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Students show how to lessen green impact

While stereotypically students may not always be seen as putting the environment at the top of their list of priorities, it seems many of Wales’ students have a relatively green approach to their studies and lifestyle, naturally.

While for many students the primary motivation for their increasingly green lifestyle habits is an attempt to combat the effects of being short of cash, their actions could help tackle climate change and reduce their effect on the environment. As students start a new academic year, Waste Awareness Wales is urging them adopt even more green habits – and encouraging everyone to take a leaf out of some students’ books to see if we can all live a little bit greener.

Councillor Richard Parry-Hughes, chairperson of Waste Awareness Wales explained:

"While it may be that students across Wales are trying to watch their finances, their actions could also help reduce their impact on the environment. Taking the initiative to swap unwanted clothes with friends to get a new wardrobe, walk or use public transport instead of taking a car or taxi and shop in markets where food is often sold with less packaging are not just great ways to save money – they could also reduce the amount of waste thrown away and could help combat climate change.

"There are some simple, typically ‘student’ lifestyle qualities we can all use to help us reduce the amount of waste we throw away by around 60 per cent – and we’ll have a bit more money in our pockets as a result as well, which has got to be a good thing."

Waste Awareness Wales’ advice for how students – and everyone else – can live a little greener:

• Over 1 million tonnes of textiles are thrown out each year in the UK - don’t throw away clothes and unwanted items, swap them with your friends to update your wardrobe or donate to your local charity shop for other people to enjoy.
  
• Re-use carrier bags when food shopping or invest in a ‘bag for life’. Some supermarkets now offer incentives for re-using old carrier bags.
  
•  Shop in markets – food often has less packaging, and you can get recipe tips and ideas from the stallholders.
  
•  Re-fill printer ink cartridges either by purchasing do it yourself refill kits or finding local companies that supply the service.
  
• Use both sides of a piece of paper if you print documents, but make sure you check if you need to print first.
  
• Make use of libraries, and loan books rather than buying books to save money and prevent you from potentially buying a book and then not reading it. Pass old books to friends or charity shops; look for second hand outlets – pay a fraction of the price and save paper!
  
• Keep scrap paper / backs of envelopes by the phone and use them to make a note of any phone messages for housemates/family members, or use them for making shopping lists.
  
• Prevent food waste and save money on ingredients by cooking the right portion sizes – for example measure the amount of rice or pasta needed for the meal – and buying only what you need.
  
• Share items and appliances with housemates or family members (e.g. hair dryers, kitchen appliances, vacuum cleaners, etc.) instead of buying a new one of your own.
  
• Take advantage of kerbside recycle collection services or household recycling centres – contact your local council for more information or visit www.wasteawarenesswales.org.uk