Earth Day: Sure I'll Recycle, Reduce, and Reuse... Except For That | HuffPost

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On April 22, Canadians will join others across the globe to celebrate Earth day. We will take part in projects that highlight our particular concerns to improve life on our planet. I'm all about saving the planet, but there is still one eco-friendly thing I can't bring myself to do....

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Dileen Simms is a Journalist based in Toronto. She is currently a lifestyle Intern at the Huffington Post Canada

Dileen Simms is a Journalist based in Toronto. She is currently a lifestyle Intern at the Huffington Post Canada

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On April 22, Canadians will join others across the globe to celebrate Earth Day. We will take part in projects that highlight our particular concerns to improve life on our planet.

I'm all about saving the planet. Growing up in the Caribbean and living off the land as I did, you understand very early on how we -- people, plants, and animals -- are all connected and dependent on each other. My father, a farmer, was a conservationist respecting Mother Nature and the Earth long before it became "a thing."

LOOK: 14 surprising everday choices that are harming the earth (and what you can do about it). Story continues below slideshow:

14 'Little' Things That Are Harming The Earth

Using Disposable Chopsticks(01 of14)

Those chopsticks that come with your takeout have a negative environmental impact, whether they're made from plastic or wood. Plastic is oil-based and won't biodegrade in landfills, and the plastic used for flatwear like chopsticks is generally not recycled. Wooden chopsticks may be just as bad when you consider the millions of trees being cut down in China to supply the mind-boggling demand. Buy a nice pair of reusable chopsticks and use those instead! (credit:Alamy)

Leaving Your Computer Monitor On(02 of14)

You may have heard that leaving your computer monitor on and letting it go into standby mode uses less energy than turning it off and on each day. But if you're going to be away from the computer for more than 20 minutes, it makes more sense to just turn the monitor off, according to Energy.gov. And remember, a screen saver uses energy too! (credit:Shutterstock)

Using Bleached Coffee Filters(03 of14)

Coffee filters can go in the compost bin, grounds and all, so what's the harm in using them? It's considerable if you go with the bleached variety, as most are bleached with chlorine and contain dioxins, a known toxin. They're also more likely to be made with unrecycled paper. Go with brown paper filters made from recycled fibres, or get a reusable cloth, stainless steel, or gold filter. (credit:Shutterstock)

Throwing Away Your Printer Cartridges(04 of14)

Refilling your printer cartridges saves money, but it's also easier on the environment. It's estimated that only five per cent of the 60 million inkjet cartridges sold in Canada every year are recycled, and it takes 2.5 ounces of non-renewable oil to make just one cartridge. You can help cut your share of that by refilling your cartridge, and many places that will load you up with new ink will also recycle your empty cartridges for you when you're done with them. (credit:Shutterstock)

Flushing "Flushable" Applicators And Wipes(05 of14)

Just because you can flush something, doesn't mean you should. Applicators, tampons, and some wet wipes don't dissolve and disperse in water the way toilet paper does. Instead, they settle or clump up (thanks to tampon strings) and create blockages that could lead to harmful sewer leaks. Put them in the trash bin instead! (credit:Shutterstock)

Eating Farmed Fish(06 of14)

Farmed fish may seem like the better environmental choice — isn't it smarter to avoid depleting ocean stocks by going with fish grown specifically for eating? Not necessarily. The pellets or other food the fish are given can contain antibiotics and other medications. What the fish don't eat just drops to the bottom and dissolves into the water. Also, algae can grow on fish farms and develop into red tide, which harms other species. If you eat seafood, look for fresh stocks that are not endangered. Ocean Wise has great info on the best fish choices to make when you go shopping. (credit:Shutterstock)

Not Buying Shade-Grown Coffee(07 of14)

How was your coffee grown? If you don't know, you should probably find out, because the answer has a real green impact. Look for coffee that's shade grown, which means grown under a canopy of other plants, providing a home for birds that coffee grown on clear-cut plantations destroys. Shade-grown plants can also get away with fewer pesticides. (credit:Alamy)

