Five Ways to Use a Dumpster to Celebrate Earth Day

Most eco-conscious people think about planting trees or attending an Earth Day fair on April 22 every year. So, why would you celebrate Earth Day with a dumpster? It’s a fair question, but the answer is fairly simple – you can reduce the amount of refuse that goes to landfill by renting a dumpster and collecting recyclable materials, especially materials that are toxic to the environment.

Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970, back when there was no Environmental Protection Agency or Clean Water Act to regulate pollution. However, it was 20 years later that Earth Day saw an upswing in popularity thanks to the efforts of environmental leaders who worked to bring a worldwide focus on the day to celebrate the earth.

The reasons to rent the right dumpster

As you consider ways to celebrate Earth Day this year, consider these reasons why you should involve a dumpster in your plans:

1. Use a dumpster to collect hazardous materials such as asbestos, batteries, aerosols, paint, and other known toxic materials. Keeping these materials out of landfills means there will be no leaching of toxic substances into the soil, which can potentially seep into groundwater.
2. Use a dumpster to collect recyclable materials such as scrap metal, which can be repurposed. Pick up debris such as concrete, which can be taken to crushing plant and ground into a base material used in driveways and pavers. Landscape debris is also a collectable that can be used to make mulch.
3. Recycle appliances community-wide. Are you replacing old appliances with new ones? If your old appliances are in working order, donate them to the less fortunate. If not, consider recycling them. Most are made of sheet metal that can be replaced, and there is probably a good amount of copper in them that can be sold/recycled.
4. Sponsor a neighborhood cleanup program on Earth Day. Publicize where your community dumpster will be and educate your community on what recyclables you’re looking for. Offer this as a free service, but be willing to accept donations to pay for the dumpster or to fund an ongoing program that keeps the community clean throughout the year.
5. Get the schools involved. Draw attention to the amount of recyclable or compostable refuse that comes out of every elementary, middle and high school by collecting a week’s worth of refuse in a dumpster. The visual impact of a dumpster full of such materials is an environmentally convincing tactic that should motivate people to be more earth conscious.

Whether your Earth Day project requires a large dumpster or a small one, A City Suburban Services, Inc. can assist you in finding the right fit. Contact us today and let’s get your Earth Day project rolling.