Five Ways to Take Action in Honor of Earth Day

Sustainability

Five Ways to Take Action in Honor of Earth Day

It’s easier than you might think

April 19, 2022
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We all know that it’s time to start living more sustainably to combat climate change, but a lot of us might not know where to start. In honor of Earth Day, we’ve compiled a list of five ways to stay environmentally conscious both on campus and beyond.


Recycle

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Of course, we had to put recycling first to kick-start our list. Across campus, students can find BU’s mixed recyclables system, which combines plastic, paper, metal, and glass products into one collection bin. When recycling, it’s important not to put any food waste or trash in recycling bins as this leads to cross-contamination. “If it is a clean and empty plastic bottle, jar, jug, or tub, it can be recycled in Massachusetts,” according to RecycleSmartMA. It is important to note, however, that black plastic containers must be put in the trash and cannot be recycled like other plastic products.

Conserve water

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While you may not feel as though you’re wasting much water, there are various ways to cut down on excess water usage on campus. At BU, taking shorter showers and turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth are two simple ways to help. In addition, using a reusable bottle helps cut down on single-use plastic, while also conserving water, since water is needed to make the plastic bottles. If you’re living on campus, you can report water leaks to the 24/7 Maintenance Office.

Dine sustainably

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Dining sustainably at BU is made easy by eating at one of the three on-campus dining halls. Beyond Boston, buying organic groceries is another beneficial option, since organic foods have fewer pesticides, according to data from the USDA. Day to day, make sure to avoid single-use plastic products that are discarded just as quickly as they’re used.

Minimize food waste

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When eating at the dining halls across campus, make sure to put any unfinished food and excess food scraps into food waste bins. The food waste bins are often green and are marked accordingly. Be sure to keep any plastic products or containers out of the waste bins, since they are not compostable. Last, when eating in the dining halls, be aware of how much food you’re taking to ensure you don’t create excessive amounts of waste.

Shop sustainably

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With the rise of fast fashion, shopping sustainably has become increasingly important. However, thanks to apps such as Poshmark and Depop, shopping secondhand has also become more accessible. When getting rid of clothes, donate your old items to organizations such as Salvation Army or Goodwill since this prevents them from ending up in a landfill.


For more information and more ways to be environmentally conscious, visit BU Sustainability’s website.

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Five Ways to Take Action in Honor of Earth Day

  • Kelsey Martirano (COM’23)

    Kelsey Martirano (COM’23) is a social media intern with BU Public Relations. She can be reached at kmartira@bu.edu Profile

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There are 2 comments on Five Ways to Take Action in Honor of Earth Day

  1. Those things are nice to do, but if you really want to make an impact, here’s what BU students, faculty & staff should do (and bring these practices back to home).

    1) eat less meat, especially beef: can you drop meat from 1 or 2 meals a week?

    2) take shorter showers. Avg BU student takes at least 1 shower per day, over 10 min. (even in Earth House). Hot water accounts for ~15% of fossil use in dorms. [Conserving water doesn’t have nearly the impact, since Boston gets its water from the Quabbin, which is higher in elevation, and we actually generate electricity as it goes to Boston).

    3) turn off your gaming systems (and display) when you’re not using them (at a power strip).
    (peak internet use at BU dorms is 10pm to 2 am….and its not just for writing those papers).

    These individual actions will really add up and can be measured & reported to the community.

    4) reduce what you buy, and re-use instead of recycling.

    5) put pressure on management to implement energy efficiency measures and reduce its use of fossil fuels. BU should be reporting out what they are doing each year, and how much they are investing to make this happen. BU is a leader in MA with its climate action plan, but even we can be doing a better job.

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