Here are some simple ways we, as students, can help reduce our waste production while being totally hip green guys and gals.
1. Ditch the plastic, go reusable
Grocery shopping? Canvas bags. Iced coffee? Metal straws. Spills on the counter? Kitchen towels. Need water? Reusable water bottles.
2. Go paperless
I love handwriting notes but when it comes to bulk writing, paperless notes take the cake. Instead of throwing out old handwritten notes, type and save them on your computer – they’re much more accessible this way as well!
3. Pack meals
Packing meals can be difficult when you’re a student, but bringing lunch a couple days a week makes a world of a difference – packing a homemade lunch cuts out the plastic cutlery and containers that come with take out meals.
4. Conserve water
Turning the tap off when brushing your teeth, washing the dishes, and limiting your shower time to less than 10 minutes are all simple ways to conserve water.
5. Alternative products
I’ve used shampoo and conditioner bars and they work just as well as regular hair products. Alternative products reduces waste consumption from extra product packaging. If you’re in the market for a new hair product, I recommend checking out any of Lush’s shampoo bars here!
6. Public and active transportation
Walking, cycling, and taking the bus are probably things you already do when going to and from school. Outside of school, consider carpooling to the grocery store, restaurants, the Barking Frog – splitting an Uber has never been easier.
7. RECYCLE
Recycling is something we do unconsciously but remember to check if a product is actually recyclable. Plastic wrap, receipt paper, wax-coated products are not recyclable!
8. Lights off
Not using a light? Turn it off. Not home? Keep the lights off. Turning off the lights encourages energy conservation and your monthly utility bill will thank you for this too!
Thanks for reading! We can all do our part to help our earth– it’s the little things added up that make all the difference.