Sometimes it seems overwhelming to try to make an impact on this world of ours. We’re living in a stressful time, and it’s tough to even know where to begin to make a difference. Often, students and their communities can begin by focusing on environmental changes. By making pretty simple alterations, from starting a recycling club to selecting eco-friendly graduation gear, schools can impact the earth in a positive way.
How can your school make a difference?
Here are a few ways to inspire your school to help protect our environment:
Use Less Paper
Schools can easily implement ways to save trees by finding methods to use less paper. Many students and teachers already frequently use Chromebooks and Google Classroom instead of paper for instruction. This trend can continue and expand as more learning and assessing take place online. Additionally, schools can give parents the opportunity to sign all forms online instead of filling out mounds of paperwork at the start of the school year. Districts can also offer students access to online textbooks and workbooks. When the school needs to send out a notification about an upcoming event like picture day or the school carnival, they can send an email, make an all-call via a telephone system, or use an app like Remind instead of sending home hundreds of papers that often get left behind in backpacks.
Rethink Packaging
Look around your school. Are there items that are packaged in a way that could be more environmentally friendly? This is usually centered around the school cafeteria. So many items that were once reusable have now become disposable. Styrofoam trays and plastic utensils are thrown away by students every day. Plastic water bottles are sold instead of encouraging students to bring their own refillable bottles. Individually packaged condiments and plastic bowls and cups filled with fruits get tossed into school trash cans. It’s important to invest in more durable and reusable packaging for food. Washing trays, cups, bowls, and utensils takes more effort, but it will make a huge impact on the earth. Student lunches and their packaging generate an excessive amount of unnecessary waste.