Governor shares five small actions Wisconsinites can take to have an impact as Wisconsin celebrates Earth Day

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers on April 21st, kicked off Earth Week and joined the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in inviting Wisconsinites to celebrate Earth Day all week long by taking action around their own homes and communities to reduce waste, recycle, conserve water, and take small steps that can have a big impact on helping protect and conserve Wisconsin’s natural resources, improve local neighborhoods and communities, outdoor spaces, and parks, and help respond to and mitigate climate change. The governor’s 2025 Earth Day proclamation is available here. Gov. Evers has also proclaimed Forest Appreciation Week, which runs from April 21 to Arbor Day (April 25). The governor’s Forest Appreciation Week and Arbor Day proclamation is available here.

“I encourage Wisconsinites to join me in celebrating Earth Week this week! Protecting our natural resources, cleaning up our lands, waters, and air, and leaving Wisconsin and our world better than we found it are all part of our state’s proud heritage and tradition of conservation,” said Gov. Evers. “Whether you’re picking up trash in your local neighborhood or park, fixing a leak at home, weatherizing your windows, cutting down on food waste, planting a native plant or tree, or recycling your old electronics, there are so many ways to celebrate, and it’s going to take all of us working together to ensure our communities, state, and planet are clean, safe, and vibrant for future generations.” 

From the 12 Native Nations in Wisconsin that have been stewards of the land since long before Wisconsin became a state to Wisconsin’s farmers and producers to hunters, anglers, and outdoor recreational enthusiasts, Wisconsin has a long and proud history of environmental stewardship and conservation. Founded in 1970 by former Wisconsin Governor and U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson, Earth Day was created to raise awareness about air and water pollution. More than 50 years later, Earth Day is observed around the world.

On Earth Day 2021, Gov. Evers signed Executive Order #112, joining the global Trillion Trees Pledge and committing to plant 75 million new trees in rural and urban areas and conserve 125,000 acres of forest in Wisconsin by the end of 2030 in collaboration with public, private, and non-governmental partners. Last year on Earth Day, Gov. Evers signed Executive Order #221 increasing the state’s tree-planting goal to 100 million trees by the end of 2030.

Gov. Evers is encouraging folks and families to celebrate Earth Day and Earth Week by taking action at home and in their communities. A list of five steps Wisconsinites can take to protect the state’s natural resources and celebrate Earth Week, including links to DNR resources to help, is available below.

Reduce Food Waste at Home
According to the DNR, wasted food was the largest component of trash in Wisconsin. In 2020, an estimated 615,500 tons of wasted food and 238,500 tons of food scraps were added to Wisconsin landfills. When food waste breaks down in landfills, it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Making small changes to how food is handled at home can reduce waste and save money over time.

Some simple tips for meal planning include:

• Taking inventory: Determine what food you already have at home, what needs to be used soon, and how much space you have for new items.
• Planning meals: Know how much of each ingredient you need. 
• Making a list: Save time in the grocery store and reduce impulse buys.
• Tracking excess: Take note of what goes uneaten and cut back on buying those items.

Storing food correctly can also help reduce waste and save time and money. Save the Food’s Store It Guide is an interactive food storage guide to help folks keep their food fresh.

When waste prevention is not possible, diverting food waste from landfills is the next best option. One way to do this is by composting food scraps. In addition to reducing waste in landfills, compost replenishes soil with microorganisms and nutrients.

Donating food for those in need is another great way to keep edible food out of the garbage. For more details and additional tips, visit the DNR’s Reducing Food Waste at Home webpage here.

Plant Native Plants and Trees
Native plants provide food for insects, birds, bats, small mammals, and other wildlife, while adding beauty to any landscape. Native plant sales are popping up across the state this spring and summer, so this is the perfect time to start or expand your native garden. Learn more about native plants and check out upcoming plant sales here.

You can also plant a native tree to celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day on April 26. Trees provide countless ecological, environmental, health, and cultural benefits, but they face threats statewide from invasive species like emerald ash borer and diseases like oak wilt.

Use this family-based activity to learn how to properly plant and care for your seedling or learn how to plant and care for your landscape tree. Add your newly planted tree to the Wisconsin tree planting map here.

Refresh Your Recycling Knowledge
It’s important to know which items can be recycled and how to recycle them correctly as some items can cause serious problems at recycling facilities that are not designed to handle them, including a risk of fire and worker injury. Many of these can be recycled at drop-off sites but should not go in curbside recycling bins or carts. These items include:

• Plastic bags, plastic film, and plastic wrap; 
• Batteries and electronics; and 
• Light bulbs.

For more information about what can and cannot be recycled, visit the DNR’s What to Recycle in Wisconsin webpage here.

Recycle Old Electronics
Some electronics, including TVs, laptops, and cell phones, are made out of valuable materials that can be reused through recycling. Others contain hazardous materials that can be harmful to human health and pollute the environment if not properly managed. Because of this, many electronics can no longer be put in the trash and must be reused, recycled, or managed as hazardous waste.

To learn how to prepare your electronics for recycling and find collection sites, events, and mail-back programs, visit the DNR’s Electronics Recycling webpage here. Many communities are holding free or low-cost electronics collection events this time of year.

Fix a Leak
Water conservation matters, even in a water-rich state like Wisconsin. The United States wastes nearly one trillion gallons of water each year due to household leaks.

Try these water-protecting, money-saving ideas to stop water waste in your household:

• Check your meter over a period when water is not being used. If it goes down, you probably have a leak;
• Tighten your showerhead. Ensuring a tight connection between the showerhead and pipe stem can reduce water use by up to 500 gallons a year;
• Inspect outdoor faucets and irrigation systems each spring to ensure frost or winter freezing did not damage the pipes; and
• Reach out to experts if you cannot fix or locate a leak.

