5 Disney Cast Members Who Are Environmental Heroes
It’s Earth Month and Disney is celebrating! There are a bunch of things happening over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, which are also being combined with the park’s 25th anniversary this month.
Photo: Disney
Disney’s Planet Possible has taken over Disney Parks Blog this month to showcase different ways that Disney is helping the environment. So, let’s take a look at how some Disney Cast Members are contributing to the cause!
Cast Members Go Green
Disney created the Disney Environmental Hero award to recognize people who go the extra mile when it comes to sustainability. So, for Earth Month, Disney is spotlighting 5 Environmental Heroes who are doing their part to help the environment.
Photo: Disney
First up, we have Angela, an Animal Keeper at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. She helps the animal keepers repurpose discarded items like water jugs, cardboard tubes, yoga mats, and fire hoses.
Using these, she creates things that help draw out an animal’s natural instincts. So, instead of these items ending up in a landfill, they become items the animals can use, like logs, toys, and puzzles.
Photo: Disney
Next, we have Leah, a Conservation and Science Tech at EPCOT. After noticing all of the lights and displays that would stay on overnight at The Seas with Nemo & Friends, she created some lighting maps and had conversations with engineers to see which lights should stay on overnight and which could be turned off.
With the correct lights turned off, the animals actually get better sleep and The Seas reduces the amount of electricity that’s used!
Photo: Disney
Another Environmental Hero is Jim, a Custodial Manager at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. During a merchandise event for Cast Members, Jim took recycling to the next level!
Photo: Disney
With events like that one, there is a lot of waste like cardboard boxes, plastic wrappers, and styrofoam. So, Jim and his team created special recycling bins and expertly separated out these materials during the event!
This helped divert 105 bags of soft plastic, 49 bales of cardboard, and a fill semi-trailer of styrofoam from going to the landfill!
Credit: Disney
Finally, we have Marcela and Vanessa, who are Merchandise Hostesses in EPCOT. These two Cast Members proved that one simple change can have big results.
They simply started asking people “do you need a bag with that?” when they were checking out after buying merchandise. This small change has actually kept hundreds of shopping bags from going to waste! Not everyone needs or wants a bag when buying merchandise.
Photo: Disney
“Every person has a role in changing the world for the better. Selling reusable bags is an easy way I have been able to do that,” said Marcela, who also loves to offer reusable bags to guests.
Photo: Disney
These Cast Members are so inspirational! If you want to be like them in helping the environment, you can do so the next time you visit a Disney park.
Simply recycle plastic bottles, decline a bag when buying merchandise, or use a refillable water bottle. You might just be recognized with an Environmental Hero award yourself like these guests below!
Photo: Disney
Stay tuned for more Disney news and updates!
