Dorm life taught me lots of lessons: how to do laundry, live with roommates, and motivate myself to clean my room regularly. I was most surprised, however, by the amount of waste that I created. I felt like I had to take the trash out multiple times a day, and the to-go containers from my frequent food delivery piled up so quickly. Feeling inspired by Greta Thunberg’s climate strike movement, I decided to make a goal for myself to live more sustainably during my sophomore year. Here are my top tips to make your college life more eco-friendly:
1. Carry a set of reusable silverware in your backpack.
I keep a fork, knife, spoon, and straw in a pouch in my backpack, which comes in handy all the time. I take a lot of my meals on the go, and some on-campus dining locations only offer plastic silverware. When I get back to my dorm for the night, I wash whichever utensils I used and put them back in my bag for the next day.
2. Use rags and all-purpose spray instead of Clorox wipes.
Clorox wipes are super wasteful, and I went through them very quickly last year. This year, I bought the cheapest pack of washcloths I could find at Target to spray with all-purpose cleaner whenever I need to wipe something down. If you want to be even more sustainable, cut up old shirts to use as rags instead of buying new ones.
3. Switch from makeup remover wipes to reusable cotton rounds.
If you’re like me and wear makeup most days, you probably create a huge amount of waste from makeup wipes alone. I bought a set of cotton rounds on Amazon that I use with liquid makeup remover. I throw them in with my laundry and they’re all set for me to reuse the next week.
4. Make your laundry more efficient.
When I put my clothes in the washer, I always put it on the cold setting. Once I move them to the dryer, I add a dry towel to the load to speed up the drying time. Between these two easy swaps, I save a lot of energy.
5. Take notes on your computer when possible.
At the end of last semester, I felt so guilty when I threw out literal pounds of paper that I used over the course of the year for classes. I started making a conscious effort to take notes and complete assignments on my computer when possible. Of course, I always respect my professors who don’t allow technology in their classrooms by taking notes by hand for those classes.
6. Try to eat less meat.
Meat production is one of the biggest contributors to climate change, which won’t change unless the demand for meat goes down. I do my part by picking vegetarian meals when possible. For example, when given the choice of adding chicken or tofu to my salad, I usually go for the tofu.
7. DIY your skincare routine.
It’s so easy to make basic skincare products with ingredients that you probably already have. There are so many recipes on the internet, many of them including sugar, coconut oil, oats, honey, and other common items. Mix up a big batch of an exfoliating scrub or face mask and store it in a repurposed glass jar for your weekly self-care pampering.
The process of becoming a greener college student has been nowhere near as difficult as I expected. I encourage you to be creative in your efforts to eliminate waste wherever possible. Best of luck in your eco-friendly endeavors!