This year, we’re rallying around reusables for Earth Day and every day!

Welcome to Earth Month+ 2025, the hub for all the events and resources we’re sharing this Earth Month!

Earth Day 2025 Theme: Reach for Reusables

Join us on Earth Day (April 22, 2025) and for the entire month of April to kickstart or bump up your reusables habit. Our linear economy encourages the “take-make-waste” activity that leads to a heck of a lot of unnecessary single-use items winding up as trash. Did you know that the average lifespan of a plastic shopping bag is just 12 minutes? We can do better! It’s time to rethink our relationship to our resources. One key action we can all take is to focus on reusing what we already have. Reuse keeps useful items in circulation longer and reduces the need for disposable items. Check out the resources below for ideas on how you can incorporate more reusables in your daily life!

Clean Fairfax is hosting our annual Earth Daze celebration on Saturday, April 12th, 2025. We’re also supporting cleanups and community events across Fairfax County. Check out the 2025 Earth Month+ calendar below. We hope you’ll join the fun and pitch in to Rethink the 3 Rs: Rethink, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Repurpose, Rot, and THEN Recycle – not just on Earth Day, and not only during Earth Month, but whenever you have the opportunity!

Tip: Click the “+Google Calendar” above to add this to your own calendar!
Have an event to add? Email us at community@cleanfairfax.org!

Earth Month+ 2025 Events

Reusables Resources

This April, challenge yourself to make one habit change in your life to ditch single-use items and swap them out for reusable ones! Choosing to reuse is a great way to reduce waste, save money, and support a healthy planet. Use what you already have when possible. Once you get in the habit of reaching for reusables, you’ll realize how easy it is to make small changes that add up. Did you know we have several refill stores in our region? Check out Virginia Mercantile, Fillagreen, and Trace Zero Waste. Here are eight areas where you can opt for reusables:

1. Reusable Bags

  • Cloth or canvas grocery bags
  • Mesh produce bags
  • Foldable tote bags

2. Reusable Bottles & Cups

  • Stainless steel or glass water bottles
  • Insulated travel mugs
  • Reusable coffee cups with lids

3. Reusable Food Containers & Wraps

  • Glass or stainless steel food containers
  • Silicone food storage bags
  • Beeswax wraps instead of plastic wrap

4. Reusable Cutlery & Straws

  • Bamboo, metal, or silicone straws
  • Stainless steel or bamboo cutlery sets
  • Portable travel cutlery kits

5. Reusable Household Items

  • Cloth napkins and handkerchiefs
  • Reusable cleaning cloths instead of paper towels
  • Refillable cleaning product dispensers

6. Personal Care & Hygiene Products

  • Reusable cotton rounds for makeup removal
  • Safety razors instead of disposable plastic razors
  • Refillable shampoo and soap bottles OR solid shampoo and conditioner bars

7. Shopping & Bulk Buying Alternatives

  • Glass jars or cloth bags for bulk food purchases
  • Refillable spice containers
  • Reusable egg cartons

8. Sustainable Kitchen Essentials

  • Wooden or metal dish brushes instead of plastic sponges
  • Compostable dish scrubbers
  • Refillable dish soap dispensers
Rethinking the 3 Rs: Rethink-Refuse-Reduce-Reuse-Repair-Repurpose-Rot-Recycle
Rethinking the 3 Rs: Rethink, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Repurpose, Rot, and then Recycle
Request free cleanup supplies
Learn about the Plastic Bag Fee in Fairfax County
Plastic-Free Farmers Markets
Fairfax County’s Zero Waste Program

Additional Resources

Fairfax County

General Resources

We strive to keep the Earth Day spirit going all day, every day!