Earth Day is this coming Sunday, but why do we celebrate being environmentally friendly just one day a year? There are ample opportunities, no matter how small, to take care of our planet every day. After all, it is the only one, (that we currently know of), with coffee. ☕

Unfortunately, we don’t always take care of the Earth the best we can.

DYK that Americans throw away enough office paper each year to build a 12-foot high wall from Seattle to NY? Recycling paper products can reduce the contribution to air pollution by 95% + assist in keeping our oceans clean– including our beloved neighbor, the Atlantic.

In February 2019, Charleston County will open a new $24 million recycling facility. Contrary to what some might think, county recycling does not turn a profit. County Council Chairman Vic Rawl previously explained that the county recycles to “be green.” The new facility will have state-of-the-art equipment, such as sorting machines, which will produce high-quality materials. The facility will be located on North Charleston's Palmetto Commerce Parkway.

Yesterday, Berkeley County leaders broke ground on Oakley Road in Moncks Corner, which will be home to a new $42 million recycling facility. The project is being largely funded by a $40.6 million grant from the S.C. Department of Commerce Economic Development Set-aside Fund. This facility is also set to begin production early next year, at no additional cost to residents. In addition to taking 65% of trash out of the county’s waste stream, the Berkeley County plant will create 60 new jobs. Like Charleston County’s facility, 21st-century sorting machines will allow residents be environmentally-friendly without the hassle of sorting their recyclables.

Personally, I love living in a county that supports a green environment– but just because we pay taxes for other people to dispose of our pickle jars, doesn’t mean our part stops there.

We have put together 12 ways you can help take pollution down to zero– all while supporting local businesses.

Recycle your oyster shells. DYK that oysters filter up to 2.5 gallons of water per hour? After you have enjoyed that oyster shooter or oyster Moscow, South Carolina Estuaries needs those shells back. Recycling shells help to restore the natural habitat in oyster beds. Click here to see all the do’s + don’ts for shell recycling. ♻
Conserve water by using a rain barrel. Collected rainwater can be used to water plants, wash cars, + help prevent rivers from runoff pollution. Through the end of May, Charleston residents can save $61 off the price of a rain barrel by purchasing here. 🌧
Eat vegan (or start with vegetarian). Raising livestock for food consumption has some hefty negative effects on the environment. While some may say a plant-based diet is “boring,” we double-dog-dare you to eat at one of the amazing local restaurants that serve vegan + vegetarian options to truly taste how exciting greens can be. Our personal favorites include: Dellz Uptown, Gnome Cafe, Huriyali, + Gathering Cafe. 🐮
Compost. Composting positively impacts the environment by reducing your carbon footprint, suppressing plant diseases, + even encourages the production of beneficial bacteria. If an outdoor compost pile is implausible for your current living situation, or the smell of the indoor bin has you feeling less than pro-compost, we have a company right here in Charleston who will do it for you. Smart Recycling U.S. will haul away your food scraps, assisting in the reduction of your waste bill. 🚮
Shred old documents. It’s easy to let your old documents pile-up in the corner when you do not have a safe way to dispose of them. This Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon, you can bring your junk mail to the Charleston County Shred event. Your documents will be safely discarded + recycled. 📄
Walk or bike. Park the car in the garage + take advantage of Charleston’s bike routes. Through People Pedal CHS, the city has developed a grid of bike routes, along with an interactive map. Many of the routes also include pedestrian paths. 🚴
Use Earth-friendly cleaning products - There are plenty of DIY tutorials for natural home + lawn care products. But, if you need some help cleaning your home, office, or beach house on Folly, you can count on local cleaning companies– such as Pristine Reflections + My Sweet Clementine– who utilize products that are better for you, your pets, + the environment. 💦
Use reusable shopping bags. Places– such as Mt. Pleasant, Folly Beach, + Isle of Palms– have already approved bans on the use of foam take-out containers + plastic grocery bags. (The ban in Mt. Pleasant, which goes into effect next year, can result in daily fines up to $500.) Reusable bags help to eliminate waste, and keep bags from ending up in drains, trees, + oceans. Many local businesses, like The Harbinger Cafe + Husk, carry reusable totes that you can purchase to carry out your goods, or easily fit lunch for the whole office. 🛍
Use environmental-friendly products. Many small businesses in Charleston make + sell sustainable products. For example, Yoloha Yoga Factory sells sustainable yoga mats made out of cork. They even have a wine cork recycling program at their studio on Single Point Rd. Sweet Olive in Mt. Pleasant carries pure soy candles that are in a reusable coffee mug– plus the box they are packaged in breaks down into a set of postcards. ♻
Plant something. Plants naturally clean the air, provide an ecosystem for wildlife, + yield food for us. Even if you don’t have a green thumb– there are groups, including Roadside Blooms, to help you learn what to plant + where. Today from 9 a.m.- 12 p.m., you can join help keep North Charleston beautiful by attending their Earth Day event at the Park Circle Butterfly Garden. You can also get involved with garden-based experiential learning projects through The Green Heart Project. 🌱
Switch to natural beauty products. Wild Craft- Charleston’s “hub for organic skincare, green beauty, + wellness” has everything you need to shift to non-toxic, plant-based skin care products. If you’re new to the “clean living scene,” they host events + workshops to help you learn the benefit of going green. In additional to skincare products, Salon Indigo can transform your hair into chemical-free, natural, colored locks. 💄💇
Eat farm to fork. Skip the delivery trucks + get your dinner straight from the farm. Ambrose Family Farm lets you pick strawberries straight off the vine (among other crops) + will even cook you a five-course meal with bounty straight from the farm. You can join them for a meal this Sunday from 3:30-7:30 p.m. For your weekly farm-fresh fix, you can also stop by one of the many farmers markets in the Lowcountry. 🌽🍴

When I was in college, I co-founded a vegetarian club- The NU Veggie Project. For Earth Day, all 3 members of our club painted a rain barrel + sold vegan baked goods to sponsor a pig at a farm sanctuary.

It was probably my most accomplished moment of undergrad. ⬇

From rain barrels + recycling, to farmers markets, I do my best take care of Mother Earth.

Know of some local environmental-friendly products I might enjoy? Email hello@thechstoday.com and let me know your favorite way to show the world some love.

– Justine, Multimedia Producer