Thousands of San Diego students are getting ready to go back to school. Here are a few tips to do it the sustainable way!
Reduce your daily footprint by following these tips:
Reusable water bottle. If you don’t yet own a reusable water bottle it’s a great idea to get one! You can significantly reduce the amount of disposable water bottles you toss out just by drinking from your reusable water bottle every day, plus it saves you money. It’s best to write your name or initials on the bottle to avoid losing it and creating more waste.
Finding alternatives to plastic bottles and bags. Opt for reusable baggies to pack sandwiches, cookies, veggies, and other snacks. Disposable plastic baggies can not be disposed of in the recycling blue bins and are likely to end up in the landfill.. If you throw out 2 bags a school day, that’s 10 bags every week. In a month, that’s 40 bags, and in a year that’s a whopping 480 bags, they add up quickly! Reusable bags are widely available and washable.
Don’t bag your fruit. Fruits come in their own compostable packaging, it’s not necessary to put your banana, orange, or apple in a plastic bag, when the skin of the fruit naturally protects it.. If you want to pre-peel or pre-slice your fruit, it’s another great opportunity to use your reusable snack bags.
Be cool and carpool. If you live close to your school, consider walking, skating, riding your bike, or using public transportation to school if able.
Shop smart. The new school year can be exciting and it’s always tempting to buy brand new, cool materials. But most times, you end up buying supplies you don’t need. It’s always a good idea to do a waste audit and look through what you may already have such as markers, pens, colored pencils, rulers, notepads etc. that accumulate year to year. It’s a good idea before going out to buy new school supplies, to make a list of what you really need. This way, you can avoid buying what you don’t. If you have any supplies at home that you won’t use, consider donating them to your school or an after school program. Also, Don’t forget your reusable bags when back-to-school shopping.
Already do all the above and want to do more? Here are some tips for the A+ Environmentalists:
- Start an organic gardening and composting program at your school.
- How well does your school recycle? If you think more can be done, talk with your teachers and principal about improving recycling at your school.
- Start an environmental club at your school. You can participate in clean-ups and organize recycling events to fundraise for your club or school.
- Help spread the word. For more information on how and where items can be recycled and disposed of properly, visit WasteFreeSD.org or call our hotline. Incorporated residents call: 1-800-237-BLUE (1-800-237-2583) and for Unincorporated residents call: 1-877-R-1-EARTH (1-877-713-2784).