Indulging An Affection For Denim(08 of14)

Levi's itself admits that it takes about 3,000 litres of water to make just one pair of its jeans, and the average North American owns seven pairs. The beauty of denim is that it goes with everything, so stick to a couple of favourite styles and cut the excess. We'd bet you wear the same pair or two most of the time anyway! (As for Levi's, in 2011 they introduced jeans produced with less water.) "All sorts of things like clothing, electronics and meat are so much cheaper than they were 50 years ago," Vasil says, "so we buy more and more of it when we don't really need it and all of it has an impact on the environment." (credit:Alamy)

Being A Beauty Product Junkie(09 of14)

You might think you already know how to reduce your carbon footprint: walk or bike instead of driving, limit flights, recycle. And some of the little things, like turning off the light when you leave the room and bringing reusable bags when you go grocery shopping, are second nature by now. But there are many everyday choices you wouldn't think twice about that can really add up.“The truth is everything we do over the course of our day has a hidden environmental impact, from the banana we snag at breakfast to the soap we wash our faces with at the end of the day," says journalist and author Adria Vasil (http://www.ecoholic.ca/) says. Vasil, the author of three eco-lifestyle books and a columnist for NOW Magazine (http://www.nowtoronto.com/columns/ecoholic.cfm), says that focusing on small changes can be encouraging. Even if you can't cut out business travel or trade in your gas guzzler for a hybrid, you can still make an impact with your everyday choices.LOOK: 14 surprising everday choices that are killing the earth. Story continues below slideshow:

