It is that time of year again: back to school! With millions of Texas students preparing to head back to the classroom, it’s an important time to keep the environment in mind. Don’t let your back- to -school shopping negatively impact the environment. As the new school year approaches, you can start the year “green” with simple changes.
As office supply stores, big box stores, and online retailers start to release their school supply and back-to-school clothes ads, remember to check which items are still usable from last year.
Lunchtime is most students’ favorite time of the day. This is a great opportunity to reduce waste while providing fuel for growing bodies.
Use a reusable lunch box instead of a plastic or brown paper bag. If you pack lunch every school day with reusable items instead of single-use items, you can save 180 bags, sets of silverware, and water bottles. Plus, a fun lunch box makes a great cafeteria accessory!
Avoid packing more than your student can eat to reduce food waste.
Texas summertime heat can make the school pick-up and drop-off line challenging. While it seems easy to run the engine to keep the AC flowing in your car while you wait, you can reduce emissions by turning off your engine. See how long you can stand waiting without AC.
Consider transporting kids to and from school using a carpool of trusted parents or the bus.
As safety allows for those kids with a short trip to school, walking or pedaling not only saves gas, but is a great way to burn some calories.
Reduce waste in the classroom by using digital resources instead of paper whenever possible.
Paper is one of the easiest things for recycling centers to recycle. If your school does not have a recycling program, consider starting one. Get started with the School Recycling Guide.
Use our lesson plans to take the classroom outdoors. This will reduce energy and combat Nature-Deficit Disorder.
Remind students to conserve water in the bathroom and to unplug devices. We have free water-saving mirror clings for the bathroom sinks and Unplug stickers to remind them all to conserve electricity.
Back to school is an exciting time of year, and it doesn’t have to be wasteful or negatively impact the environment. Together with these simple steps we can Take Care of Texas!
