20 Ways to Show Kindness to the Planet
Random Acts of Kindness Week is all about spreading goodwill—and that includes being kind to the earth. Whether you’re picking up litter, reducing waste, recycling responsibly, or making your community more beautiful, you’re helping to create a cleaner, healthier world for everyone. And the best part? You can carry these habits forward all year long! Read our tips for more ideas on how to get started.
End Litter: Keep Your Community Clean
Take a Cleanup Walk – Bring a reusable bag and gloves on your next stroll and pick up any litter you see. Whether it’s along your neighborhood sidewalk, a local park, or a hiking trail, every piece of trash removed helps protect wildlife and keeps communities safe.
Adopt a Spot – Commit to regularly cleaning up a specific area, like a street corner, playground, or waterfront. Keeping one location clean over time helps prevent litter from accumulating and shows others how much you care about your community. Many of our affiliates offer these programs, so be sure to check them out!
Do a Storm Drain Sweep – Litter and debris near storm drains often get washed into local waterways, polluting streams, rivers, and eventually the ocean. Taking a few minutes to clear leaves, trash, and plastic waste from storm drains can prevent pollution and keep drinking water sources clean.
Create DIY Litter Cleanup Kits – Assembling small bags with gloves, reusable bags, and grabbers makes it easier for others to join the effort. Consider sharing them with friends, neighbors, or local schools to encourage more people to pick up litter.
Report Illegal Dumping – If you notice areas with excessive litter or illegal dumping, report them to local authorities or environmental groups. Speaking up helps ensure those areas are cleaned and that better waste management practices are put in place.
Recycle & Upcycle: Give Old Items a Second Life
Refresh Your Recycling Knowledge – Local recycling guidelines often change, so take a few minutes to check your city or county’s rules. By recycling correctly, you help prevent contamination that can cause entire batches of recyclables to be sent to the landfill.
Join a Drop-Off Drive – Many communities, including our affiliates, offer special recycling programs for items like electronics, batteries, paint, and plastic film. Participating in a drop-off event keeps hazardous and hard-to-recycle materials out of landfills and waterways.
Get Creative with Upcycling – Instead of throwing items away, find ways to give them a new purpose. Old t-shirts can become reusable shopping bags, glass jars can be used for storage, and scrap fabric can be turned into cleaning rags. Every repurposed item reduces waste and conserves resources.
Organize a Clothing Swap – Instead of buying new clothes, host a swap with friends or neighbors. This extends the life of clothing, reduces textile waste, and cuts down on the environmental impact of fast fashion.
Donate Before You Toss – Before throwing away household items, check if they can be donated to a local shelter, thrift store, or community group. Someone else may have a use for them, reducing waste while helping those in need.
Reduce Waste: Be Mindful of What You Use
Bring Your Own Reusables – Whether it’s a coffee cup, water bottle, grocery bags, or utensils, choosing reusable options over disposables helps cut down on plastic waste that often ends up as litter.
Shop Package-Free – Reducing packaging waste is a simple way to be kind to the planet. Look for bulk bins, bring your own containers to refill stores, or choose products with minimal or compostable packaging.
Plan and Freeze Leftovers – Food waste is a major environmental issue, but meal planning and freezing leftovers can help. Making thoughtful grocery lists and repurposing leftovers prevents food from going to waste. It also saves you money!
Ditch Single-Use Paper & Plastic – Swapping out disposable items for reusable ones is a small but meaningful act of kindness. Cloth napkins, beeswax wraps, and stainless steel straws all help reduce waste and protect the environment.
Repair Instead of Replace – Whether it’s patching up torn clothing, fixing a broken chair, or troubleshooting an old appliance, repairing items instead of throwing them away saves room in landfills and conserves natural resources.
Beautification: Make the Earth More Vibrant
Plant a Pollinator-Friendly Garden – Late winter and early spring are great times to start planning and prepping a garden that supports bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Choosing native flowers and avoiding pesticides helps create a habitat that supports biodiversity.
Care for Young Trees – Newly planted trees need extra care, especially in the early months of the year. Mulching, watering, and protecting them from damage ensures they grow strong and provide shade, clean air, and homes for wildlife.
Host a Seed Swap – Swapping seeds with friends, neighbors, or community groups promotes biodiversity and reduces reliance on store-bought plants. Sharing seeds also strengthens community connections and encourages more green spaces.
Volunteer at a Community Garden – Many community gardens rely on volunteers to thrive. Lending a hand with planting, weeding, or maintenance helps provide fresh food, green spaces, and gathering places for local residents.
Create a Pollinator Watering Station – Bees, butterflies, and birds need access to clean water, especially in early spring when natural sources may still be scarce. A shallow dish filled with fresh water and pebbles offers a safe place for pollinators to drink.
Every act of kindness, no matter how small, makes a difference. By taking care of the environment, you’re not just helping nature—you’re creating a cleaner, healthier, and more beautiful world for your community and future generations. And while Random Acts of Kindness Week may be coming to a close, these habits can continue long after—it’s never too late to show kindness to the planet!