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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UWB chapter.

Are you a busy college student that wants to help improve the environment? Do you want to have a bigger environmental footprint and change your everyday habits to try and improve the environment? Well here are 5 small ways you can do just that.

Save the worms

Whenever you’re walking to class or walking to the library or to your car or just in general walking anywhere, try and be more aware of would is on the floor, such as a worm. Sometimes worms will go on concrete to go around, the thing is since it’s getting sunny outside, sometimes they will get stuck on the hot concrete and shrivel up and die. All you have to do is grab a leaf or grab the worm with your fingers (be gentle) and put them in a shaded area with soil.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/316729786268768073/

Save the bees

We’ve all heard the sad news that bees are becoming extinct so a simple way to help them when they’re exhausted is too create sugar water for them. The RSPB recommends two tablespoons of white granulated sugar and one tablespoon of warm water. After you make the mixture can put it in a little bowl outside for the bees.

https://thepresenttree.com/blogs/news/give-a-bee-a-bit-of-buzz

Reduce Plastic Use/Use Biodegradable or Compostable Plastic

This one is pretty simple and you’ve probably heard it before, but using less plastic really does make a difference. The big four plastic things to try and cut out are plastic water bottles, plastic bags, plastic straws and plastic to go containers. Instead of a plastic water bottle, get a aluminum or a glass water bottle. Instead of plastic bags use reusable bag, or a backpack, cardboard box, or pillow case. Instead of using a plastic straw there are now straws that are made out of compostable material, stainless steel, or bamboo. Instead of plastic to go containers, you can bring your own tupperware. Now if you’re thinking, “where will i get this stuff? Or “all that sounds expensive”, dont worry most of this you can find at goodwill and you won’t have to worry about replenishing these things every two weeks.

https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/8936899236940650/

Clean Up your Surroundings

This is similar to the worm one, make sure to look down or be aware of your surroundings and if you see garbage, try to pick it up.

https://www.leafly.com/news/industry/trash-talk-420-organizers-forced-st…

Re-use and Recycle

If you’re using any type of garbage, waste, or plastic, try and re-use it or re-purpose it. For example if you like painting and you have a bunch of water bottles, cut the top part off of the water bottle and put water in it so then you can clean your brush in there, or you can use the old plastic water bottle for something else. For plastic bags you can repurpose them and use them as garbage bags. There’s a lot of simple and really cool ideas out on the internet so if you’re interested in repurposing things just Google it!

http://lmt-lss.com/have-plastic-bottles-in-abundance-heres-8-crafty-diy-…

Gloria Gonzalez-Zapata is born and raised in Seattle,Washington. Currently she is a first year student at University of Washington Bothell and is majoring in Law,Economics, and Public policy with a minor in Arabic Both of her parents are immigrants, her mother is from Panama and her father is Mexican. she also has a brother and three younger sisters. Her favorite activities are spending time with her family, volunteering, working, and especially loves to travel to learn about other countries government, culture, and language.
Prathyusha Pillari is a 19-year-old senior at University of Washington, Bothell where she majors in Computer Science and Software Engineering. She was born in India and spent 14 years of her life there before moving to the United States. She is an advocate of women's rights and equality. She loves creative writing, traveling, driving around in her car and stalking people on Instagram.