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6 Ways Students Can Be More Environmentally-Friendly on Campus

Photo by Ryan Jacobson on Unsplash

We all have a responsibility to do our bit to help the planet, and that includes those of us currently finishing our higher education. Students are a hugely influential group which includes the leaders of tomorrow. This is why it’s never been more important to lead the way when it comes to saving the planet. Here are six ways you can help make it happen right away.

1. Join a bicycle rental program

It’s so tempting to jump in an Uber these days, but do you really need to? Joining one of the new bicycle rental or bike sharing programs is a great way to get around the city for a minimal outlay, burn off some energy, and reduce your carbon footprint all at the same time. If there’s not a bike sharing/rental program at your university, you could start one yourself, or save up for a cheap bike to get you from A to B.

2. Organize a donation program

Moving season is the time of the year to get this done, and you’ll find it’s all the more successful if you’re proactive in taking away the bits and pieces your fellow students no longer want. There’s so much stuff that goes straight in the trash because it’s a little worn or difficult to get home, but this doesn’t mean you can afford for it all to go to waste. By donating everything to local charities and outreach programs, you can help tackle the throwaway culture causing so much harm in the world.

3. Start a sustainability convention

Raising awareness is just as important as making changes in your own life, so why not start a monthly convention on campus? It’s a great way to hear ideas from right across the campus, and if you invite professors and lecturers you’ll get some really good ideas bouncing back and forth.

The key to raising awareness is engaging people. If you can get some interesting and thought-provoking speakers to turn up, it’ll make all the difference to the turnout” — says Marie Fincher, a head of content at TrustMyPaper and eco writer for GrabMyEssay.

4. Plan out an organic campus garden

This is a great way to get everyone to buy into what you’re doing, and the results will speak for themselves before too long. You could even sell the produce in the campus shop to show other students just how much better it is to have freshly picked organic fruit and vegetables.

5. Promote the use of reusable drinks bottles

Single-use plastics are in the crosshairs of the environmental movement right now, and for good reason. They never degrade, they are everywhere, and they leach microplastics into virtually every water source. If you can create a stylish reusable bottle branded with your university’s crest and motto, it could just have a big impact on campus life.

Many people think that being an environmentalist is all about going without and missing out, but that’s just not the case. If you can come up with an entrepreneurial idea you’ll not just be helping save the planet, you’ll be showing future employers what an incredible asset you’ll be to them” — says Estelle Leotard, a lifestyle blogger and writer for Studicus.

6. Highlight the need for renewable energy sources on campus

Identifying the carbon footprint of the campus and talking about how renewable energy can reduce it is a great way to raise awareness. You could speak to the Student Union about the prospect of adding solar-powered phone charging stations in communal areas or even a charging bank powered by a bicycle dynamo. Anything that gets students talking and interacting will work wonders here.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, this article has given you some inspirational new ideas about ways you can help do your bit to save the planet. It’s something we all need to play our part in, and it’s something you can start doing right now. If you believe you can make a difference, then you really will.

Author Bio: Bridgette Hernandez is a senior writer and blogger for BestEssay.Education, and an individual passionately committed to green living. In her spare time, she runs a food bank to reduce waste and is a keen organic gardener.

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