15 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day with Your Whole H.E.A.R.T.

Henrico’s Environmental Action Resource Team (H.E.A.R.T.) works diligently on behalf of our residents, businesses, and visitors to provide equal access to Henrico County’s natural resources and to encourage shared responsibility for their protection. It comprises representatives from various Henrico County agencies, schools, and the community, all dedicated to pushing forward county efforts to promote sustainability, preserve natural resources, beautify the community, and protect the environment.

With Earth Day right around the corner, here are 15 ways you can join their effort and minimize your carbon footprint within Henrico and beyond:

1. Pick up a free bare-root seedling from your local Henrico Library on Saturday, April 12! H.E.A.R.T. and Henricopolis are sponsoring the event.
2. Get outside with Recreation and Parks! There will be an Earth Day Celebration on April 19, Movie in the Park: Taylor Farm on April 18, Farm Field Day on April 26, and more! Check out the events calendar!
3. Join Keep Henrico Beautiful and Henrico County Public Library to learn about dragonfly and damselfly populations and their role in the ecosystem on April 18 at the Tuckahoe Library. (Check out the event on the library website.
4. Listen to the Henrico County H.E.A.R.T. podcast to hear about news, programs, and projects!
5. Drop off food scraps and other certified compostable materials at both Henrico Public Use Areas. This free, residential drop-off composting program reduces the amount of waste in landfills and is better for the environment. It is available to County residents and employees. Learn more on the County website.
6. Be intentional about energy efficiency in your home by changing lights to LEDs, adding insulation, weatherizing, using window blinds wisely, or upgrading inefficient HVAC systems. Checkout out the Going Green chapter in our Homeowner’s Enhancement Guide.
7. Be mindful of energy vampire technology! Technology and appliances can still consume electricity when turned off or in standby mode, but are still plugged in. Turn off lights, put your computer to sleep when not in use, think before printing, and unplug electronics when they are not in use. Set thermostats to balance thermal comfort with energy management.
8. Recycle! If you are a Henrico County resident and live in a single-family detached home accessible from a public road, curbside recycling collection service is available to you through the Central Virginia Waste Management Authority (CVWMA). This service is free for county residents, and collections are held every other week. Additionally, the Solid Waste Division of Public Utilities offers free disposal of household hazardous waste such as used motor oil, old gas, antifreeze, and oil-based paints and solvents. To safely recycle batteries, take them to one of many locations in Henrico that participate in the Call2Recycle program.
9. Plant native plants. They are well adapted to local environmental conditions, maintain or improve soil fertility, reduce erosion, often require less fertilizer and pesticides than many alien plants, and create food and habitat for wildlife. Along with their ability to thrive naturally in our county, these native plants are suggested for developers seeking compliance with Henrico County’s planning and development ordinances. Currently, at least 35% of all plants in a proposed landscaping plan must be Native Virginia Species. Check out our Native Plant list on the County website.
10. Secure Your Load and Stop Litter! When using any vehicle or trailer to haul material, take a few minutes to make sure items are properly tied down, cover everything with a tarp or something sturdy, make sure brush and debris are not overhanging or dragging on the road, put lighter weight items at the bottom, don’t overload, and always double check and be aware while driving.
11. Use sustainable transportation! Henrico has 56 miles of bike lanes, 10 active bus routes with over 350 stops, 269 miles of sidewalk, and numerous walking paths and trails! H.E.A.R.T. has installed several bike racks for residents and employees at the Government and Courts buildings. If you are worried about being visible on the bike paths, sidewalks, or walking trails, pick up a free WOAH! (Watch Out Ahead Henrico) vest at an area library, police station, or government center.
12. Volunteer with Keep Henrico Beautiful. Join the Litter Pickup Program, Adopt a Road, or The James River Regional Clean-up. Outreach and Engagement Volunteer Services Program also has clean-up days at Woodland Cemetery and St. James Community Cemetery.
13. Enjoy hands-on learning with Henrico County Public Libraries! Learn how to start a vegetable garden, propagate, shade garden, or use a field guide and identify wildflowers. If arts and crafts are more your style, make your own seed bombs, decorative flowers, planter painting, or enjoy an art demo. There are different programs for kids, teens, and adults. See the events calendar or program guide for more information.
14. Be conscious of your home’s typical resource consumption, such as water, electricity, and natural gas. Whether you total up your bills for a year or keep a spreadsheet of your usage, see what you regularly use and where you can improve. Be on the lookout for any drastic changes that could indicate a leak or other inefficiency.
15. Share your opinion with HenricoNEXT and participate in the process of updating the county’s Comprehensive Plan. The plan provides a vision for Henrico’s future, including its physical development and the enhancement of its quality of life. Stormwater protection, replanting the tree canopy, protection of natural resources, renewable energy, active transportation, and recreation and parks are a few of the issues associated with environmental sustainability that will be covered in the plan update.