As the climate crisis worsens, many people are trying to reduce their impact on the planet. We are trying to reduce our carbon footprint, find new and better ways to reduce our wastage, to try and avoid the impending calamity. This is true of college campuses. If you want to help create a more sustainable university campus, here are 8 ways to help you make your campus greener.
- Recycle everything you can.
Recycling is one of the best ways to reduce your footprint and reduce waste around campus. “If your campus doesn’t recycle, consider setting up a recycling program with your university’s facilities department and some volunteers to help empty bins” says Denver Ferrell, an education blogger at Paper Fellows and Academized. If your campus already has a recycling program, make sure you are doing your part and putting the right items in the right bins and encourage your friends and fellow students to do the same.
- Get rid of your disposables.
Disposables are a huge waste issue. Most of the time, they are made from plastics and other non-biodegradable materials, which just sit in landfills or end up in the oceans, harming wildlife. Ditching the disposables is a great way to help your campus become more sustainable over time. Carry a refillable water bottle and switch to reusable sanitary products. Encourage your campus to get rid of single use plastic items such as plastic cutlery and move to biodegradable options.
- Start a composting project on campus.
Composting is another great way to reduce food wastage on campus. Putting all the trimmings and peelings from on campus dining halls can be used to enrich the soil, encourage improved soil growth. You can also use the compost in conjunction with making an on-campus vegetable garden.
- Go digital where you can.
Do you have to print out all your notes and papers, creating huge amounts of paper waste? Is it possible to take notes digitally for your classes? Trying to reduce how much paper you use is another good way to make your college campus more sustainable and eco-friendlier. Many of your university textbooks can now be viewed online as well, making it even easier to reduce paper waste.
- Donate unwanted items to charity.
There is no need to always throw out everything you don’t want. “Donating items in great condition to charity shops is a great way to help the less fortunate and create a more sustainable campus” says John Buckley, a writer at Boomessays and Essayroo.
Also, consider purchasing items you need from charity shops first. Really good deals can be found in charity shops and reusing items also reduces overall waste. Not to mention, you can avoid all the extra waste from the packing materials used to package and ship new furniture.
- Reduce your water waste.
Water is a precious resource and it’s vitally important that you try and reduce wasting it. Taking showers instead of baths, collecting rainwater to water your lawn and garden, and turning off the water when you are not using it are all simple and good ways to help reduce water wastage on campus.
- Create an on-campus garden.
If you are considering making a compost heap on campus, why not pair it with on-campus garden. While the composting will reduce food waste by allowing it to decompose and go back to the soil, enriching it, your on-campus garden helps reduce the need for outside food vendors. You can use the fresh fruit and vegetables to help make your campus greener and more self-sufficient.
- Increase your activity and reduce your driving.
As tempting as it is to drive to and from campus, and around campus, getting active is a more sustainable. Consider biking to and from campus. And walk everywhere once you are on campus. This will reduce your carbon emissions, reducing your environmental impact and reducing air pollution.
The climate crisis is pushing us to find more ethically and ecologically sustainable ways of existing in the world. These 8 eco-friendly tips will help make your college campuses more eco-friendly, and these ideas can help reduce their overall carbon footprint. Emily Henry writes for Essay Writing Service and UK Writings. She writes about college life. Emily is also a tutor at State Of Writing.
Photo by Richard Cabusao on Unsplash.
