Recycling, the Right Way

Wed Sep 23 2009

I’m sure you’re all familiar with the three “Rs” - reduce, reuse, recycle. But have you ever given thought to the order of those three words? They are listed in order of what actions will have the greatest impact.

REDUCE  comes first in the list. The first and most important thing we can do is reduce the amount of stuff we throw away. Instead of tossing a disposable coffee cup every morning, use a travel mug and reduce the number of disposables going into the landfill. Ever think about the packaging you throw away? Lots of products are “overpackaged” - everything from food to electronics. Think about a thumb drive - how big is the package it comes in opposed to the small size of the drive itself. It is “overpackaged.” What about single serving foods such as Easy Mac and granola bars. They’re already individually wrapped - do they really need to be in a box, too? When you’re making purchases, buy smarter - try to purchase items that come in minimal packaging, so there’s less to toss in the trash.

REUSE comes next. If you do have “stuff” laying around - can you use it in a different way instead of throwing it out? With a world on music online now, many of you probably don’t have many CD. And those CDs you do have might he scratched beyond salvaging. Instead of throwing them out, use them as drink coasters. What about clothes you no longer wear? No need to throw them away - donate them to Goodwill, so someone else can get some wear out of them. Some items are easier to reuse than others - it takes some imagination to find a way to reuse a burned out light bulb (hint - they can be painted for Christmas tree decorations - grandmothers love them!) So, if you can’t reduce or reuse, the third step is to…

RECYCLE! On campus we recycle mixed paper (including thin cardboard), plastics, aluminum, glass and corrugated cardboard. Electronic waste is a growing segment of our trash - everything from old computers, printers and TVs fall into this category. While we do not have a collection area on campus for these, Best Buy will recycle most of these items. Batteries can also be recycled at Lowe’s or other hardware stores. Ink cartridges can be refilled (there is a store behind the mall) or recycled with Ann Marie Blackmon (Lineberger) or in the Education department in Rhyne.

Back to School Basics

Thu May 7 2009

I know, it’s the end of July. Fall semester seems so far away and it’s way too early to think about packing all your stuff to head back to campus - or, for the Class of ‘13 to come to campus for the first time. But in case any of you are eager to spend that hard-earned summer cash and buy some college essentials, here are a few purchasing tips:

Purchasing bedding? There are lots of great organic cotton options out there now. Organic cotton is grown without the use of pesticides, which are harmful to the environment. Bamboo sheets are also a sustainable alternative. Bamboo requires very little water or fertilizer, and the harvested material can be used in a variety of applications. Bamboo sheets will have a lower thread count than cotton sheets, but don’t worry, they’re super soft.

Electronics? Maybe you need a new computer, a microfridge, microwave, or maybe even a new lamp - keep an eye out for Energy Star rated products. Energy Star labeled products meet energy efficient standards set by the EPA and US. Department of Energy. Energy Star products will use less energy over the lifetime of the product, thereby saving energy, money (lower electricity bills) and the environment. Purchasing one Energy Star product may seem like a small effort, but all of our energy savings add up. Another note, when purchasing computers, be sure you know how to enable power-save and sleep modes on your new machine - save energy while you’re in class.

Purchase re-usable items. Need plates and bowls for late-night snacks? Skip the paper and plastic and purchase inexpensive re-usable dinnerware. Thrift stores are good places to look, as are the attics of family members! Chances are, someone in your family has old dinnerware they’d be happy to let you use.

Keep it to a minimum: When you’re out shopping this fall, keep in mind everything you bring with you in August has to fit in your car to go back home in May. Don’t go overboard with your purchases, and make smart buying decisions. Purchase fewer, quality items that you can use all four years here at L-R, instead of cheaper items that will break and need to be replaced.

Happy shopping and see you in August!