Earth Day encourages recycling

For those hankering for half-cotton, half-recycled plastic T-shirts, VCU’s Earth Day 2006 celebration could be the place to go.

Prizes, including apparel made from cotton and recycled plastic bottle caps, highlight some activities during VCU’s Earth Day celebration from 10 a.m. through 2 p.m. Thursday, April 27.

“Over the years, it doesn’t seem like it’s as important as it used be,” said Denecia Daniel-Cornish, a senior biology major.

Daniel-Cornish said schools used to celebrate more Earth Day activities. She stressed that she wished to see speakers who actually dealt with the environment at the Earth Day celebration.

Steven Heinitz, VCU’s recycling coordinator, said he expects a variety of exhibitors at the event including the Sierra Club and the Virginia Recycling Association to take part in the celebration.

“It’s a time to step back and take a look at the environment before it is lost,” Heinitz said.

Greg Garman, director of VCU’s Center for Environmental Studies, recalled the first U.S. Earth Day in 1970 as creating a major impact toward increased environmental awareness.

“Hopefully, from some people, it would help to refocus them to make a difference in whatever way they can,” said Garman, who offered suggestions for the VCU and Richmond communities toward improving the environment.

Garman suggested that residents in the Richmond area conserve more water and minimize the use of fertilizers and pesticides.

“Don’t worry about a beautifully manicured lawn because they require a lot of water and a lot of harmful chemicals,” he said.

Garman said uncontrolled urban development, expanding populations and nonpoint source pollution (pollution that runs off land, including fertilizers and pesticides) adversely affect the quantity and quality of our water, especially the James River.

Heinitz also emphasized the importance for people to read product labels so they can become informed consumers and purchase products that do not harm the environment. Though he said that one day of festivities cannot solve the Earth’s problems,

Earth Day remains important because it helps develop the public’s environmental interest.

“It’s a great opportunity for everybody at VCU to get a good idea of what the current issues are today,” he said, encouraging all students, faculty, staff and others to participate in the celebration.