If you're considering that potential impact for the first time, you're not alone. "I think the vast majority of people underestimate the impact of their daily choices on the environment," Vasil says. "It's just not something most of us have been raised to consider." Her own awakening came when her older brother developed chemical and environmental sensitivities when Vasil was in her teens, and she began to learn more about how our daily choices affect the world around us.The good news about the big impact of those small choices? It means that you can make waves in a positive direction by changing them. And if we use what we learn to encourage our politicians to support large-scale changes, the effect is multiplied. "There are so many ways that small acts can help stave off major environmental crises," Vasil says, "even just with the stuff we put on, in, and around our bodies every day."Using Disposable ChopsticksThose chopsticks that come with your takeout have a negative environmental impact, whether they're made from plastic or wood. Plastic is oil-based and won't biodegrade in landfills, and the plastic used for flatwear like chopsticks is generally not recycled. Wooden chopsticks may be just as bad when you consider the millions of trees being cut down in China to supply the mind-boggling demand. Buy a nice pair of reusable chopsticks and use those instead!Leaving Your Computer Monitor OnYou may have heard that leaving your computer monitor on and letting it go into standby mode uses less energy than turning it off and on each day. But if you're going to be away from the computer for more than 20 minutes, it makes more sense to just turn the monitor off, according to Energy.gov. And remember, a screen saver uses energy too!Using Bleached Coffee FiltersCoffee filters can go in the compost bin, grounds and all, so what's the harm in using them? It's considerable if you go with the bleached variety, as most are bleached with chlorine and contain dioxins, a known toxin. They're also more likely to be made with unrecycled paper. Go with brown paper filters made from recycled fibres, or get a reusable cloth, stainless steel, or gold filter.Throwing Away Your Printer CartridgesRefilling your printer cartridges saves money, but it's also easier on the environment. It's estimated that only five per cent of the 60 million inkjet cartridges sold in Canada every year are recycled, and it takes 2.5 ounces of non-renewable oil to make just one cartridge. You can help cut your share of that by refilling your cartridge, and many places that will load you up with new ink will also recycle your empty cartridges for you when you're done with them.Flushing "Flushable" Applicators And WipesJust because you can flush something, doesn't mean you should. Applicators, tampons, and some wet wipes don't dissolve and disperse in water the way toilet paper does. Instead, they settle or clump up (thanks to tampon strings) and create blockages that could lead to harmful sewer leaks. Put them in the trash bin instead!Eating Farmed FishFarmed fish may seem like the better environmental choice — isn't it smarter to avoid depleting ocean stocks by going with fish grown specifically for eating? Not necessarily. The pellets or other food the fish are given can contain antibiotics and other medications. What the fish don't eat just drops to the bottom and dissolves into the water. Also, algae can grow on fish farms and develop into red tide, which harms other species. If you eat seafood, look for fresh stocks that are not endangered. Ocean Wise has great info on the best fish choices to make when you go shopping.Not Buying Shade-Grown CoffeeHow was your coffee grown? If you don't know, you should probably find out, because the answer has a real green impact. Look for coffee that's shade grown, which means grown under a canopy of other plants, providing a home for birds that coffee grown on clear-cut plantations destroys. Shade-grown plants can also get away with fewer pesticides. Indulging An Affection For DenimLevi's itself admits that it takes about 3,000 litres of water to make just one pair of its jeans, and the average North American owns seven pairs. The beauty of denim is that it goes with everything, so stick to a couple of favourite styles and cut the excess. We'd bet you wear the same pair or two most of the time anyway! (As for Levi's, in 2011 they introduced jeans produced with less water.) "All sorts of things like clothing, electronics and meat are so much cheaper than they were 50 years ago," Vasil says, "so we buy more and more of it when we don't really need it and all of it has an impact on the environment."Being A Beauty Product JunkieAccording to the United States Environmental Protection Agency and Census Bureau, more than three million tons of personal care products are dumped into waterways every year. Those that contain endocrine disruptors like parabens can affect reproduction in wildlife. Choosing products that avoid the Toxic Ten (http://environmentaldefence.ca/reports/just-beautiful-personal-care-products-pocket-shopping-guide) ingredients is better for you and for nature. "We can slow the wave of hormone disrupting chemicals that the UN warns are out there making humans and wildlife increasingly sick by using all natural, nontoxic, sustainable bodycare and cleaning products," Vasil says.Going For The Soy Veggie BurgerEating meat has an environmental impact, so shouldn't choosing soy alternatives be friendlier to Mother Earth? Turns out it depends on the kind of soy you're eating. Growing soy has a worse environmental impact than other plant-based protein crops like chickpeas, and a lot of the soy we eat is genetically modified and grown in China, where pesticide use may not be as well regulated as it is in North America and Europe. Look for non-GMO soy, and get your plant proteins from lentils and beans when you can.Buying Bamboo SheetsBamboo has been touted as an eco-friendly alternative to woods and fabrics like cotton, hailed for its antibacterial properties and quick rate of growth. But it's not all as rosy as it seems. Pesticides can be used in its growth, and chemicals in processing it into fabric. And the increasing demand for the material could lead farmers to clear cut native vegetation in order to plant it. Bamboo still has a lot going for it—just make sure you check on its sourcing when purchasing it.Thickening Sauces With Corn StarchCorn starch works well as a thickener for sauces and gravies, but it is usually made with genetically modified corn. Many people are concerned about GMOs in our food supply, and there are also intellectual property concerns around ownership of genetically modified seeds. You can avoid the issue by using arrowroot powder instead. As a bonus, it has a more neutral flavour and can be used at low temperatures.Buying Canned VegetablesUsing vegetables canned at their peak freshness can be a way to enjoy your favourite produce out of season, but most of them will be in cans lined with BPA. There are growing concerns about Bisphenol A's estrogenic properties, and it was recently found that most Canadians have BPA in their blood. Avoid it by using frozen veggies instead.Eating MeatA 2012 report from World Bank Group said that our best chance to avoid the effects of climate change down the road is to start eating less meat now. A former advisor to the group and another World Bank Group environmental specialist said that the 51 percent of world greenhouse gas emissions are attributable to cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, camels, pigs, and poultry. "We can all help the climate change crisis by slashing the amount of meat and animal products that we eat since meat animals are shockingly huge emitters of greenhouse gases," Vasil says.

