Earth Day is an international event observed on April 22nd. But what about the other days of the year? How do we find a way to make Earth Day … every day? Living an environmentally friendly life can seem overwhelming, but it’s actually easier than you may think. 

Albert Boufarah, who founded SAMR Inc over two decades ago in Lakewood, NJ, says that there are many simple things that anyone can do in their day-to-day life to reduce their impact on the earth and greenhouse gases. For example, ditching plastic straws for reusable stainless steel or paper ones will save millions of plastic pieces from entering our water streams each year, which means cleaner water sources & healthier lives for our aqua-dwelling friends.

Recycling our electronics is becoming more important as manufacturers are producing more devices each year. Not only will it keep equipment from ending up (illegally) in landfills and other places where soil & water streams can be affected, it allows for the construction of newer electronic devices while reducing the need to mine for these resources.

Earth Day is an important event for increasing awareness of what we can do for our environment, but, says Albert Boufarah of SAMR Inc., keeping the earth clean can be done every day of the year. Here are a few ideas to help you do your part.

Reduce e-waste

Electronic waste or "e-waste" is one of the fastest-growing components of landfills, surpassing paper and plastic waste. As consumer demand for the most current technology grows, so does the proliferation of devices that are disposed of (often improperly & illegally). The services of an experienced electronics & computer recycler have become increasingly convenient, accessible & affordable. Albert Boufarah of SAMR Inc. says it's surprising how low-cost it is to recycle e-waste, and the benefits are enormous.

Not only does recycling your electronics help create a cleaner environment, but properly certified e-waste companies like SAMR Inc can ensure that devices that they receive are not supporting companies that use child labor. They are dedicated to reducing the impact that e-waste has on the planet as a whole.

Water is becoming an increasingly scarce resource worldwide, particularly in areas that are experiencing long periods of drought. But it's easy to waste water without even realizing it.

For example, it has been found that 22 percent of our water bill comes from simple faucet & shower leaks. Fixing small leaks can help save hundreds or thousands of dollars each year - and it only takes a few minutes.

Carbon dioxide emissions are one of the main contributors to global warming, leading to increased wildfires and drought. It's important to take care of our cars, according to Albert Boufarah of SAMR Inc. so they don't contribute to these problems.

For example, checking your tire pressure every few weeks can increase fuel efficiency by up to 3%, which means that you could save hundreds or thousands of dollars on gas each year just by keeping your tires full.

Instead of driving everywhere, walking or biking to work may be an option depending on how close it is to where you live. In addition, working remotely is a COVID-era trend that has helped reduce harmful emissions. Some cities have car2go, which allows you to use a rental car for short periods at low prices. Public transit is also an option, but if this isn't available in your area, Uber and Lyft are both cheap alternatives that allow you to travel conveniently without owning a car.

• Reduce: The easiest way to reduce your impact on the earth is by purchasing less or buying second-hand. Otherwise, you are creating more waste in the process of growing and harvesting products for your household, transporting them to stores, and then throwing them away.

• Reuse: Reusing items has two benefits: it keeps goods out of landfills and saves money that can be used elsewhere in your budget.

• Recycle: Recycling is something that we should all be doing, and you can take advantage of this all year by buying merchandise that features the recycling flag. Albert Boufarah of SAMR Inc. feels that recycling is the most effective way that we can help improve our surroundings and ensure that our planet continues to be a beautiful place for future generations.

LED's are a relatively new technology that uses a fraction of the electricity required for incandescent or fluorescent lights. If everyone replaced 10% of their bulbs with LED's, we would save 24 million pounds of carbon dioxide each year.

Planting a tree is believed to offset about one ton of carbon dioxide, and there are even easy ways to plant them yourself. According to the Arbor Day Foundation, you can plant a tree for $1-5. It's also important not to cut down trees or purchase wood that has been produced illegally.

Plastic bags and straws are both major contributors to the world's pollution problem. According to Business Insider, we throw away about 23 billion plastic straws each year - and that doesn't include all of the other plastics which end up in landfills.

It's easy for people to say, "well, if others won't do it, then why should I bother?". However, this logic doesn't work - every little bit counts. So next time you park at the mall, make sure you find one of their many designated parking spots, which will be indicated by colorful signs reading "EV Charging Only." Many businesses now offer perks like free EV charging stations for customers or carpool incentive programs. In addition, many states offer incentives for purchasing EVs - which can include rebates or discounts on auto insurance.

Also, if your state allows it, trade in your gas guzzler and upgrade to a lighter hybrid vehicle. If you want the best of both worlds, consider an all-electric car which has zero emissions.