Happy 50th Birthday, Earth Day!

Today is the 50th Anniversary of EARTH DAY! The very first Earth Day in 1970 achieved a rare political alignment, enlisting support from Republicans and Democrats, rich and poor, urban dwellers and farmers, business and labor leaders. Groups that had been fighting individually against oil spills, polluting factories and power plants, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides, freeways, the loss of wilderness and the extinction of wildlife united around these shared common values.

By the end of 1970, the first Earth Day led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air Act. Two years later Congress passed the Clean Water Act. A year after that, Congress passed the Endangered Species Act.

We can thank these early activists for their passion and vision for paving the way for all of the progress we have made protecting our planet. Prior to the establishment of the EPA and the passage of legislation to protect our land, water and air, there was no recourse for citizens whose drinking water was being poisoned by toxic waste. There was no way to stop gaseous waste from entering the airshed and wafting into our neighborhoods. Even the Bald Eagle, the symbol of our nation, could not be protected from dangerous pesticides that were killing its young.

1. RECYCLE: It take a tremendous toll on our planetary resources to keep up with all of our needs. The more we can reduce, reuse and recycle, the more of our planet’s resources such as timber, water and minerals we can conserve and the less we impact our land, water and air due to extraction and production. Please see the Rumson Recycling Guidelines for information on what can be recycled here in Rumson, and ideas on what do with all of the other items you might need to discard. Download it here.
2. COMPOST: Proper composting does not smell or attract pests and has great benefits to our planet. Composting can divert as much as 30% of household waste away from the garbage can. That’s important because when organic matter hits the landfill, it lacks the air it needs to decompose quickly. Instead, it creates harmful methane gas as it breaks down, increasing the rate of global warming and climate change. Learn more...
3. PRACTICE GOOD LAWN & GARDEN CARE: You can have a beautiful lawn and garden, while still protecting our waterways. Simply changing the timing of fertilization, types of pesticides and mowing practices can help prevent adverse effects on our rivers. What you plant can help attract birds, butterflies and other beneficial insects that help keep the ecosystem balanced. Download the flyer here.
4. INVEST IN A GOOD GLASS OR STAINLESS STEEL WATER BOTTLE AND FILTER: A plastic bottle of water takes minutes to drink, but 450 years to decompose. Often, the water inside it is just filtered tap water from another town. Investing in a good glass or stainless steel water bottle and a filter will provide the same or better quality water and have less of an impact on the environment.
5. AVOID IDLING: Idling is not only bad for your engine, but it creates pollution that we breathe and is especially harmful to children. Children breathe in more times per minute than adults and are right at tailpipe level. When cars are idling outside a school or neighborhood store, children are often the victims.
6. TURN OFF EXTERIOR LIGHTS AT NIGHT: Artificial lights create a glare that has the potential to disturb the nighttime rituals of many types of wildlife, particularly birds and amphibians. By setting timers to turn off exterior lights by 10pm, down-shielding exterior lighting to eliminate horizontal glare, installing automatic motion sensors and controls wherever possible, and avoiding over-lighting with newer, brighter technology, you can help keep pour community safe for wildlife. Read about the Audubon Lights Out project.

Suggested Reading List:

Silent Spring, Rachel Carson: This classic work is credited with launching the modern environmental movement. The book begins with a “fable for tomorrow” – a true story using a composite of examples drawn from many real communities where the use of DDT had caused damage to wildlife, birds, bees, agricultural animals, domestic pets, and even humans. The book was a call to action that would inspire people from all corners of the country to join together for a common cause.

Toms River: A Story of Science & Salvation, Tom Fagin: This Pulitzer prize winning book tells The riveting true story of a small town’s cluster of childhood cancers linked to water and air pollution. Toms River melds hard-hitting investigative reporting, a fascinating scientific detective story, deep historical research, and an unforgettable cast of characters into a sweeping narrative that leaves us asking: Could it happen in my town, too?

Please visit us at www.rumsonnj.gov/env for more information.