Sustainability and being environmentally aware are very important for a lot of college students, but looking around at all that is going wrong with the climate crisis can make it overwhelming and hard to know where to start. College is also a time where environmentalism isn’t at the top of the priority list. However, there are some easy and simple ways that you can make a change and make your routine and life more sustainable bit by bit. Here are a few:
- Use public transportation, walk, or bike
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Cars are harmful to the environment and there are many alternatives that are environmentally friendly. Take the subway or bus instead! Walking, skateboarding or biking are also sustainable ways to get around and are a good way to exercise and stay healthy.
- Use reusable water bottles, bags, and silverware
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Whether college students are aware of it or not, we accumulate a lot of waste and trash, a lot of which ends up in a landfill. A way to reduce this is to use reusable Tupperware. You can also get a cute water bottle to carry around with you (I highly recommend a Hydroflask). Carrying around a tote bag or another type of reusable bag is a way to reduce waste and carrying around reusable silverware and straws also will save a lot of waste in the long run.
- Recycle and Compost
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I know I am guilty of just throwing everything in the trash just because it’s convenient and easy. However, there is a lot that can go in the recycling bin or be composted instead. Put a recycling bin in your room and put paper and cardboard in there because it can be recycled. You can also separate stuff like food waste that can be composted if there is a place on campus to compost. This can help reduce your waste.
- Thrift shop and buy second-hand
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Thrift shopping for clothes and goods prevents you from shopping from fast fashion and wasteful consumers. A lot of college students feel compelled to buy from fast fashion brands because it is cheap, but thrift shopping is another way to find cute, cheap clothes, and is even more sustainable!
These are all simple ways to be more sustainable and environmentally conscious, and can even save you a buck or two!