10 Ways to be Green in College

When I first starting reading about 'going green,' I felt like as a college student, there really wasn't much I could do. I live in a dorm, so I can't buy in bulk to avoid plastic packaging, I can't set up a compost, and without reliable public transport in my area, I waste a lot of gas driving to work every week. But there are tons of small changes anyone can make!

1. Use bamboo toothbrushes instead of plastic ones - while they are more expensive, many of of these other switches will actually save money, so don't worry! I buy these because the packaging is cardboard and paper and it's cheaper to buy in bulk. The bristles are nylon and should be recycled, while the bamboo handle can be composted.
   
2. Use a drying rack instead of a drier when possible. If you have to pay for laundry like I do, this one actually pays for itself!
   
   
   
   
3. Bring a reusable bottle instead of buying disposable plastic drinks. While many bottles can be recycled, it's better to just not use them at all!
   
4. Bring your own cloth bags to the store instead of taking plastic ones. You can buy them here or follow this tutorial to make your own.
                       When you do end up with plastic bags, use them to stuff a bean bag chair! I posted about mine recently.
5. Keep reusable utensils in your bag to avoid the need for disposable ones. I carry a set like this one around in my bag for when I grab a bite between classes. If you don't want to buy a set, just use a napkin to wrap up whatever you need. Some people do the same with glass straws to avoid using plastic ones!
   
6. Avoid the freebie craze - colleges give out so many cheap pens, sunglasses, cups, etc that usually wind up in the trash.
   
7. Reduce your resource consumption by turning off lights when you leave the room, taking shorter showers, and keeping the thermostat at a reasonable level. My roommate and I arranged our room so that our desks faced the windows, making it possible to work comfortably for most of the day with the lights off!
   
8. Use a dish towel instead of paper towels when possible. You can also cut up old shirts, towels, and sheets into rags for cleaning! You can probably figure out how to do this on your own, but here's a tutorial for maximum efficiency. According to The Paperless Project, if everyone used just three fewer rolls of paper towels each year, the U.S. would save 120,000 tons of waste - not to mention $4.1 million in landfill dumping fees! 
   
9. Use a shampoo bar instead of buying shampoo in plastic bottles. The sort of plastic used is not usually recyclable and since plastic isn't biodegradable, when it ends up in a landfill, it stays there forever. Lush sells these in a variety of scents!
   
10. Buy used: textbooks, clothes, appliances, toys, etc. Not only is this more economical, it's a great way to combat fast fashion (read more on that here).