Growth of the Green Movement in America

Did you know that the Washington D.C. metropolitan area is the third greenest area in the United States? It’s a fact that we at 123JUNK are extremely proud of…we like to think we’re doing our part to make it so.

While things in our community have drastically improved, they are still are far from ideal. We live in a consumer society where people are continually purchasing new products and throwing away old ones, and that junk and waste disposal can pose a serious threat to the environment and human health.

The History of the Green Movement

While the Green Movement has European roots, it probably wouldn’t be as strong as it is today without the U.S. influence. Medieval Europeans realized that some sustainable practices were important for the prosperity and well-being of people. However, it wasn’t until after America was colonized that humans started valuing nature in itself, and not just because it was useful to people.

This celebration of nature didn’t last long, though. As the Industrial Revolution rose, people focused on its benefits and began neglecting the impact to our world. At the same time the Industrial Revolution took its toll on human health (not to mention pollution of big cities), environmentalism was born. One of the first and most important measures America took to preserve nature was establishing Yellowstone National Park in 1872 as a place where the exploitation of nature was strictly forbidden.

Not much changed at the beginning of the 20^th century, with events like the Great Depression and World Wars I and II overshadowing any conservation efforts. Following World War II, however, more and more people began to understand the negative effects post-war industrialization had on the environment. Something had to be done.

The 1960s were a turning point for the Green Movement, with nationwide conservation efforts ultimately resulting in establishing Earth Day to celebrate our planet and help keep it healthy and beautiful. The first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970.

In the years following this important milestone, environmental consciousness continued to rise among governmental bodies, companies, institutions and individuals. In recent years, the Green Movement solidified itself as one of the most significant movements of our time, with science and research leading the way to a new, more eco-friendly era.

123JUNK is Making a Difference in Your Community

123JUNK is dedicated to doing our part by recycling and repurposing as much junk as possible to keep it out of the landfills and by raising awareness about the importance of safe and responsible waste disposal. We try to be as eco-friendly as possible with the thinking that together we all can make our world a better place.

If you are located in Maryland, Washington, D.C. or Northern Virginia and have junk you’d like us to haul off, schedule your appointment today.