At the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), the staff work hard every day to protect Michigan's air, land, water, and public health. There are many ways that you can help, too - not just on Earth Day, but all year long. Learn about what EGLE is doing, and consider the following ways, big and small, that you can contribute to a more sustainable Michigan and a healthier planet.
EGLE celebrates Earth Day every year in April with community events, such as our K-5 poster contest, Environmental Service Award nominations, and multiple in-person events around the state.
Learn about how ozone can impact human health and what to do on a Clean Air Action day.
Learn how to protect yourself and others from asbestos during demolition and renovation.
Learn how EGLE monitors air quality and sign up for air quality forecasts and Action Day alerts.
Explore the MI Healthy Climate Plan and find out how you can help fight climate change.
There are lots of ways that energy efficiency can save you money while saving the planet! Find out how you can improve energy efficiency at home.
Learn what EGLE is doing to create a charging network for electric vehicles.
You can find out the value of trees in your backyard, schoolyard, or neighborhood to fight climate change, reduce stormwater runoff, and even save you money.
Switch incandescent light bulbs to LED's, which use 75% less energy and last 25 times longer.
Help ensure clean drinking water is accessible to all.
Do you get a water bill? Then you're likely on a community water supply.
If not, you likely have well water.
Maintain your septic system to protect health and the environment.
Find and fix leaky pipes to conserve water and save money.
Look for EPA's WaterSense label when purchasing showerheads, faucets, toilets, and sprinklers.
Learn about Michigan's geology from our staff geologists.
Learn how EGLE protects environmental and public health during oil and gas development.
Find out how EGLE's "Rock Library" helps us better understand Michigan's geology and how our "Rock Librarian" identifies unknown specimens.
The Water Strategy is a 30-year plan for Michiganders to protect, manage, and enhance Michigan’s water resources for current and future generations.
Find out how you can get involved in protecting it and share educational resources with teachers and students.
See water quality sampling results, beach advisories, and closures for Michigan beaches. Check out Great Lakes Beach Hazards for swimming hazards so that you know when and where it's safe to swim this summer.
Find out how you can help protect the waterways you love while enjoying them from a kayak, canoe, or stand-up paddleboard.
Attend the first annual Earth Day Student Summit in partnership with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), Grow the Earth, and MSU Science Festival.
Test your knowledge of the Great Lakes State (and maybe learn something new) by playing the MichiGame trivia game with your friends, family, or coworkers.
Help scientists learn more about wildlife, invasive species, water quality, the effects of climate change and much more by participating in Community or Citizen Science activities.
Plant a garden that helps pollinators and wildlife. Share what you learn with others!
Relax with a good book and read something that inspires you to care for your environment.
Learn how to connect with nature in your neighborhood, no matter where you live.
Help support a local school in becoming a Michigan Green School.
Support a Michigan business that exemplifies the highest standards of social, environmental, and economic responsibility.
Food waste is one of the biggest contributors to global carbon dioxide emissions.
Make sure your home's lover levels are safe for your family.
Don't dump old medications down the drain or flush them down the toilet! Instead, find a Household Drug Takeback location or event near you to dispose of them safely.
Find out what household hazardous waste is and bring any you have to a local collection site.
Learn about landfills and visualize how they work with a fun edible landfill activity!
Clean up litter in your neighborhood.
Don't forget to keep storm drains clear by your house!
Familiarize yourself with invasive species that threaten Michigan's land and water.
See what EGLE is doing to help address PFAS contamination in Michigan. If you live in an affected community and want to get involved, you can join a Citizens Advisory Workgroup.
See how EGLE protects Michiganders by addressing Environmental Justice.
Learn how EGLE is using mapping technology to inform decisions and improve solutions.
Visit a former brownfield site to see the transformation that can occur when communities and EGLE work together to clean up contaminated land.
Over 25% of the waste in landfills can be composted, and but instead generates methane as it decomposes in landfills. Building a compost pile is an easy way to help fight climate change.
Learn about the importance of proper electronics recycling from EGLE's sustainability experts.
Check out EGLE's Recycling Directory to find places to recycle unique materials like concrete, bricks, tires, and food waste.
No one knows more about trash and recycling in Michigan than our raccoons. The Recycling Raccoon Squad is a team of experts, each with a specialty and a personality that reflects that focus – plastic, cardboard, metal, paper, glass and everything else.
Recycling your old refrigerator or freezer helps protect the ozone layer and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Contact your local electric utility to find out about available rebates programs.
Give your old tires new life by finding out where you can recycle scrap tires.
Protect our inland lakes by becoming a Shoreland Steward.
Check out EGLE's E. coli Pollution and Solution Mapper to find out what can be done to address this water quality challenge.
Michigan’s sand dunes are a unique natural resource of global significance. They represent the largest collection of freshwater dunes in the world. See what makes Michigan's sand dunes amazing and what activities will require a permit.
Find out how wetlands protect us from flooding, provide homes for wildlife, improve water quality, and more. Find historic and current wetlands near you.
Learn about the most common type of pollution in our waterways - nonpoint source pollution. See how what you do at home and how you landscape can make a difference.
Find a local water quality monitoring effort that you can participate in, like the MiCorps Volunteer Stream Monitoring Program, the Cooperative Lake Monitoring Program, or the H20 Q Monitoring Program for students.
Find out what watershed you live in and what nearby water quality looks like. See if your watershed has a watershed management plan that you can contribute to.
