You can take action to positively impact the planet this April in recognition of Earth Month. The City of Goleta is raising environmental awareness through programs like Go Green Goleta and Plastic Free Goleta, and encourages you to live every day sustainably. Through individual daily actions and shared learning, we can all do our part to influence the future of our environment. Learn more about small changes you can make to your lifestyle this Earth Month. 

What sustainable changes can we make to positively impact the planet? 

Our strength is in numbers and even the most minimal changes can make a difference. In support of our single-use plastic reduction ordinance, the City encourages Goletans to minimize plastic usage and be environmentally conscious in the following ways: 

1. Bring your own reusable utensils when going out to eat or bring your own cup when going to a coffee shop.  
2. Attend one of our City’s Beautify Goleta events to clean up your local environment and show your appreciation. There is one coming up on Saturday, April 19!
3. You can also drop off unwanted bulky items or electronic appliances at Beautify Goleta events so they can properly be disposed of or repurposed. 
4. When going to the grocery store, be sure to bring your own reusable bags and consider not bagging your produce in plastic bags (especially for produce like bananas or onions). Have your deli meat, cheese or bread wrapped in paper at the counter. 
5. Consider carpooling, taking public transportation or walking to your destination. 
6. Shop local or from businesses that use local materials to reduce the carbon footprint of the products you buy. 
7. Replace light bulbs with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs to save money with energy efficient lighting in your home. 
8. Consider not grabbing a straw for your drink if it doesn’t require one and sip from the cup instead. 
9. Think about buying grocery items that are bottled in glass instead of plastic so that you can reuse that container later.  
10. Use bar soaps for dish washing or powder laundry detergent sold in a box to avoid buying plastic containers and consider shopping at stores that allow you to bring your own container and refill your products. 

With a little extra effort, we can avoid consuming unnecessary materials and utilize reusable items that we often already have at home. By taking individual actions in our own lives, and through educating ourselves and those around us, each of us can make a valuable contribution. 

Join the City of Goleta in having an impactful Earth Month in any of the previously mentioned ways or by joining us for the Third Annual Earth Day event on April 19^th from 9:00am to 12:00pm at Evergreen Park where there will be coffee and food, interactive activities and a FREE bulky item drop-off at Brandon Elementary (195 Brandon Drive). Learn more at www.CityofGoleta.org/BeautifyGoleta.