Learn more about finding leaks in your home or business and easy ways to fix them by visiting the DNR’s Water Conservation and Efficiency webpage here.

Other Ways to Help
In celebration of Earth Day and Earth Week, Wisconsinites are encouraged to call or send a letter to their local elected officials in support of Gov. Evers’ 2025-27 Executive Budget initiatives to fight the climate crisis, expand Wisconsin’s clean energy economy, protect the state’s natural resources, and make sure kids and families have clean, safe drinking water. Wisconsinites can find their local state representative’s and state senator’s phone number and email address to express their support by entering their address here. 

Wisconsinites are also encouraged to talk to their fellow Wisconsinites, friends, family, and neighbors about the importance of clean energy policy and initiatives included in Gov. Evers’ 2025-27 Executive Budget to support the clean energy economy and protect Wisconsin’s vast and vibrant natural resources. Additional information about Gov. Evers’ 2025-27 Executive Budget proposals is available for reference below.

The DNR also hosts a wide variety of events around the state year-round. Check out service projects through the DNR’s volunteer portal or?visit the DNR events calendar?to get involved.

EFFORTS OF THE EVERS ADMINISTRATION TO PROTECT THE STATE’S NATURAL RESOURCES AND ADVANCE CLIMATE RESILIENCE 

Since Day One, Gov. Evers and the Evers Administration have made it a top priority to conserve and protect Wisconsin’s vast and valuable natural resources, invest in sustainable industries and expand clean energy infrastructure, and fight the climate crisis. 

In his first year in office, Gov. Evers joined the U.S. Climate Alliance, of which he is now the first Midwest governor to serve as an executive board member. The governor, along with his fellow U.S. Climate Alliance governors, is committed to collectively achieving the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement to combat climate change and has established an ambitious goal of ensuring 100 percent carbon-free electricity consumption in Wisconsin by 2050. Gov. Evers also created the Governor’s Task Force on Climate Change in his first year in office, which advised and assisted the governor in developing strategies to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change for the benefit of all Wisconsin communities. 

In 2025 the Year of the Kid, Gov. Evers is building upon this work and prioritizing tackling the climate crisis head-on to help ensure Wisconsin’s kids can enjoy Wisconsin’s vast and vibrant natural resources for years to come. The governor’s 2025-27 Executive Budget will:

• Reauthorize the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program for the next decade with the largest-ever increase, proposing an investment of $100 million annually for a total investment of $1 billion over the next 10 years;
• Address lead poisoning in homes, schools, and communities across the state by investing over $300 million in numerous initiatives aimed at removing lead service lines and keeping Wisconsinites’ drinking water and environment free from lead, including relaunching the Windows Plus Program to support lead-safe renovations in homes;
• Invest over $145 million to fight PFAS contamination statewide and expand eligibility for key programs aimed at improving water quality. The governor’s comprehensive plan includes: 
• Providing funding for emergency resources like bottled water to households and communities impacted by water contamination; 
• Protecting innocent landowners like farmers who unknowingly spread biosolids containing PFAS on their land and invest in helping clean up biosolid contamination; and 
• Strengthening PFAS standards statewide by exempting rulemaking relating to setting enforceable standards for PFAS in Wisconsin waters from the REINS Act; 
• Expand and increase funding for the Well Compensation and Well Abandonment Grant Program to continue the Evers Administration’s work getting harmful contaminants out of private wells, including PFAS; 
• Provide $1 million in additional funding for the Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grant Program that supports groups working to conduct outreach, provide on-farm demonstration and research sites, and promote voluntary agricultural conservation practices in their local watersheds to improve water quality and prevent runoff; 
• Increase funding for the Commercial Nitrogen Optimization Program, which helps farmers research and perform trials on their lands to ensure the amount of nitrogen being applied on their lands is appropriate and effective while identifying ways to reduce runoff into water as nitrate and making it a permanent state program; 
• Continue funding for the Cover Crop Insurance Rebate Program that was signed into law by Gov. Evers in 2021 to support farmers in planting cover crops on their lands to improve soil fertility and moisture holding capacity and limit nutrient runoff; 
• Create a community climate action grant program with a $10 million investment to help local governments in preparing climate risk assessments and to help local governments implement emission-reducing and climate action projects; 
• Invest $1.3 million to administer a program to promote community engagement on climate and clean energy needs; 
• Support continuing the Energy Innovation Grant Program with a $20 million investment to ensure organizations from different sectors can invest in projects related to energy efficiency, renewable energy, and energy storage and planning; 
• Double the required utility contribution for the Focus on Energy Program, which will generate an additional $100 million in annual funding for the program, and modify current law to allow energy storage projects for residential customers to qualify for the Focus on Energy Program; 
• Provide $1 million to conduct a nuclear power plant feasibility study; 
• Create a pilot program with $1 million to assist developers and electric providers with the cost of developing renewable energy infrastructure on previous commercial or industrial sites that may be contaminated and not viable for other uses, also known as brownfield sites; 
• Require electric utilities to submit integrated resource plans to the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin outlining the utility’s resource needs to meet expected electricity demand over a long-term time horizon; 
• Make energy improvement projects more accessible by allowing utilities to offer financing programs for energy improvement projects for Wisconsin homeowners; and 
• Provide $50 million to increase support to the Green Innovation Fund, which will increase lending and investment activities in the renewable energy sector.