Green seems to be the new black nowadays, as everyone is “going green” in their efforts to be more environmentally friendly. Companies are cutting back on paper usage, cities are installing wind turbines and homeowners are switching out incandescent light bulbs for those new-fangled swirly kind.

It’s a whole new world, a far cry from the “dump it in the river” days of our not-so-distant past. And while the whole green movement can seem a bit overwhelming at times ”“ can’t I just throw away this sticky peanut butter jar? ”“ it’s well worth the effort in the long run, for our health and the sustainability of our planet.

It’s Earth Day this Sunday, a time to reflect on how we’re treating the only place in the universe that we know we can inhabit comfortably. From some angles, it doesn’t look too good ”“ oil spills, trash islands formed in our oceans, overpopulation, air pollution, hunting to extinction and rain forest depletion.

But it’s not all bad news. We’re making strides, little by little.

For a full generation now, recycling has been part of the educational system and has become a part of life in America. Progressive cities like Seattle, Wash. have even banned foam takeout containers and plastic bags and require residents to compost their food scraps. The city is now considering reducing garbage pickup to every other week. While not every city is ready to take such big steps, recycling is becoming more of the norm among most people ”“ especially those in Generation Y ”“ and it’s keeping trash out of our landfills and its post-combustion toxins out of the air.

New buildings, like the Saco Central Fire Station, are being built with geothermal heating and upgrades like energy-efficient windows, while PACE loans have been made available to homeowners to upgrade as well. Companies are planting trees to offset their carbon footprint, and motorists can purchase electric and hybrid vehicles to cut back on their direct fossil fuel consumption.

As well, the Natural Resources Council of Maine announced just this week that they have joined the steering committee of the Cradle2 program, an effort to encourage manufacturers to use packaging that is not destined for the garbage heap, but for the recycling bin. More than 30 organizations nationwide have joined, with a vision toward manufacturer-operated collection programs.

The list goes on and on, and it’s an exciting time for living sustainably. An important part of Earth Day is to remember that environmentalism has only come to the forefront of the American consciousness thanks to decades of work by those who took the time to care ”“ and didn’t mind the public criticism at the time.

Today, though we can’t individually redirect the nation’s energy policy or strap ourselves to trees in the rain forest, we can all help spread the word and do our little part to help the Earth ”“ from reminding a friend to use a trash can instead of littering to using public transportation now and again to cut down on carbon emissions.

It’s all those little steps that count, so this Earth Day make a point to make a little change. A few ideas to make an impact this year: For those who don’t have curbside pickup, start separating your recyclables and bring them to the transfer station instead of sending them to the landfill or incinerator each week. Start a compost pile in your backyard to dispose of food waste. Use lower settings on your thermostat and home appliances to save energy and water. Volunteer to help pick up roadside trash at your local park or neighborhood. Consolidate your errands so you’re not making unnecessary trips with your vehicle.

We can all do our part to keep our planet healthy and clean, and Earth Day is a good reminder that it’s time to step up.