Sustainability Corner: Small things to do to live more sustainably
College students may struggle to think beyond convenience in their daily lives due to their busy schedules, and this has led to an increase in unsustainability on campuses. ISB Global describes unsustainable behavior as doing commonplace tasks like picking up something from a vending machine, grabbing a drink from Starbucks, buying a new outfit online, or anything else in that general realm. In ‘doing what is the most convenient,’ there may be a participation in a global epidemic of, as ISB Global explains, “instant gratification and short-term convenience over long-term sustainability.” This, however, does not mean change cannot be made to offset these environmental footprints, especially with the resources available on the SUNY Geneseo campus.
One method that might take some more adjustment from the onset is the initial purchasing/lifestyle changes that can create continual sustainability practices. These patterns may be achieved by relying on more biodegradable snack options, like fruits, making coffee at home (maybe even with a reusable coffee filter), thrifting for clothing, and buying a reusable water bottle. These may feel small, but the actions can add up over time!
A central but commonly overlooked part of SUNY Geneseo’s campus is the ability to recycle. As noted in a previous Lamron article from November of 2023, there is an abundance of recycling bins available and material that can be reused if properly cleaned. The acceptable items for these bins are “various paper products like cardboard, newspapers, magazines, books, gift wrap, and mail; aluminum products like non-crushed cans or foil; non-broken glass bottles; smaller bits of metal, like caps; lastly, plastic bottles and other plastic products, but never compostable or bio-based plastics. These products are the only ones allowed to be recycled on campus.”
Furthermore, the method of composting biodegradable material can be beneficial. Biodegradable material includes vegetables, fruits, meat, dairy, grain, pasta, coffee grounds, to-go box containers, napkins, tissues, and paper egg cartons. These bins are located in each academic building on Geneseo’s campus, the dining halls, and now in select residence halls with Seneca and Allegany even utilizing “Sustainability Coordinators” to put the residence hall movement into action.
An on-campus method that may intrigue students, especially those interested in sustainable fashion, is the club Genny Thrift. This on-campus organization aims to make thrifting more monetarily accessible and available for students throughout the academic year. Through their on-campus donation bins, you can drop off old clothing—none that are tattered or show signs of heavy wear—which will then be reviewed before being put out during one of their thrifting events. During this, students can pick out whatever clothing they like best and pay for the items they have gathered, bypassing upcharge pricing found in many other second-hand stores entirely. Genny Thrift even recently acquired a permanent drop-off bin on the campus’s eGarden.
In tandem with these few methods, it is crucial to recognize the individual footprint we create each day. Though some may find it difficult to be as sustainable as needed to make a total difference, the reduction of the carbon footprint can only be lessened through small and large collective action.
Thumbnail photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons