HCIA 2021 CALENDAR CLIMATE CHANGE A calendar of art created by Hudson County students in recognition of the annual Hudson County Improvement Authority Earth Day Calendar Contest. Over the past several decades, scientists have noticed significant changes in our environmental conditions, like an increase in record-breaking hot days — this is called climate change. Our rapidly changing climate makes it difficult for all living things, especially humans and animals. That’s why it’s important for each of us to reduce our carbon footprint. Carbon footprints are ways humans contribute to the dangerous chemicals and greenhouse gases that are released into the atmosphere. This year, the Hudson County Improvement Authority has provided you with tips and information in the 2021 calendar about what we can all do to protect the future of our planet. JANUARY 2021 Kiya Vanera, Grade 2 - PS #25 NEW YEAR, NEW CHOICES A new year is a good opportunity for all of us to make productive lifestyle changes, including making choices that will help reduce our carbon footprint. This year, challenge yourself to go Zero Waste by limiting plastic use and buying secondhand clothing and package-free items. Fun Fact: Did you know the HCIA offers free tips for you to limit waste? Visit HCIA.org to learn more! SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 New Year’s Day 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Eastern Orthodox Epiphany Christmas 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Eastern Orthodox New Year 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Martin Luther King Jr. Day 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 25 26 27 28 29 30 COOL LINKS COOL APPS packagefreeshop.com Recycle Studio livescience.com FEBRUARY 2021 Kaivalya Dutta, Grade 3 - BelovED Community Charter School REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE! The best way to keep our neighborhoods clean is by limiting what needs to be disposed of, reusing and repairing items before they are tossed in the trash and recycling properly. When products like plastic bottles are manufactured, harmful factory chemicals can be introduced into our air. Instead, consider using a reusable water bottle to save money and help to sustain the environment for years to come. Fun Fact: Only plastics with #1 and #2 printed on them should be recycled. Download the Recycle Coach app on your phone or tablet to learn more about your local recycling programs and schedule. SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 National Freedom Day First Day of Black History Month Groundhog Day 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Lunar New Year 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Valentine’s Day Presidents’ Day Mardi Gras Ash Wednesday 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Purim Begins 28 COOL LINKS COOL APPS recycleright.org Recycle Coach recycleoftenrecycleright.com earth911.com MARCH 2021 Rashi Jakhotiya, Grade 7 - Secaucus Middle School PLANT A GARDEN, HELP THE ENVIRONMENT Planting a garden has many benefits for the environment: it helps pollinators like bees and butterflies, and if you plant veggies and herbs, it can reduce your carbon footprint by limiting your trips to the grocery store. This spring, consider planting a garden or growing herbs or flowers in your window sill or in your community. Fun Fact: Many cities have community gardens in local parks for people to grow their own plants and vegetables. If you don’t have space at home, check with your town to see how you can participate in a community garden. SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 First Day of Women’s History Month 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Mobile Shredding Maha Shivaratri North Bergen - Begins Braddock Park 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Mobile Shredding Secaucus Daylight High School Saving Time St. Patrick’s Day 1st Day of Spring 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Mobile Shredding Bayonne - World Gregg Park Water Day Passover Begins 28 29 30 31 28 29 30 Palm Sunday Holi COOL LINKS COOL APPS kidsgardening.org Veggie Garden Planner njagsociety.org My Little Terrarium state.nj.us/dep/seeds APRIL 2021 Kaashwl Shah, Grade K - Kindergarten Hudson Arts and Science Charter School CELEBRATE EARTH DAY! Every year, Hudson County joins communities across the world to recognize Earth Day on April 22. Earth Day was first observed in 1970 and has since grown into a global holiday with the goal to diversify, educate and activate good environmental practices. You don’t have to go far to enjoy all the beauty Earth has to offer! Celebrate our planet this month by doing outdoor activities in our county parks, like kayaking in Laurel Hill Park in Secaucus, taking a guided nature walk in Lincoln Park in Jersey City or having a picnic in Braddock Park in North Bergen. Fun Fact: The HCIA is the sponsor of New Jersey’s longest