1) Say no to plastic bottles and start carrying a reusable water bottle around campus
Pro tip: Bring a bottle or tumbler to Starbucks and save a couple cents for a “cup fee”.
2) BYOB (Bring your own Bag)
Bring a reusable bag (or reuse plastic bags you already have) to the grocery store, Mills Marketplace or shops in town.
3) Say no to disposable utensils
When ordering takeout, use the utensils you already have in your dorm room!
4) Opt for no straw when you go to bars or restaurants.
We use more than 500 million plastic straws each day that cannot be recycled because they are too small. They become trash that often ends up in the ocean. Plastic straws are one of the top ocean pollutants and can be very harmful to animals.Â
5) Choose bar soap over shower gels to reduce the amount of plastic you use
I used to purchase a ton of different Bath and Body Works shower gels, but after realizing how much plastic was accumulating (and how many containers couldn’t be recycled) I switched to bar soap. My personal favorite zero waste soap is Ro’s Argan from Lush. It’s a super nice rose-vanilla scented bar soap that makes my life.
6) Thrift or participate in clothing swaps rather than buy new clothes
The fashion industry is the 2nd most polluting industry after oil. By reducing your clothing waste you can save money and save the environment!
7) Invest in a reusable K-Cup for your daily coffee needs
Save money and reduce waste by using a reusable K-Cup to satisfy your daily coffee habit.
8) Purchase recycled paper notebooks for your classes, or nix paper entirely and type your notes
Typing notes isn’t for everyone, myself included. I purchase notebooks that are made of 100% recycled paper, and then at the end of the semester I recycle the notebooks to start the circle of life all over again.
9) Recycle or reuse your cardboard boxes from care packages
The 4 R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rihanna.
10) Turn off appliances when not in use
Save water and electricity and turn off your appliances when they are not in use!
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HCXO,
Morgan