Yesterday was Earth Day, and our City VITAL Youth participants took the opportunity to reflect on their habits, responsibility and the small actions they can take to make change.
Participants kicked things off with a game exploring how long everyday items take to decompose in a landfill. The answers came as a surprise!
- Apple core: up to 6 months
- Paper towel: 1–2 months
- Bread: 4–6 months
- Orange peel: 6 months–2 years
- Milk carton: 5–10 years
- Aluminum can: 80–200 years
- Plastic bottle: 400–500 years
- Glass bottle: up to 1 million years
- Styrofoam: does not decompose
“It shocked me that a glass bottle can take a million years to decompose,” said Maya, City VITAL Youth participant. “The styrofoam being basically immortal… it really made me stop and think.”
These realizations were unsettling, but also motivating, and they all agreed on one thing: sometimes it can be easy to think, ‘I’m just one person. My decisions and actions don’t matter.’ But when it comes to positive change, even small actions make a big impact.
“If everyone thinks that way, nothing changes,” says Ava, City VITAL Youth participant.
Another big topic of discussion was that making environmentally friendly choices isn’t always simple. “Eco-friendly options can be more expensive,” says Maya. “Sometimes it’s just easier to choose what’s convenient.”
But simple, everyday changes can add up if everyone takes part. Using reusable bags and water bottles, recycling properly, and avoiding buying into fast trends are just a few examples. “My mom reuses containers instead of throwing them out—it saves money and reduces waste,” says Ava.
And beyond habits, our City VITAL Youth participants explored how caring for the environment connects to leadership and community. Each one of us can inspire others to do better and to set an example for the people around us. “It’s about helping the next generation do better than we did,” says Maya.
On Earth Day, our youth are reminding us that caring for the planet isn’t just about big changes, but everyday choices. It’s a shared responsibility that we all must accept. “If we look out for our environment, it stays safe and healthy, and that’s important for everyone,” says Maya.