As International Earth Day passed last weekend, all of my social media platforms were flooded with photos and inspirational quotes encouraging people to cut down on their carbon footprint, rally for clean energy, and more.

While most of the people who shared these posts did so with good intentions, it made me wonder – how many of them are actually practicing what they preach? How many actually work their hardest to cut down on energy usage? How many recycle?

Earth Day is a way to encourage discussions about the environment and ways to help it. However, action must be taken or these discussions will be meaningless.

There are several things that can be done to help the environment.

First, take the time to recycle used cans and plastics. According to an article by the U.S. Department of Environmental Services, it takes plastic bottles around 450 years to decompose.

Aluminum cans take 80 – 200 years to decompose, disposable diapers take 450 years, and tin cans take 50 years, the article states. These items, when thrown away instead of recycled, are carried to landfills to sit for years.

Recycling cuts down on this waste and leaves the environment a healthier place.

Another way to help the environment is to actively cut down on energy usage.

While clean energy such as solar and wind is becoming more popular, most energy is still generated by combustion, according to an article by the Energy Information Administration. To cut down on energy use, set the thermostat at a higher temperature during the summer and a cooler temperature during the winter, make sure the home is well insulated and purchase energy-saving light bulbs and appliances.

There are countless ways to help keep the environment healthy. Take the time every day to make the world a better place.