Posted on Aug 14, 2024 | Blog,News
Sustainability Tips for Going Back to School
The summer flew by and it’s already time to head back to school! Think green this school year and consider ways to reduce your environmental impact. Here are a few sustainability tips from Keep Louisiana Beautiful:
- Invest in a reusable water bottle. Plastic water bottles are called “single-use disposables” because they are only used once. When not recycled, plastic bottles end up in landfills and sometimes become litter in our environment. In fact, during the 2023 KLB litter study, plastic water bottles were found at 80% of surveyed sites.
- Buy secondhand. Whether you are looking for a backpack for your kindergartener or appliances for a dorm room, you can find both barely used and new items at secondhand stores. Some college campuses, like Tulane University, have move-in sales with gently used decor, furniture, storage containers, and more. If your child wears a school uniform, most schools do uniform swaps at the beginning of the school year.
- Pack a waste-free lunch. Instead of plastic bags for your snacks and sandwiches, try using reusable containers. Pack silverware instead of disposable cutlery. And don’t forget to ditch the plastic straw!
- Get involved on campus. Most schools — from elementary to higher ed — have a sustainability or green club. Ask how you or your student can get involved! You can also get service hours by checking out litter clean-up supplies from libraries participating in KLB’s Get Down & Clean Up program.
- Use KLB’s free educational resources. KLB offers lessons for K-5 and activity books. These resources can be used in and out of the classroom to teach youth about litter, recycling, waste, and caring for the environment. Order these tools for free online while supplies last. KLB even has a way for higher ed students to get more involved in sustainability. Check out the University Sustainability Coalition!
Thank you for keeping Louisiana beautiful! Have a great school year!
