York Region celebrates Earth Day 2024
On behalf of York Regional Council and The Regional Municipality of York, it is my pleasure to recognize Monday, April 22, 2024, as Earth Day.
Today, residents across York Region join people around the world to celebrate our natural environment and focus on environmental conservation and sustainability for a healthier planet and a brighter future.
The 2024 Earth Day theme, Planet vs. Plastic, recognizes plastics as one of the defining environmental challenges of our time. Plastics, while incredibly useful, have also become a pervasive and harmful presence in our environment. From polluting oceans and rivers to harming wildlife and ecosystems, the impact of plastic pollution is far-reaching and severe.
To combat this issue, EarthDay.org is calling on individuals, businesses and government organizations around the world to commit to a 60% reduction in the production of all plastics by 2040.
We all must take action to reduce our reliance on single-use plastics, promote recycling and waste management infrastructure and develop innovative alternatives to traditional plastics. Additionally, it is the role of governments to raise awareness about the importance of reducing plastic consumption and properly disposing of plastic waste so we can protect our planet and safeguard our ecosystems for future generations.
York Regional Council is committed to supporting businesses and residents in the reduction of single-use plastics and items. In 2022, York Region launched a Single-Use Items Reduction campaign and engaged with over 1,200 people about single-use alternatives and how to recycle or dispose of items properly. In 2023, the Single-Use Innovation Challenge provided $34,000 in funding to two non-profit organizations with unique, community-driven approaches to help York Region businesses reduce their use of single-use items, including coffee pods, plastic bags, straws and beverage containers.
Investing in our planet is about helping to create a cleaner, healthier, more resilient and sustainable environment. Earth Day is an opportunity for us all to ask ourselves what more we can do to reduce our plastic use – not just for today, but for future generations.
Wayne Emmerson
York Region Chairman and CEO
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Media Contact:
Corporate Communications, The Regional Municipality of York
Phone: 1-877-464-9675, ext. 71234
[email protected]
