Georgetown College’s Student–Run Newspaper
February 6, 2019
Volume CXXXVIV Issue 3
Tips toward becoming an eco-friendly college student By DEMETRIUS HARRISON
Opinion Editor Several college students seem to prioritize a mixutre of three things: classes, studying, and socializing. However, with the busy lifestyle being a student brings, most individuals do not spend time mapping out methods to incorporate a green lifestyle into their daily routine. Saying this, here are a few easy, affordable ways that all college students can implement into their lifestyle without sacrificing drastically. Number one: recycle! Although we live in the digital age, we still heavily rely on paper. Students use paper for class notes, tests, and other assignments; futhermore, collecting these papers throughout the semesters. Additionally, think of all the plastic food and drink containers you use per year. In a 2007 report released by Waste Management, 50% of the 254 million tons of trash Americans throw away is recyclable. However, only 34% of the 254 million tons of trash actually gets recycled. California, Maine and Washington have the highest recycling rates in the United States.
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This same report proved it cheaper to recycle than to fill a landfill. “It costs around $28 per ton to throw trash in the landfill. The cost to recycle is around $147 a ton,” an excerpt of the report read. Georgetown Recycling Center is located at 1161 Paris Pike, open 8a.m.-5p.m. Tues. through Sat. The recycling plant is approximately a 10-minute walk from campus and a three-minute drive. Number two: walk, bike or take public transit when alloted the opportunity. Although campus is small, driving to class rather than taking the brisk seems to be common. Double up on exercise and adding less pollution to the air by walking to class when the weather and time permits. Furthermore, take advantage of the walking-distance restaurants on Main St. rather than driving to the fast food restaurants on the outskirts of town when wanting a bite to eat. Number three: wash cups and plates. Washing dishes is not a practice most college students do. Ditch the red solo cups and trade them out for reusable cups, affordable
at the local Dollar Tree approximately three-minutes from campus. Tying back into the consideration of recycling and the wastefulness of single-use products, washing reusable dishes may be more time consuming, but eliminates waste. Number four: save paper. Try to avoid new books Source: Oceans of Fun unless deemed absoEco-friendly tips to follow. lutely necessary. Take advantage of your supply is low. the college’s interlibrary loan Attempt using both sides service, borrowing books, of the page when writing DVDs and more from other notes and writing smaller, libraries if you can’t find some- avoid taking handfuls of paper thing on campus. napkins from the cafeteria Used books not only cost and bathrooms. Use scraps of less, but they also don’t con- paper for small notes, and use tribute to new printing. Be sure refillable binders for courseto take advantage of the price work. matching option in The Store Number five: purchase a on campus, as well as joining reusable water bottle. Accordthe Georgetown College Book ing to a 2017 study conducted Exchange group on Faecbook. by Euromonitor InternationFor other paper supplies al’s global packaging trends outside of books, practice report, more than 480 billion buying the bare minimum you plastic drinking bottles were will practically use. Rather sold in 2016 across the world than having a surplus to throw and a million bottles per away, buy on-demand when minute are wasted rather than
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recycled. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported purchasing a reusable water bottle (BPA free) will save the average person $255 per year. The 2012 report claimed that an individual will benefit from a 5100% gain on the investment. Consider encouraging green living to your peers as it is our obligation as humans to feed our planet a healthy diet. For more tips on Going Green, visit https://www.usa.gov/ green.
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