(credit:Alamy)

Going For The Soy Veggie Burger(10 of14)

Eating meat has an environmental impact, so shouldn't choosing soy alternatives be friendlier to Mother Earth? Turns out it depends on the kind of soy you're eating. Growing soy has a worse environmental impact than other plant-based protein crops like chickpeas, and a lot of the soy we eat is genetically modified and grown in China, where pesticide use may not be as well regulated as it is in North America and Europe. Look for non-GMO soy, and get your plant proteins from lentils and beans when you can. (credit:Alamy)

Buying Bamboo Products(11 of14)

Bamboo has been touted as an eco-friendly alternative to woods and fabrics like cotton, hailed for its antibacterial properties and quick rate of growth. But it's not all as rosy as it seems. Pesticides can be used in its growth, and chemicals in processing it into fabric. And the increasing demand for the material could lead farmers to clear cut native vegetation in order to plant it. Bamboo still has a lot going for it—just make sure you check on its sourcing when purchasing it. (credit:Shutterstock)

Thickening Sauces With Corn Starch(12 of14)

Corn starch works well as a thickener for sauces and gravies, but it is usually made with genetically modified corn. Many people are concerned about GMOs in our food supply, and there are also intellectual property concerns around ownership of genetically modified seeds. You can avoid the issue by using arrowroot powder instead. As a bonus, it has a more neutral flavour and can be used at low temperatures. (credit:Shutterstock)

Buying Canned Vegetables(13 of14)

Using vegetables canned at their peak freshness can be a way to enjoy your favourite produce out of season, but most of them will be in cans lined with BPA. There are growing concerns about Bisphenol A's estrogenic properties, and it was recently found that most Canadians have BPA in their blood. Avoid it by using frozen veggies instead. (credit:Alamy)

Eating Meat(14 of14)

A 2012 report from World Bank Group said that our best chance to avoid the effects of climate change down the road is to start eating less meat now. A former advisor to the group and another World Bank Group environmental specialist said that the 51 percent of world greenhouse gas emissions are attributable to cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, camels, pigs, and poultry. "We can all help the climate change crisis by slashing the amount of meat and animal products that we eat since meat animals are shockingly huge emitters of greenhouse gases," Vasil says. (credit:Shutterstock)

Jamaica is known as the land of wood and water, so for as long as I can remember that has been my focus -- conserving the trees and reducing water consumption. But when it comes to recycling, there is one thing I've never been able to bring myself to do.

First, though, let me tell you what I have done.

As best as possible, I try to incorporate the 3Rs -- Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle -- into my daily routine. I make do, do without, or use it up. I live frugally. In fact, I'm vigilant about reducing and reusing materials and packaging whenever and wherever possible.

Reusing old materials to make new ones isn't a new concept. My mother was always very crafty; I suppose as a working mom with five children, she also found it therapeutic. It was not uncommon for her to repurpose items. She would make cushions out of old fabric, complete with buttons salvaged from old clothing, and she would even make flower beds from freshly painted old car tires. She loved it, we learned it.

So along with my pet projects, I make a point of living conservatively. Of course this is easier in Ontario. Like so many others afforded better access to the myriad of manufacturers who adopt conservation and produce a variety of green options, I'm using my purchasing power to endorse a cleaner planet. It makes perfect sense that we should close the loop and purchase recyclable and recycled products.

I honour my mother and Mother Earth by staying true to my teachings. . .making my purchases count, only buying what I need. Not a difficult decision since I'm living single in Toronto. I'm not saying I don't treat myself or my friends and family, but even then I try to avoid the waste associated with a shopping habit.

Prices do not necessarily reflect quality. It's possible to purchase quality items at a bargain. I believe in purchasing well-made items, but where the opportunity arises -- I've been known to haggle over prices. (I'm conserving my money, too.) If the item lasts longer, it not only saves me money and personal energy, but is easy on global resources.

