53 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day

To celebrate the 53rd anniversary of Earth Day in 2023 (April 22, 1970), we’ve put together a list of 53 green actions to help you celebrate. We’ve included a wide range of ideas – cool stuff, practical stuff, fun stuff – all actions that can make a difference. Some of them can be implemented now, and some could be for later, but all are ways to make every day, Earth Day. We encourage you and your family to give one (or a few!) a try.

1. Wherever you live in Manitoba, register for the Commuter Challenge.
2. Don’t bag your grass. Grasscycle! Keep your lawn healthy and green.
3. Get your bike ready for spring!
4. Register with Dig In Manitoba to learn about healthy local food, share information, and grow your own.
5. Join Green Action Centre. Get connected and help encourage greener, better living in Manitoba. If you are already a member, get one more person to join.
6. Make it easier on yourself to travel sustainably! Sign up with GoManitoba.
7. You don’t have to do it all yourself. Get together with others to help make change – green your workplace, help start a community composting program , or check out school travel planning to see how to get kids walking and cycling actively and safely to school.
8. Shop smart. We can’t shop our way to sustainability, but we can make thoughtful choices when we do have to buy things.
9. Sign up to receive our monthly newsletter to keep up to date on green activities, tips, and events.
10. Check out community supported agriculture in Manitoba – a great way to get fresh local produce over the summer while supporting local farmers.
11. Make a donation to Green Action Centre. Your contribution helps us reach more Manitobans with tips, ideas, information, support, links and learning opportunities for greener living.
12. Freecycle those used but still valuable items.
13. Consider signing on to Peg City Car Coop. It’s about car sharing as an alternative to buying and maintaining your own vehicle.
14. If you live in Winnipeg, take the bus and travel by rapid transit. There’s more to come. This is just a taste of what is in store for Winnipeg commuters.
15. It is still one of the basics – recycle!
16. Unplug and spend time outside for one hour, or more!
17. Participate in a community clean-up event!
18. Take a portable mug with you where you go so you don’t have to use a paper cup, or use ceramic mugs or washable mugs at work so you don’t have to use paper cups.
19. Encourage people to use ceramic dishes and a dishwasher at work instead of using disposable dishes.
20. Attend a local Earth Day event.
21. Follow us on Instagram for practical green living tips and content.
22. Use digital versions of documents (pdfs) and email them to co-workers instead of copying and handing them the paper version.
23. Say No to junk mail. Green Action Centre has stickers.
24. Sign up the whole family to participate in Bike Week each June.
25. Travel green with your kids – bus, walk, cycle or share a ride.
26. Make a meat-free meal.
27. Go through your cosmetics and sunscreens and identify toxic ingredients. Switch to non-toxic products that are not tested on animals.
28. Recycle your cell phone.
29. Some electronic equipment uses standby power to maintain functions even when they are theoretically off. Reduce phantom power usage by unplugging devices when they are not in use.
30. When you drive, practice fuel efficient driving habits.
31. Plant a tree!
32. Watch a nature documentary.
33. Get a rain barrel. Rain barrels can store up to 200 litres of quality (though non-potable) water, and can be refilled by as little as a few millimetres of rainfall.
34. Buy local. Be a locavore!
35. Host a plastic-free picnic/lunch.
36. Visit your local library!
37. Use a clothesline to dry clothes.
38. Save energy and money at home. 
39. Reduce your waste by trying out junk journaling!
40. Donate old clothing to a local thrift shop.
41. Start composting today. We have ideas to get you started.
42. Make your own green cleaning products. They’ll save you money, work just as effectively as commercial products, and are better for the environment and for your health!
43. Join us on LinkedIn.
44. Write a letter to your MLA or MP about an environmental issue that is important to you.
45. Use a double sided copier. Use old photocopies for scratch paper instead of throwing them out.
46. Reduce your use of plastic bags, and reuse and recycle the ones already in your home – or return your plastic bags altogether.
47. Metal is a valuable resource. Notice your knives and scissors getting dull? Instead of buying new ones, sharpen them to prolong their life!
48. Try a Pantry Challenge! Use up that food collection you have before it goes bad!
49. Work meal planning into your weekly routine to reduce food waste!
50. Listen to an environmental podcast!
51. Plant a seed. Whether it’s in your garden, a pot in your house, or out in nature, plants help improve air quality and connect us to the Earth.
52. Reject greenwashing!
53. Celebrate Earth Day everyday!