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10 Steps to Making Your Campus More Eco-Friendly

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Campus More Eco-Friendly

Photo by Mert Guller on Unsplash

Over the years, the importance of eco-friendly practices has become quite evident. As a student, you might have noticed that your campus could adopt more sustainable practices.

Wondering how you can be of help? Here are some ways for campuses to embrace sustainability. Make a note of them and discuss them with your college administration to see what measures could be implemented.

1. Spread Awareness About Recycling Programs

Many colleges have some kind of recycling program available on their campus. However, the main issue is that there is very little awareness about them. For instance, campuses almost always require students to segregate waste and recycle. However, the recycling bins are often kept in some nook, away from the usual student traffic. This means that only those who are actively looking to recycle will know of these bins.

After all, recycling might be the last thing on a student’s mind. Often, they are thinking, ‘write a paper for me on paperwriter‘ or ‘I need to study for the test tomorrow.’ Therefore, it is up to the colleges to ensure that recycling programs are easily accessible. As such, campuses have to allocate bins in crowded places that get good traffic regularly.

On the other hand, if your college campus doesn’t have a recycling program yet, then it’s high time to launch one. You can contact the local recycling centers to work out a plan.

2. Reduce Waste

Recycling and waste reduction are two things that go hand-in-hand. Colleges can promote the use of reusable items to reduce the amount of single-use plastic waste produced on campus. This includes items such as water bottles, coffee cups, and takeaway utensils.

Colleges should also provide alternates at the same time. For instance, campuses can set up water refill stations or sell reusable coffee thermos. Additionally, students can also be encouraged to carry a reusable bag at all times.

3. Efficient Energy Management

Another step that the college administration can take is to install efficient lighting. For instance, campuses can switch to LED or CFL bulbs. These are more durable and save more energy. Additionally, campuses can also install automated lighting systems. These lights will have motion detectors that turn lights on and off based on movement.

Campuses can also go for renewable energy sources, such as solar power. Although this requires a high upfront investment, over time, there will be significant savings.

4. Set Up Donation Programs

College campuses see a lot of turnarounds every year. When students vacate their dorm rooms, they take all their belongings with them. And when new students come in, they will also bring in new items. This includes not only books, but appliances, clothing, furniture, and more.

Students can help colleges set up donation and reuse programs to prevent wastage. This way, new students can buy second-hand clothing, books, furniture, and more to promote sustainability on campus.

5. Encourage Using Bikes and Public Transports

An increasing number of colleges have started adding more bike lanes on their campuses. Bikes can help reduce the carbon footprint of the campus. And, of course, biking can also be a dose of daily exercise for students. That being said, not every student will want to buy bikes. To support such an initiative, college campuses can also start bike rental programs.

Alternatively, students can also be encouraged to take public transportation. This way, students will also lead an active lifestyle, as they need to walk to and from transport stations.

6. Create a Communal Garden

Students can also set up campus gardens to boost sustainability. And students will also be responsible for these gardens. Colleges can use gardening as a learning opportunity and can even grow organic fruits and vegetables.

As studies show, engaging in activities such as gardening can help students with their stress and anxiety while soothing symptoms of depression. In other words, the garden can also be a getaway for students when they need a break. So, it will be a win-win situation for students as well as the college administration.

7. Switch to Digital Paper Submissions

A majority of college professors have already started accepting assignments via email. This means that students can use the best paper writing services to complete an assignment and simply email them to their professors before the deadline. There is no need to take printouts, and crucially, you won’t be wasting paper.

But, not every professor is open to this approach. However, colleges can indeed develop policies that will encourage all courses to be conducted digitally. On top of this, colleges can also switch their administrative paperwork to digital mode. This can help reduce the use of paper significantly.

Steps to Making Campus More Eco-Friendly

Photo by Nareeta Martin on Unsplash

8. Sustainability Events and Workshops

It is also important for colleges to hold eco-friendly workshops. These could be about leading a zero-waste lifestyle, making organic products such as soaps and shampoos, or even about basic recycling. The main objective here is to spread awareness.

Moreover, instead of offering them as workshops, colleges can also try to include sustainability classes in the curriculum.

9. Avoid Overpurchasing

Students can also do their part to make their college campuses more eco-friendly. For instance, buy only the things you need, rather than getting carried away by student offers and discounts. This can help reduce wastage.

Students can also actively try to recycle, buy second-hand items, and lead a minimalist lifestyle.

10. Set Up Reward Systems

Even with all these initiatives, students might not take enough steps to boost sustainability on campus. This is where you can try a reward system. Colleges could allocate points for each eco-friendly action and reward students with the most points. The incentives could be offered on a monthly or yearly basis.

By following the steps outlined above, students can help their college campuses become more eco-friendly. That being said, it’s important to understand that colleges need to have an equally enthusiastic attitude toward sustainability. Students, professors, and college administrations need to work together and take responsibility for building a more sustainable campus. By doing so, they can make significant strides toward creating a sustainable future.

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