I don't always buy new, choosing to go second-hand as long as I'm able to maintain quality. Places like thrift stores, swop-meets, yard sales, and consignment shops not only yield good finds, they can be a lot of fun. Some of my most precious and unique finds have been spotted browsing through antique stores.

Supporting the local farming community is another great way to celebrate Earth Day, and it reminds me of home and dad. He would want me to act locally even though we're thinking globally. I try to buy fresh food as often as possible from local producers. I'd encourage you to go to farmers' markets and support the independent sellers. Find someone who sells honey and extra eggs from their own chickens.

Another thing that was common in our family: lending, borrowing, and exchanging. In our extended community it was not a big deal. Eco-friendly lifestyles come in all shapes and sizes and bartering helps to build relationships and strong communities. It was not uncommon to give food in exchange for manual labour or exchange our expertise. Sharing is just another way to extend access to resources for everyone's needs, and I still practice it.

Still for all of that, conserving the trees and reducing water consumption is always on my mind.

Back on the island, windows are almost always open -- unless of course it's raining. In which case, depending of the rain drift, they are left slightly ajar. The smell of the earth during and after the rain is rejuvenating. Here in Toronto, I live in a space where I'm fortunate to have cooling and heating, but this is managed by my landlord. So with limited access to the thermostat there's little effect I can have on conserving energy. But I check the doors and windows for leaks and drafts -- using a stick of incense or a lit candle -- and cover, as best as possible any drafts I ﬁnd. And report it. I do what I can even though it does not affect my rent. It is after all for the planet.

In the Caribbean, it was second nature to do laundry early in the mornings, any given morning, and hang clothing outdoors. The clothes would be dry before noon. Now, more often than not my clothes are machine washed and dried. And every time I cringe. Now laundry has become more of an effort -- checking for nice weather, or if the clothes are to remain inside when it's cold -- hanging on an inside line device or laying sweaters flat etc., etc.

Reports say that an estimated 50 per cent of all household water is wasted; going down the drain while we wait for it to warm up or it evaporates. I drink tap water whenever possible, and boil and store the same in my refrigerator, rather than using a home filtration system. Nothing wrong with a filtration system but this is my answer to bottled water. I take shorter showers using a low-ﬂow showerhead and turning off the tap when not in use -- like while lathering and brushing teeth. The toilet tank in my home has old juice bottles filled with rocks (to weigh it down) ensuring less water is used to fill the tank and decreasing the amount used to flush.

Yes, I think I'm not doing too bad with celebrating the Earth, even long after Earth day. So I believe that I have earned the right to refuse to do that one thing I can't quite stomach ...using recycled toilet paper.

I know it seems so much better than non-recycled. And it reduces the harvesting of my beloved trees (even though it's from tree farms). But when you consider the processing of the paper, the shipping, and sales -- because it's still a novel product-- it buck my quality purchase rule. Besides, the thought of using recycled toilet paper t is not that enticing.

There is also still work to be done. According to research published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, many recycled paper products -- including toilet paper and paper towels -- are often contaminated with BPA and BPS. As you may know, these have been linked to several diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.

Heavy I know. So how about cloth toilet paper or "family cloth" you may ask? Not a novel idea; it's an economically and environmentally sound option. We use cloth for so many other sanitary things -- bathing and covering our coughs -- and it's a proven method that works. But it's still not enticing to me.

I understand that it is saves time and energy, it's softer (which is a big concern), and it's healthier and obviously more affordable. You would just be rewashing the cloth with your laundry, but no. It still is not for me.

This year, like last year, recycled toilet paper was put on my list and then taken off... again.

As the world evolves and more and more items are produced from recycled material, I'd like to believe that I will soon become that hard core purist who buys or supports more alternative methods and brands. And maybe, just maybe, toilet paper will be one day be part of it.

But for now, maybe I just tackle what I can stomach -- totally revamping my cleaning products to more sustainable options. I'm sure I can help to reduce the harmful effects these materials have on our water and air, paying tribute to my heritage, my mom, my dad, and the Earth, even if I do still make one exception in the privacy of my own bathroom.

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