What Will You Do This Weekend To Help the Earth, Urbandale?

Sunday is Earth Day. Here are six things you can do this weekend to help the environment:

• Drop off your old prescription drugs and medicines at the Urbandale Police Department from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday.  Not only does this reduce the chance of the drugs being used recreationally by a teen or stolen, it's also better for the environment than flushing them down the toilet. One caution, the collection will not accept needles.

• Take the kids to Merle Hay Mall Sunday afternoon to enjoy free biodiversity-themed, kids activities downstairs and an adult & kid education event upstairs at 1,3, & 5p.m.! Events are from noon to 5:00 p.m. For more information email Kristie Burns  or call (515)661-7367.

• Arrange to plant a tree. MidAmerican Energy customers can purchase a tree for $30. The trees will be distributed Saturday, May 5, from 8:30 to 11 a.m. at the Hoover State Office Building. For details check the City of Urbandale website.

• Volunteer to help cleanup Urbandale lawns on May 5. The Urbandale Caring Corps is sponsoring it's annual spring cleanup, in which volunteers do spring lawn work for elderly or disabled Urbandale residents who can't. For more information or to volunteer, go to the Caring Corps website. 

• Head on over to Valley Junction in West Des Moines to celebrate Earth Day in the Junction from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. The celebration includes a diverse group of exhibitors, children’s activities, live music, demonstrations and food. You can learn more here.

• Check out WHO-TV's website to learn about different Earth Day promotions at metro businesses, so you can help the earth and your wallet at the same time.