running Earth Day celebration. Visit HCIA.org to learn more about events scheduled for this year. SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT 1 1 2 3 1 2 3 COOL LINKS COOL APPS earthday.org Google Earth planetpals.com epa.gov/earthday April Fool’s Day Good Friday Holy Saturday 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Mobile Shredding Union City - Jose Marti School Easter Hoboken - DPW 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Mobile Shredding Kearny - West Ramadan Hudson Park Begins Tax Day Guttenberg - DPW 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Earth Day 25 26 27 28 29 30 May 2021 Genesis Lema, Grade 4 - St. Francis Academy DISPOSING OF HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE You probably have several items in your house that need to be discarded carefully to reduce negative impacts on the environment. Things like pool chemicals, oil-based paint, tires and certain oils need to be disposed of in a special way. Many of these items can be properly recycled for free at HCIA approved collection sites. Visit HCIA.org for a full list of times and locations of where these items can be discarded, as well as a list of acceptable materials. Fun Fact: Did you know, the HCIA collects hazardous waste from thousands of residents for free every year? SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT 1 2 3 4 5 1 COOL LINKS COOL APPS Mobile njhazwaste.com Recycle Coach Shredding stopwaste.org Jersey City - Lincoln Park 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 HHW, Tire, Computer Recycling North Bergen - MUA Bayonne - Gorman Field Orthodox Easter Cinco de Mayo 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 HHW, Tire, Computer Recycling Jersey City - Municipal Complex Kearny - DPW Mother’s Day Eid al-Fitr Armed Forces Day 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Mobile Shredding WNY - DPW Shavuot Harrison - TBD 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 25 26 27 28 29 Memorial Day JUNE 2021 Jerrick Kamaraj, Grade 7 - Academy 1 OBSERVING WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY June 5 is World Environment Day, an initiative by the United Nations to encourage worldwide awareness and action to protect the environment. It’s easy for us to do our part and work together to prevent the devastating impacts of climate change by volunteering with environmental organizations, talking to your local community leaders and educating your friends. Fun Fact: The main cause of climate change is due to decisions we as humans make, like cutting down trees and burning fossil fuels like coal and oil. That’s why it’s important for us to all do our part to protect the Earth from further damage. SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT 1 1 2 3 4 5 World Environment Day 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Primary Election Day 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Juneteenth Flag Day Observed Juneteenth 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Father’s Day First Day of Summer 27 28 29 30 28 29 30 Palm Sunday Holi COOL LINKS COOL APPS worldenvironmentday.global Recycle Studio un.org/en/observances/environment-day JULY 2021 Raphaela Abu, Grade 2 - Dr. Lena Edwards Academic Charter School TRAVEL SMART, TRAVEL GREEN Did you know that electric vehicles emit less than half the amount of greenhouse gases than traditional gasoline powered cars? Not only are electric cars cheaper to maintain, they are better for the environment. But, you don’t need an electric car to reduce your carbon footprint when traveling - consider riding your bike, walking or using public transportation when possible to limit the amount of air pollution caused by private, gasoline powered vehicles. Fun Fact: New Jersey is a leader in electric vehicle incentives and rebates. There are over 15,000 electric vehicle charging stations throughout Hudson County, in Jersey City, Hoboken, Weehawken, Secaucus, Kearny, West New York and Harrison. SUN MON TUES WED THURS FRI SAT 1 1 2 3 COOL LINKS COOL APPS hudsontma.org/charging-your- PlugShare electric-vehicle-in-hudson-coun- NJ Transit ty/ chargeup.njcleanenergy.com/ 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Independence Independence Day Day Observed 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Tisha B’Av Begins 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Eid al-Ahda Begins 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Friendship Day AUGUST 2021 Tessa Szyba, Grade 4 - St. Francis Academy CLEAN COMMUNITIES The Clean Communities program helps towns across the state address littering. The HCIA works with non-profit organizations, schools and businesses to conduct cleanup projects throughout the county. These litter cleanup activities and programs improve our neighborhoods and make them even better places to live. Fun Fact: You can host a cleanup event in your own neighborhood! Call (201) 324-6222, ext.