Bring your e-waste so that it can be safely disposed of. Bring a 5-gallon bucket to take home free compost for gardens. Shred old documents and recycle to keep the environment clean and healthy.
On April 21, Belmont will be hosting its annual Earth Day Celebration from 9 am to 12 pm at Twin Pines Park. Attendance will be free to all, and attendees are encouraged to interact with the various booths and participate with the environmental stations: E-waste drop-off, compost giveaway, and document shredding. According to Diane Lynn, an administrative assistant for the Community Development Department, over 200 people are estimated to come to the event to show their support for Earth Day.
“There is definitive scientific analysis that shows that in our daily lives we need to shift to more environmentally friendly practices,” Natsuko Nozaki, a senior who is part of Carlmont Green Team, said. “Morally, it isn’t right to make a mess in nature that others can’t clean up. You should clean up more waste than you yourself put out.”
Those who go to the celebration will also have access to a variety of information booths, many of which will have giveaways, outreach materials, and hands-on activities. The booths, which are manned by different organizations, will be located in the main picnic area of Twin Pines Park near the main performance stage.
A majority of the groups, like the Belmont Fire Protection District, Recology, and Silicon Valley Water will be educating spectators on environmental issues like fire prevention, waste reduction, and how to stop water pollution.
“Pollution is harmful to the environment because it lessens health and damages organisms,” freshman Derek Tao said. “I don’t think we’re putting in enough work into helping the environment. For instance, with the new trash bins at Carlmont, that have waste categories, people still aren’t putting the proper items where they belong because they either don’t care, or simply don’t understand what to do.”
The Earth Day festival will also have a tree workshop/giveaway and a flutist to serve as musical entertainment. The flutist and the workshop will both be located in the senior center area of Twin Pines Park. After being educated on how to better live with the environment, event attendees can then go to either activity.
“If we don’t do anything to help the environment now, it’s only going to get worse,” sophomore Lily Gittoes said. “The harmful effects of pollution, like sea level rising, are happening sooner and faster than people think. There’s always more work that needs to be done to help the environment and getting more people involved would be very beneficial.”
