• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
College Magazine logo

College Magazine

College Life, Dating, Career & Campus Advice

  • Colleges
    • College Guides
    • College Rankings
    • Campus Life
      • Academics
      • Dating
      • Freshman Year
      • Health
      • Social Change
      • Party
    • Find Your College
  • Majors
    • All Majors
    • Most Popular Majors
    • Choosing a Major
  • Intern
    • Internship Directory
    • How to Get an Internship
    • How to Write a Resume
    • How to Write a Cover Letter
    • How to Interview
    • How to Network
    • Career 101
    • Find Your Passion Career
  • Money
    • How to Make Money
    • How to Save Money
    • How to Get a Job
    • Credit Cards 101
    • FAFSA
    • Ramen Project
  • Travel
    • Study Abroad
    • College Spring Break
    • How to Travel Cheap
    • Things to Do
  • Shop
    • College Magazine Shop
    • Gift Guides
    • College Packing List
Home » Latest Posts » 10 Ways to be Eco-Friendly in College
Life Student Life

10 Ways to be Eco-Friendly in College

Facebook Tweet
going green
unsplash.com
Madeline Shepard   April 19, 2019

Most college towns are built on notebook paper and beer cans—an observation I made when I attended Georgia Southern. As an environmental health science student, I always notice the lack of recycling and sustainability education on college campuses. Statesboro, Georgia didn’t even have a recycling program. I would take a car load of recycling each time I went home to my parents. Earth needs our tender love and care.

Keep reading for 10 ways to be more eco-friendly while in college.

1. Complete a waste audit

waste audit
unsplash.com

One of my first assignments as an environmental science student was to perform a waste audit. It truly opened my eyes to see all of the recyclable items that ended up in the trash. For a week, write down or be mindful of every item you put in the trash. Notice how much and what types of things you throw away. Could that junk mail from the previous tenant go to the recycle bin? Could you use a kitchen towel instead of using a roll of paper towels per week? Think about all the items you throw away that could be reduced or recycled. It will blow your mind.

2. Research where you can take your waste

Recyclables, old electronics, ratty t-shirts—they don’t need to end up in a landfill. Even at Georgia Southern, students dropped off recyclables at the waste management plant. Looking for a place to bring your old electronics? Target and Best Buy got you covered. H&M and Columbia have clothing recycling programs where you can get coupons when you bring in old clothing. Save the earth and money at the same time.. There are tons of options and programs out there to keep a nice majority of your waste out of landfills. Use them.

3. Choose an Apartment Complex That Recycles

Where you live matters. Some apartment complexes do nightly trash pickups, which is only part of the problem, not a solution. If more apartment complexes offer active recycling programs, more complexes, neighborhoods, and even towns may adopt recycling practices. You can make a big change in a little way. Simplicity works.

4. Join an Environmentally-Friendly Club

College has a club for everything. You can bet that there is at least one eco-friendly group on your campus, from Save Our Species to BagtheBag. If your campus doesn’t have a chapter yet, take initiative and start one.

5. Get Certified

going green
unsplash.com

Earn a minor or certificate to learn more about the environment and how to live sustainably. There are sustainability certificates, environmental health science minors and environmental resource courses. Hey, if you love it enough, you can even make it your major. Internships are also a great option as well as a resume booster. “Through my internship, I have connected with many other students, faculty, and staff that have taken the time to teach me that living a sustainable lifestyle isn’t an end destination—it’s a daily journey,” University of Georgia Sustainability Intern Emma Courson said. The world needs environmental scientists and activists.


trending

404

10 Student Organizations Breaking the Mold at Berkeley

179

Top 10 Spots Around Emerson College to Get Inspired

149

Top 10 Ways to Spot a UT Austin Alum


6. Shop Consciously

shop green
unsplash.com

Make planet-friendly choices while you shop. Start by using reusable bags at the grocery store, purchasing local foods, picking snacks with less packaging (or recyclable packaging). While you’re at it, throw a reusable water bottle and a Britta filter in the cart—no need for plastic bottles.

7. Walk don’t Drive

walking to class
unsplash.com

If you have the option to walk, ride a bike or take a bus instead of driving, do it. Why pay for that expensive parking spot on campus if you don’t need to? If those options aren’t easily accessible at your university, petition your school’s administration for bike lanes or bus routes. One person’s suggestion can spark a wave of change.

8. Go Meatless

eating green food
unsplash.com

…for a day, a week, a month or possibly forever. Try plant-based milk made out of almond, cashews, or if you’re feeling daring, coconut. Any small step you take to include less animal products in your diet is good for the environment. I’m not saying you have to quit steak and ice cream cold turkey, but what’s the harm in trying it out or picking one day to go without?

9. Go Wasteless

College is a great time to try out different things—including trying to go zero waste. Just like going meatless, work in baby steps . Any reduction of waste is a huge step in living sustainably. Along with recycling and reducing waste in the first place, zero waste includes composting efforts and reusing or repairing things instead of buying new.

10. Spread the word

https://youtu.be/MWIqjQU4CHQ

If your friends don’t know anything about living sustainably, teach them. Explain why they can’t recycle greasy pizza boxes but can recycle their daily Dr. Pepper cans. Put a recycling bin in your house and tell your roommates. Explain to your boss why you should have a company recycling policy. Show them why you are passionate about living in a way that is less harmful to the planet. You might start a chain reaction.

About Madeline Shepard

Journalist, traveler, lover of life. Madeline is a senior journalism and environmental health science major at the University of Georgia. She has plans to see and save the world.

What I Wish I Had Known About Mental Health So I Wouldn’t Have to Call Myself a College Dropout

Ant-Man Opens the Doors for Marvel’s New Phase

10 Boba Tea Spots for Houston College Students

Top Nine Reasons Why Atlanta is the Epitome of a Modern College Town 

10 Ways to Have Fun with Your Friends Indoors

Do You Actually Care, Or Do You Want to Look Like You Do?

unsplash.com

Top Ten Inspirational Quotes from Your Favorite Sports TV Shows

I lived with my three best friends. Here’s how it went.

21 Things to Do in Williamsburg When You’re Under 21

Previous Post:Top 10 Environmentally Friendly Colleges of 2019
Next Post:24 Things to Do in Long Island in 24 Hours

colleges

  • College Guides
  • College Rankings
  • Campus life
  • Academics
  • Dating
  • Freshmen Year
  • Health
  • Party

majors

  • All College Majors
  • Most Popular Majors
  • Choosing a Major

intern

  • Internships Directory
  • How to Write a Resume
  • How to Write a Cover Letter
  • How to Interview
  • How to Get an Internship
  • How to Network

money

  • How to Make Money
  • How to Save Money
  • How to Get a Job
  • Credit Cards 101
  • College Loans

travel

  • Study Abroad
  • College Spring Break
  • How to Travel Cheap
  • Things to Do

shop

  • College Packing List
  • Gift Guides
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS Feed
  • Twitter
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Write
  • Apply
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sign Up
  • Advertise
  • My Account
  • Cart

College Magazine logo

Copyright © 2023 Powered by BizBudding