We were recently at a family gathering in Windsor, enjoying a buffet lunch when I spotted my wife, Renee, picking paper plates and plastic utensils out of the garbage and tossing them into a blue recycling box. If the hostess didn't get the message to beef up her "greening" efforts, many of the guests did.

Taking care of our environment is top of mind for many. Earth Day is now celebrated worldwide and is a great opportunity to encourage others to preserve and protect the planet. After all, it is our responsibility to take care of it and there are endless ways to make a positive difference.

One idea is to hold a clean-up at your local community park followed by a pot luck picnic with an emphasis on locally grown produce. Don't forget to use reusable plates/cutlery and cloth napkins. Then, end it off with the ultimate form of recycling - a community clothing swap. If all goes to plan, you could score yourself a new outfit!

The residents of Markham are really awesome when it comes to protecting our community and our planet.

Many of them come out on a yearly basis to support the 10,000 Trees for the Rouge Valley project. This is a nonprofit group who each year spearhead a massive tree planting in the Rouge Valley. This year (and last) they concentrated on the north side of Donald Cousens Parkway (formally the Markham Bypass), 1/2 km east of 9th Line in Markham. Hundreds of people showed up to assist.

The folks in Markham also do a fantastic job at recycling. Just 30 percent of Markham's waste goes to landfill each week by using our Green Bins - the best record of any community in Canada!!

The Town of Markham is very committed to making our community greener and healthier. They are moving towards a zero waste ecological footprint policy as a baseline and model for residents to follow. To put the plan in motion, the Town is in the process of creating a Green Print Strategy. Among other things, it will include green building and green community standards along with a community-wide zero waste strategy and an enhanced Town beautification policy. Go Markham!

Earth Day 2010 has come and gone but it is always a good time to pledge your commitment to your community and to the planet even if it's as simple as starting a conversation with your kids and planting some seeds, pardon the pun! There's still lots of work to be done when it comes to building awareness but by taking a step, you'll be doing your part for the environment.