Sunday is Earth Day and many have been celebrating this past week as “Earth Week.” This shows the growing commitment to saving our planet in a variety of ways. Local leaders in sustainability include Butte College, which became grid positive last summer with their many solar panels, and Chico State which has a large recycling program along with composting efforts. Klean Kanteen, a local company, is dedicated to reusable water containers as an alternative to plastic “disposable” water bottles. Similarly, Chico Bag offers an alternative to plastic shopping bags with a flare of fashion.
Supporting these local entities not only promotes sustainability, but also contributes to the local economy. Buying from farmers markets is another great way to support the local economy and have fresh produce. There are local farmers markets in Paradise, Chico, and Oroville, and of course Thursday Night Market in Chico.
Celebrate this Earth Day by:
-Foregoing that plastic bottled water and opting for some tap water
-Biking or walking instead of driving
-Buying something from your local farmers
-Making a point to turn your lights off and conserve that energy
-Have you been saving recyclable items? Cash it in as a reward for making the effort to recycle.
