re not up to walking, use public transportation. When traveling long distances, figure out a carpooling plan with friends.

According to the Oregon Plan, reducing the use of toxic chemicals in households is another step to not only help the environment but our health as well. Using alternative solutions to clean, like 1/2 cup of baking soda, vegetable oil (enough to make a frost like consistency) and 15 drops of tea tree oil can produce a tile cleaner.

Baking soda can be used with other combinations to create cleaners for drains, windows and ovens. More information can be found at the Oregon Plan’s website www.oregon-plan.org.

For more information on simple steps to preserve the Earth’s environment check out books like “50 Simple things Kids Can Do To Save The Earth,” or “Save Our Planet: 750 Everyday Ways You can Help Clean Up The Earth.” Also visit websites like www.metro-region.org and www.earthworksgroup.com.