It seems like everyone these days is looking for ways to become more environmentally responsible. For busy students, buying a hybrid car or getting involved in a green building project are not always viable options, but there are plenty of simple ways to save the planet while focusing on your studies. Here are just a few:
1. Travel light
Laptops and other electronic devices have become increasingly commonplace in the classroom, and most free e-mail providers offer digital alternatives to paper calendars and sticky-notes, allowing students to fulfill their study requirements using very little paper. But if a course still requires a textbook, consider going in with other students on one copy to share or accessing portions of the text online.
2. Recycling off the beaten path
Everyone knows about recycling in the traditional sense—and dropping paper and plastic waste items into their appropriate campus bins is certainly good practice—but what about those stacks of old textbooks collecting dust on your shelves? Some organizations collect used texts and deliver them not only to recycling plants, but also to libraries, detainment facilities, and schools in underprivileged regions. Contact your school’s campus life office for help in finding such charitable outlets for used books.
Additionally, as you begin to seek post-graduation employment, remember that hard-copy résumés are quickly becoming a thing of the past. Create a personalized version of your credentials to send to potential employers via e-mail, or get creative with the paper you use: Depending on the job you seek, repurposing old college papers or printing your résumé on restyled grocery bags could be just the thing to show your future boss that you’re an out-of-the-box thinker.
3. Living online
The Web offers a million ways to go paperless. Make the most of it by opting to receive digital statements and making online payments for all of your monthly bills. You can also reduce waste and clutter by subscribing to Web versions of your favorite magazines and periodicals. And while album art is cool, getting your music through pay-per-download sites is a quick, easy, and much cooler way to help the environment. Be sure to back everything up on an external hard drive or secure space in an online storage database to ensure the safety of your files.
4. Not-quite-junk mail
Choosing a degree program involves a lot of research—especially if you’re switching schools or changing majors. But instead of requesting institutional information by mail that you won’t need in the long term, use CollegeView’s online college search tool to view campuses, contact faculty members, and make decisions about your course of study. The information available at CollegeView is comprehensive and often completely downloadable, saving you clutter while saving the planet from excess paper.
5. Eating smart
It’s easy to forget the little things, but meals on the go can account for an incredible amount of paper waste. Carry your own mug for tea and coffee, and if you don’t absolutely need it, decline the plates, plastic ware, and napkins that come with your meal. Investing in a faucet water filter, carrying reusable grocery bags, and using cloth instead of paper towels are a few more good ways to limit your paper consumption.
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