Go Green on Little Things: School
Go Green on the Little Things is a 7 part series, providing various tidbits and advice about green living and choices for the following: home living, office spaces, school, shopping, health and beauty, money and finance, and buildings.
Today, let's discuss Go Green on the Little Things: School. US college and universities are said to create more than 3.5 million tons of waste year, 2% of our nation's total waste problems. These statistics don't even include high schools, junior high or elementary schools! A majority of the waste, as you might imagine is paper (art, copy, tests, exams, study guides, research and more) and food (cafeteria food and vending machines). So let's look at how schools can join the rest of us to green the earth, simply through better decisions:
- Getting There: Bicycle, carpool, walk, skip, run, or scooter your way to class.
- Food: Donate your cafeteria food to people in need (tons of good food are literally thrown away and the hungry continue to go without).
- Markers: Use water based markers as they have nontoxic ink with refillable heads.
- Pencils: Use pencils made from recycled material in lightweight or reusable packages.
- School Supplies: Always buy recycled products for binders, folders, paper, etc. Remember to reuse rubber bands but don't buy them as they are made of crude oil.
- Textbooks: Buy used and sell back at the end of the year.
- Vending Machines: Bypass the temptation and save calories and the landfills. If you do drink a soda, recycle the can.
- Whiteboards: Use whiteboards over chalkboards as chalk is horrible for asthma sufferers and other respiratory illnesses.
Naturally, there are many more ways you can help to green your way in schools. Keep your eyes open and always remember the 3R's: reduce, reuse, and recycle.
Happy learning (don't neglect your studies!) and greening the earth!