We only have one earth, and it’s on each one of us to nurture it, treasure it and protect it for future generations. We’ve all been taught to recycle and reuse, but this April, let’s think more creatively and pragmatically.

Let’s pledge to buy less stuff, rethink fast fashion purchases, reduce use of single use plastics and even consider planting a tree or a pollinator garden.

Check out this list of ten actions that we’re considering taking that can help make our world a better place. We hope you’ll find at least one on there that sparks your interest!

Recycle Old Toys.

Many of us donate old toys once our kids have outgrown them, but what about toys that are broken beyond repair or can’t be donated? Rather than tossing them into the garbage where the nonbiodegradable components will sit for years, consider recycling them.

Mattel allows you to download a free shipping label to send back toys that they will then repurpose for new toys through the Mattel Playback program.

Hasbro, Spin Master, V-Tech and LeapFrog all partner with TerraCycle to recycle old toys and use the resulting parts to make everything from park benches to flower pots.

Recycle old crayons and markers

Give old and broken crayons a new lease on life so they don’t end up in a landfill where they can sit for decades or even hundreds of years; the parrafin material that crayons are made out of does not easily degrade. Organizations like The Crayon Initiative and Crazy Crayons/National Crayon Recycle Program collect old crayons and turn them into new ones that kids can use.  thecrayoninitiative.org | crazycrayons.com

Shop a Refillable Store.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, containers and packaging from the things you buy make up about 28% of municipal solid waste. Make a difference by looking for eco-friendly packaging. Even better, shop at a refillable store like Lufka Refillables Zero Waste Store in Seminole Heights, Life Essentials Refillery in South Tampa and Wesley Chapel, and Sans Zero Market Zero Waste Store in St. Pete. Start small by refilling products like laundry detergent and hand soap and even bulk food items like grains, nuts and beans.

You can read our feature on Lufka with the store owner here.

Plant a tree or Pollinator Garden

Did you know that Florida has 300 species of bees and over 200 species of butterflies that cannot be found anywhere else on Earth? (**UF IFAS Extension) You can create a haven for these pollinators that we literally could not survive without. While a yard is great for a pollinator garden, a container pot absolutely works and can make a difference! The Florida Wildflower Foundation has some great tips on how to plant a pollinator pot using native plants. https://www.flawildflowers.org/pollinator-pot/

Also keep in mind that there are rules and laws that govern what you can plant in public areas. Check out the City of Tampa’s Community Tree Program through which you can request a free tree for city land, greenways or street rights of way. If you live outside city limits, contact Hillsborough County to see if your community qualifies for a tree grant.

We also love planting colorful marigolds and pentas, and even herbs like cilantro, dill and basil that bolt and flower pretty easily. The bees love them!

Volunteer

We live in one of the most beautiful places in the country, surrounded by gorgeous waterways and natural wooded areas. Let’s work together to keep it that way! Local organizations such as Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful and the Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center have regular cleanups and other volunteer activities scheduled for which people of a wide range of ages can sign up.

Doing this as a family (or youth or school group) can teach kids how to be active stewards or their environment from a young age.

Play for a Good Cause

Visit Tampa Bay Watch Discovery Center at the St. Pete Pier, Clearwater Marine Aquarium, ZooTampa, and the Florida Aquarium. Your visits and even your gift shop purchases help these organizations continue their conservation efforts.

Compost! Take a composting class or learn from locals.

One of the most valuable forms of natural, organic, recyclable fertilizer is our food waste and yard scraps. Through the City of Tampa’s Backyard Composting Program, you can get a free bin and learn how to compost at home.

We also love the Subpod below-ground composting system. It's easy to set up and maintain and uses composting worms to breakdown your compost, so it's fun for kids to participate.

Organizations like Suncoast Compost will pick up your scraps and drop off compost at a location for you twice a year. Turn composting into a family learning project—kids might get a kick out of the role played by worms in vermicomposting – or sign up for a class about microirrigation and rain collection with a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension class.

Learn the rules of recycling.

You might think you’re helping the environment by putting as much as possible in your big blue can, but not everything is useful. Some things can in fact, cause harm, like plastic bags and cords that can snag the processing machines. Check out exactly what you can and cannot recycle (Spaghetti sauce jars? Yes, but cleaned and with lids removed) at the City of Tampa’s Solid Waste and Environmental Program Management website.

The website for Tampa Bay Recycles brings together information from Tampa, St. Petersburg, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

Recycle almost anything with TerraCycle

We all know we can recycle paper, cans and bottles, but what about makeup containers? Toothpaste tubes? How about bread bags and even old baby gear and toys? If you have something that you can’t recycle with your local municipality, check with TerraCycle!

This organization teams up with numerous manufacturers, brands and retailers worldwide. Explore your options at terracycle.com.

TIP: TerraCycle also works with Target’s Car Seat Trade-In Program, which gives you a discount coupon for new baby gear in exchange for your old car seat, car seat base and more. The program, which is offered at least twice a year, has recycled more than 3 million car seats since 2017!

Recycle old baby gear.

WasteManagement works with Target at certain times of the year with the Target Car Seat Trade-In Program that gives you a discount coupon for new baby gear in exchange for your old car seat, car seat base and more.

You’ll need to download the Target Circle app if you haven’t already. The program has recycled more than 1.7 million car seats since 2017! The next date for the program runs from April 16-30, 2023.

Terracycle also works with several different baby gear companies like Century and they also offer a Baby Gear Zero Waste Box.

Recycle old clothing and textiles.

Fast fashion may be fun and economical, but it can wreak havoc on the environment. If clothing, accessories and other textiles aren’t in any shape to be resold or recycled, consider recycling them by checking the website of the clothing chain.

For example, H&M accepts old clothing from any brand to recycle, and Nike will recycle sneakers of any brand. Animal care organizations like the Humane Society of Tampa Bay and county animal shelters often accept clean, old towels as well.

Attend an Earth Day Event in Tampa Bay

Ecofest Earth Day Tampa Bay 2025 at Learning Gate Community School | Tuesday, April 22, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Organized by Learning Gate Community School, the 16th Annual EcoFest will be held on the grounds of the school located at: 16215 Hanna Rd., Lutz, FL. The event is free and includes live music, workshops, demonstrations, informational booths, green living products and services. You can also learn from green businesses, environmental organizations, alternative health practitioners, renewable energy specialists and organic farmers. More information here.

*Originally published in the April 2022 & April 2025 issues of Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine.

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