Taking care of Mother Earth is the best way we can insure our children and future generations will have a clean environment and plenty of water and electricity.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Americans generated about 251 million tons of trash and recycled and composted almost 87 million tons of this material in 2012.

This is equivalent to a 34.5-percent recycling rate.

The United States and Canada are two of the highest water consumers per person in the world, the Green Planet for Kids website states.

The average household uses between 75-100 gallons of water per person per day including showering, toilet flushing, lawn watering, laundry, dishes, etc.

Earth Day, founded by Sen. Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin and organized by Dennis Hayes in 1970, is celebrated around the world with festivals and rallies on April 22.

Earth Day is not only a day for festivals, celebrations and rallies, it is also a day Americans can help save the planet.

There are several ways individuals can help protect the environment:

· Plant trees in your community or in your yard;

· When leaving a room, turn off the lights;

· Unplug and turn off electrical appliances such as televisions, video games and computers when not in use;

· After wetting your toothbrush, turn off the water while brushing your teeth;

· Install solar panels at your home to help conserve electricity;

· Start composting. Compost is organic material that can be added to soil to help plants grow;

· Reduce, reuse and recycle any items no longer needed such as books, magazines, newspaper, plastic or glass bottles.

Take them to a recycling center or donate old clothing to local clothing banks, churches or drop them in recycling bins located throughout the community; and

· Reduce greenhouse emission gases by walking to local stores, taking a bus or planning all errands for one trip instead of multiple trips.

Earth Day, however, is not the only time to focus on improving the environment.

Even the smallest effort, made every day, can make a difference for our children and future generations.

Susan Bryant

editorial assistant

Parkland Press

Northwestern Press