It's been 50 years since a worldwide movement focused on preserving our world and its natural resources began. At the time, leaded gasoline, throwaway consumerism and industrial growth were causing vast waste piles and pollution. Earth Day was created to remind us all to be a little kinder to our environment and return to a time when waste was not so commonplace.

As far back as the 1800s, people did not need reminders to "recycle"; they just did it as a way of life. Old clothes were handed down or turned into rags. Organic food waste was tilled into the soil, and broken furniture was repaired or rebuilt, as replacements were not easy to acquire. The Industrial Revolution and resulting prosperity allowed consumers to buy new even when the "old" was still working; bigger and better became the goal.

The rise of the modern environmental movement made us take notice of the negative effects of pollution and waste and reminded us of the need to help safeguard our world for future generations. Recycling became an important tool; other plans involved reducing toxins in the air and water, replacing natural resources and rebuilding forests to promote cleaner air and provide places for endangered species.

In the United States today, recycling programs are managed at the state and local levels under guidelines from the Environmental Protection Agency. While the oft-repeated motto "Reduce-Reuse-Recycle" is a popular icon of this movement, there are actually nine recommended steps: reduce, reuse, recycle, repair, remake, refuse, remember, respect the earth, regrow/restore.

Consider repairing and remaking things that need updating rather than simply replacing them. This includes sewing buttons on clothing or fixing an appliance instead of getting new one. Remaking is also a part of upcycling, using items you no longer have need for in a different way, such as using mason jars or soda bottles as planters. Refuse to purchase and use items that have a single use and/or will not decompose safely in landfills; these are things like lightweight plastic shopping bags and single-use cutlery. Refusal sends a message to manufacturing companies to make their products more viable to a "green" planet.

Remember to bring reusable shopping bags and carry refillable and durable water bottles. Respect our home, the earth, by using products that decompose easily and are not loaded with toxins and by sorting waste and recycle items appropriately. Regrow and restore by planting trees to enrich our oxygen, not littering, not clear-cutting your land and not throwing waste into our waterways.

Walk lightly on the earth, keeping in mind the impact everything you do has on our planet. In the course of normal kitchen and household recycling, be sure to use the proper containers for each item. Contact your local recycling center to learn what is recyclable; find local info at https://berecycled.org/search/. Make sure to rinse all your plastics and glass bottles from food residue as the scum can be a detriment to the reuse of these products. Cut your corrugated cardboard boxes in smaller and flat pieces. Know which, if any, Styrofoam (such as egg cartons) are accepted and how to tell the difference. Find information on electronic, battery, oil waste and prescription drug recycling and disposal programs.

Reduce waste with water conservation habits and devices and use soaker hoses when watering your lawns. Reduce the energy you use to heat your homes by lowering the thermostat even one degree, sealing drafty windows and doors, and heating areas most used by your family while keeping the rest of your home at safe nonfreezing temperatures. Turn off lights and appliances when they are not in use and using dawn-to-dusk lights or solar-generated motion detectors for outside fixtures where lighting is necessary.

Eliminate waste by donating clothing, household goods, toys, books and cars. Before discarding anything, ask these questions: Does this have any further use in my home? Is this recyclable? Can someone else use this?

Take care of our earth so it will be here to take care of mankind.