To some, April 22 is nothing but a typical day; to many others, it is widely known as Earth Day. In order to show appreciation for the land that humans call their home, Earth Day is typically spent being grateful for the planet. Here are a few simple ways to start being more eco-friendly!

1 . Use reusable bags

On your next trip to the grocery store, consider bringing your own bag instead of relying on the plastic ones at the store. Each year, hundreds and thousands of plastic bags are thrown away, floating around and polluting the environment. Not only does this help the environment, it helps our wildlife by leaving less plastics and trash flowing around. Although this change may seem small now, you will end up saving hundreds of plastic bags in your lifetime.

2. Shop sustainably

Instead of making impulsive purchases on items you see around, consider spending your money on more long-term purchases. Throwing away items you bought shortly after you get them is not only a waste of money, but a huge problem for the Earth. Too many objects are thrown away after one use, leading to a great amount of waste littered around. To help reduce this, do your best to keep an eye out for items you know you will be able to utilize for a prolonged period of time.

3. Recycle

Recycling is by far one of the easiest ways to be more eco-friendly. As you throw away your trash, make sure to separate the recyclables and put them in a separate trash bag — this way, your recyclable items can be sent to a recycling center where they can be reused for another cause. Articles you can recycle include paper, cardboard, glass bottles and milk cartons.

4. Donate old clothes and items

Some clothes that are thrown away can take up to hundreds of years to fully decompose. In order to prevent abandoned clothes from polluting the world, donate your old clothes so they can be given to people who can make use of them. By doing this, you can be more sustainable while also helping those in need.

5. Use a reusable water bottle

Plastic is by far one of the worst materials to pollute the earth. A good portion of plastic derives from the thousands of plastic water bottles that are tossed onto the ground or into bodies of water, affecting wildlife and their habitats. Using a reusable water bottle instead of constantly buying plastic bottles is a simple way to do your part in taking care of the planet. If you do end up drinking out of a plastic bottle, be sure to recycle it after you are done to reduce its chances of ending up on the ground.

Earth provides us with food and shelter, we should be protecting the Earth every day, not just on Earth day. So take some time to consider incorporating some of these tips into your daily routines!