Back to School
Welcome to Trash Talk Tuesday! It’s that time of year again where the scent of crayons and copy paper fills the stores as the back-to-school shoppers crowd the aisles! There is something truly lovely about starting the new year with a brand new No. 2 pencil, a trendy backpack, or supplies to donate to your favorite teacher. What’s not cool is the mounds and mounds of single-use products and packaging taking up the shelves and heavily marketed to busy parents and teachers who are just doing their best. What’s a sustainable student to do?
It’s tough to get away with no waste in the classroom, but you’d be surprised what a difference just swapping out some items for reusables could do, and there are always little changes that could make a huge impact. You could use reusable sandwich containers, utensils, and napkins in lunchboxes, avoid plastic supplies and opt for plant-based materials, and opt for more durable supplies that can be used year after year. Paper is probably the biggest offender when it comes to waste in schools, whether it’s paper towels, tissues, copy paper, lined paper, notebooks, etc. A simple change like switching to a reusable paper towel or hankie could save literal tons of paper waste in a single classroom. Did you know that if every household in the United States swapped out only three rolls of paper towels for reusable ones each year, it would save 120,000 tons of waste and $4.1 million in landfill dumping fees? (1)
For items that are somewhere in between single-use and reusable, say “partially used but still have some life in them” you could save these to use next year or try a “buy nothing” group online! Many communities offer “buy nothing” groups through social media, and the concept is easy–once you join, you can post gently used or new items to give away or search for ones you need, at no cost to anyone. These groups are usually local and created with reducing waste (including gas and time) in mind. Students and teachers alike can find new or used art supplies, books, decorations, backpacks, etc. Checking these groups before you shop could save you time and money but can also help reduce waste within your household and community.
Going back to school doesn’t mean going back to habits that aren’t helping you or the environment. It’s a new school year, and a new chance to learn all the different little ways you can make a difference in helping to reduce waste!
(1) https://cottagecare.com/.../dirty-details-facts-paper.../