Slug: 27_green
Headline: Students Have Creative Ways to Going Green
Byline: By Amber Mullins
Position: Contributing Writer
Published: September, 2010
Students living in a small college dorm or a 600 sq-ft apartment may have their hearts and minds in the right place, but may hesitate in “going green” because they fear their small spaces or budgets may not accommodate so many recycling bins or pricey measures.
What they may not know, however, is that there are a lot of interesting “going green” options, many of which can be kept compact or on a modest budget. There are a few small steps that students can take in their everyday life that, in a round-a-bout way, will help reduce their waste and further sustainability. And that’s what recycling is all about: people coming together to do what they need to do to provide for a more sustainable future.
Create an In-Door Garden
A great way to reuse kitchen waste is by creating a compost bin from used fruits, veggies, and coffee grounds. In addition to reducing landfill space from reusing disposable materials and growing an all around better garden, with all of the scraps being used instead of thrown away, students will save enough space in a landfill to make a 3-ft high compost pile within one year.
So living in a small space, students may be worried about the odor. There are odor-free compost bins that are available for purchase. Students can invest and keep one under their kitchen sink or in any convenient area of their dorm, where it’s available for all of the students compost needs. Try www.amazon.com for the best prices.
Recycle Your Threads
Another way to recycle is to buy vintage or resale old threads. Used clothing, although may not sound very appealing, is an innovative way of recycling that will, instead of taking up more space, actually free up space in the student’s small apartment or dorm.
Many “Denton-ites” already frequent thrift shops in an effort to find something dynamic and interesting to add to their wardrobe or to just try and save money. While they may be doing this for different reasons, buying and selling pre-worn clothing helps because it contributes to the reduction of resources and materials used to provide for additional clothing to fit the “needs” of the entire public.
Many students, however, may not be a fan of recycling and wearing a complete stranger’s clothing. This is where a fun activities, like hosting a “clothes swapping” party can come in handy. It’s a fun way of “going green,” without having to subject a student to something he or she may not be comfortable with, yet will still allow the student to do their part in reducing future waste.
Buy Smart
Environmental activists, like Leonardo DiCaprio and Michael Pollan, author of “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” and “Food, Inc.,” will say that one of the biggest ways to maintain sustainability and reduce the harmful impact on the environment is to buy smart.
While being interviewed by USA Weekend back 2007, Leonardo DiCaprio stated that, “Every time you put money down to pay for something, you’re advocating the way the company does business.”
It’s not enough to just recycle or buy “organic” anymore. As buying “organic” becomes a trend, consumers and students alike can no longer be sure that even “organic” practices are environmentally sound. To buy smart, students must know what’s in their food, how their food is being treated, packaged, shipped, etc. Shopping for groceries or anything really, can be similar to what it’s like to vote. As their items are scanned, students and consumers are, in a sense, voting for what they want in the stores. This must be remembered, as knowing this, can greatly affect what’s being placed in your favorite grocers. Don’t be afraid to research what you’re buying. Buying products with bad environmental practices is exactly what’s keeping them alive.
Did You Know?
• 79 million tons of waste material was diverted away from disposal in 2005 through recycling and composting.
• Buying an antique or vintage piece rather than a new reproduction can save as much as 537kg of carbon dioxide emissions (the equivalent weight of 6 fully grown men).
Sources:
http://collegeuniversity.suite101.com/article.cfm/green_tips_for_college_students
http://www.ecollo.com/post/2007/10/Leonardo-DiCaprio-has-a-few-tips-on-going-green.aspx
http://shiftstudentsrhabit.com/composting/
http://planetgreen.discovery.com/home-garden/green-recycling-guide3.html
http://frenchfinds.wordpress.com/tag/recycling/
Headline: Students Have Creative Ways to Going Green
Byline: By Amber Mullins
Position: Contributing Writer
Published: September, 2010
Students living in a small college dorm or a 600 sq-ft apartment may have their hearts and minds in the right place, but may hesitate in “going green” because they fear their small spaces or budgets may not accommodate so many recycling bins or pricey measures.
What they may not know, however, is that there are a lot of interesting “going green” options, many of which can be kept compact or on a modest budget. There are a few small steps that students can take in their everyday life that, in a round-a-bout way, will help reduce their waste and further sustainability. And that’s what recycling is all about: people coming together to do what they need to do to provide for a more sustainable future.
Create an In-Door Garden
A great way to reuse kitchen waste is by creating a compost bin from used fruits, veggies, and coffee grounds. In addition to reducing landfill space from reusing disposable materials and growing an all around better garden, with all of the scraps being used instead of thrown away, students will save enough space in a landfill to make a 3-ft high compost pile within one year.
So living in a small space, students may be worried about the odor. There are odor-free compost bins that are available for purchase. Students can invest and keep one under their kitchen sink or in any convenient area of their dorm, where it’s available for all of the students compost needs. Try www.amazon.com for the best prices.
Recycle Your Threads
Another way to recycle is to buy vintage or resale old threads. Used clothing, although may not sound very appealing, is an innovative way of recycling that will, instead of taking up more space, actually free up space in the student’s small apartment or dorm.
Many “Denton-ites” already frequent thrift shops in an effort to find something dynamic and interesting to add to their wardrobe or to just try and save money. While they may be doing this for different reasons, buying and selling pre-worn clothing helps because it contributes to the reduction of resources and materials used to provide for additional clothing to fit the “needs” of the entire public.
Many students, however, may not be a fan of recycling and wearing a complete stranger’s clothing. This is where a fun activities, like hosting a “clothes swapping” party can come in handy. It’s a fun way of “going green,” without having to subject a student to something he or she may not be comfortable with, yet will still allow the student to do their part in reducing future waste.
Buy Smart
Environmental activists, like Leonardo DiCaprio and Michael Pollan, author of “The Omnivore’s Dilemma” and “Food, Inc.,” will say that one of the biggest ways to maintain sustainability and reduce the harmful impact on the environment is to buy smart.
While being interviewed by USA Weekend back 2007, Leonardo DiCaprio stated that, “Every time you put money down to pay for something, you’re advocating the way the company does business.”
It’s not enough to just recycle or buy “organic” anymore. As buying “organic” becomes a trend, consumers and students alike can no longer be sure that even “organic” practices are environmentally sound. To buy smart, students must know what’s in their food, how their food is being treated, packaged, shipped, etc. Shopping for groceries or anything really, can be similar to what it’s like to vote. As their items are scanned, students and consumers are, in a sense, voting for what they want in the stores. This must be remembered, as knowing this, can greatly affect what’s being placed in your favorite grocers. Don’t be afraid to research what you’re buying. Buying products with bad environmental practices is exactly what’s keeping them alive.
Did You Know?
• 79 million tons of waste material was diverted away from disposal in 2005 through recycling and composting.
• Buying an antique or vintage piece rather than a new reproduction can save as much as 537kg of carbon dioxide emissions (the equivalent weight of 6 fully grown men).
Sources:
http://collegeuniversity.suite101.com/article.cfm/green_tips_for_college_students
http://www.ecollo.com/post/2007/10/Leonardo-DiCaprio-has-a-few-tips-on-going-green.aspx
http://shiftstudentsrhabit.com/composting/
http://planetgreen.discovery.com/home-garden/green-recycling-guide3.html
http://frenchfinds.wordpress.com/tag/recycling/
Post a Comment