1)      Ditch the paper.

A lot of professors urge their students to take notes by hand, reminding us that handwriting notes helps us commit the material to long-term memory. Regardless of whether you print the PowerPoint slides or take notes on lined paper, this practice adds up over time. Did you know that in 2014 alone, 67 million tonnes of paper waste ended up in landfills? If students switched to taking notes on laptops or tablets, the colossal amount of paper waste could be reduced, and we might all save some money in the long run, too.

2)      Get some of those reusable grocery bags.

It’s estimated that approximately 100,000 aquatic animals die as a result of single-use plastic bags each year. That’s a heavy price to pay for a flimsy bag that we only use for a calculated average of 12 minutes before throwing away. Is it worth it? No. Buy some reusable bags and try to repurpose any old plastic bags you still have saved up to minimize waste.

3)      Don’t buy single-use plastic water bottles.

Not only is the use of plastic in this context unnecessary, but the unnatural extraction of water from underground sources disrupts habitats and ecosystems worldwide. The sale of the Earth’s water for a profit also raises important political and moral questions, especially when so many people around the world do not have access to safe drinking water. Do your part by using a reusable water bottle instead.

4)      Avoid buying hard copies of textbooks at all costs!

We all should know by now that buying an eText is much cheaper than buying a hard copy of a textbook. Textbook editions get updated all the time, and usually new editions only contain a myriad of minor changes. As a result, thousands of copies of essentially the same text become outdated every few years for almost no reason. By making the switch to eBooks, we can potentially begin reducing the number of textbooks that go into print, saving a few trees in the process.

5)      Invest in a travel mug.

Some coffee shops will actually provide a discount for bringing in your own mug. Think of it as getting a little reward for reducing your waste!

6)      Shut that window!

When Western Housing’s roommate selection algorithm fails you and you can’t agree on a room temperature, don’t compromise by dialing up the heat and having your roommate open their window! It’s better for the environment if you layer up.

7)      Make the effort to recycle.

This is probably the most obvious piece of advice! Always put in effort to recycle, even if the situation makes it inconvenient. If you can’t find a recycle bin, take the piece of recycling home with you so you can dispose of it properly! 

8)      Don’t overfill your kettle!

The next time you make tea, only fill your kettle with as much water as you need. While you can always reuse any leftover water, you might not have known that you waste energy by heating more water than you need.

9)      Dry your clothes the old-fashioned way.

Ever wonder what can and can’t be put in the dryer? Guess no more! Save money and the environment and skip this unnecessary step altogether by buying some clothespins and hanging your clothes up to dry inside… just don’t leave your clothes in a soggy pile on the floor for days.

10)  Walk or bike instead of driving if you can.

Not only will this help the environment by reducing your carbon emissions, but it will also improve your physical and mental health too!