In 1970, Debbie Dunn, a 17-year-old senior in Columbus, Indiana, was among the first generation to experience Earth Day. Her high school organized a can collection drive, setting up a large circle of chicken wire in front of the school. Students were encouraged to bring in aluminum cans, and Debbie remembers the excitement of the event vividly.
"I brought in my cans early one morning," she recalls. "I was amazed at how quickly the pile grew throughout the day. By the end, it towered over us-at least ten feet high and just as wide." The final tally was 25,000 cans, a staggering number that left everyone in awe. Some students even drove dump trucks through their neighborhoods, collecting cans from local residents, further contributing to the monumental pile that symbolized collective action.
This experience had a lasting impact on Debbie. "Recycling was a new concept back then," she says. "People didn't think much about environmental issues, but this showed how even small actions from everyone could make a big difference." While Earth Day didn't immediately turn Debbie into an environmental activist, it planted a seed that would later grow into a lifelong commitment to sustainability.
Growing up in Columbus, a small town surrounded by corn and soybean fields, Debbie spent much of her childhood outdoors-swimming in the summer, ice skating in the winter, and playing outside all year round. "I loved being outdoors," she says. "But I think I took it for granted that it would always be there."
However, as Debbie entered adulthood, her perspective began to shift. After college, she moved to different states, observing how environmental attitudes and practices varied across the country. She noticed that recycling was becoming more common in some places, but also saw the rise of plastic waste and its growing impact.
"Plastic is everywhere now," she notes. "Back then, we reused bottles-like returning Coke bottles to be cleaned and refilled. It wasn't perfect, but it was better than the waste we generate today."
Debbie's career in environmental chemistry deepened her understanding of pollution's consequences. While working in an environmental lab, she tested soil, water, and air for harmful chemicals, gaining firsthand knowledge of how pollution spreads and affects ecosystems. "My work showed me the harsh reality of environmental damage," she says. "It's one thing to read about it; it's another to see it in the data."
Over time, Debbie shifted her focus to community-based environmental efforts. She has become a passionate advocate for planting native species and creating pollinator pathways. As a board member of a local pollinator group, she helps organize events to educate others on the importance of native plants. She also leads sustainability initiatives at her church, including cleanup drives and educational displays like "Use This, Not That," which encourages reducing plastic use instead of relying on recycling."
Debbie is also deeply passionate about literature and films that tackle environmental issues. She points to Exposure by Robert Bilott and its film adaptation Dark Waters as particularly impactful. Both tell the story of a lawyer's battle against DuPont for polluting the environment with toxic PFAS chemicals.
One of her most memorable experiences was visiting The Gambia, where her daughter lived for three years. "It's a beautiful country with uncrowded beaches and a rich culture," she says. "Their approach to water conservation was eye-opening. They've adapted to long dry seasons, and it made me realize how much we take water for granted here in Connecticut."
Debbie believes small actions can have a significant impact, especially when combined with systemic change. "I used to think recycling was the key, but now I understand that reducing waste in the first place is even more important," she says. "Planting a small native garden or even a window box can help pollinators. And writing to legislators to advocate for stronger environmental laws is crucial."
More than five decades after that first Earth Day, Debbie continues to carry its message forward. "That day made me realize how powerful we are when we come together," she says. "Even if we can't solve every problem, we can still do our part. And that matters."
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