Keep America Beautiful: 5 Tips for a Sustainable Labor Day

Believe it or not, Labor Day is around the corner. It’s the unofficial end of the summer and a great time to kick off some new eco-friendly routines. Check out our favorite tips for enjoying the long holiday weekend with the environment in mind.

1. Follow the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle:
   • During your hikes, trips to the beach, or backyard barbecues, chose reusable dishes and cutlery. If single-use is your choice, be sure to dispose of these items responsibly and recycle what you can. When visiting public spaces, carry out any items you carried in and if there are no trash or recycling bins nearby, bring your items home to dispose of them later.
2. Stay local.
   • In normal circumstances, many travelers usually use Labor Day to get in the last of their summer getaways. This year, we recommend staying local and exploring your community. The good news is that staying local can help you reduce your carbon footprint. If you do plan on taking a road trip, consider carpooling.
3. Get plogging.
   • Keep America Beautiful is hosting the 2nd annual TrashDash plogging fun run on Sept. 20. No matter where you live, you can join the one-day global movement to plog for our planet. In case you haven’t heard, plogging is the combination of picking up litter while jogging, and it’s a fun activity for all ages. This weekend, give plogging a try. Every action, even if you just pick up 5 pieces of litter, contributes to a cleaner and safer community environment.
4. Leave no trace.
   • Whether you’re hiking and exploring trails, fitting in another beach trip, or having a picnic in a park, we can all do our part to keep the environment clean and free of litter. As trash piles up at National Parks across the country, we remind everyone to carry in what you carried out — even if that means bringing your trash home with you. Here are seven principles to follow from the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics: plan ahead and prepare; travel and camp on durable surfaces; dispose of waste properly; leave what you find; minimize campfire impacts; respect wildlife; be considerate of others.
5. Volunteer.
   • The Great American Cleanup, which is taking place through Oct. 18, is the nation’s largest community improvement program. From cleaning up local beaches and parks to planting community gardens, our affiliates are hosting events from coast to coast. Sign up on our volunteer portal to find events near you.

While the coronavirus pandemic continues to pose unique challenges to us all, we remind everyone to keep trash and litter off the ground. We recommend following state and local health and safety guidelines, including wearing face coverings and washing your hands often. In addition, used masks, gloves, and wipes should not be littered under any circumstance and should be disposed of in secure trash containers. These items are not recyclable and should not be placed in recycling collection bins.

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