Earth Day is Sunday, April 22. Join the fight to end plastic pollution by visiting Earth Day Network website and calculate your plastic consumption and make a pledge to reduce your amount, www.earthday.org .

Plastics are a problem mostly due to their un-biodegradable nature, and the challenges behind properly discarding them.

Gardeners can reduce part of their footprint by recycling plastic pots. In Springfield, Illinois plastic garden pots can be recycled at local businesses including Green View Garden Center, Meijer, Farmer's Market Garden Center, and Lowe's.

Several times a year, University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener volunteers collect clean plastic pots that are 1 gallon size and larger. Upcoming collections will be held:

-April 27 and 28, 9am to 1pm, at the U of I Extension office, 700 S. Airport Drive, Springfield

-May 5, 8am to 1pm, Springfield Civic Garden Club sale, Illinois State Fairgrounds, Barn #26, Springfield

If you have questions about future collections, call (217) 782-4617.