Families in Lenawee County will soon be sending their children back to school.
As we prepare to return to campus, the focus is usually on stocking up on new things like clothes and essentials, which can be exciting and fun, but there are some ways to keep sustainability in mind while you shop.
As always, it comes down to our three R’s: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
Julie Maurer is the Solid Waste and Materials Management Program Coordinator for the Lenawee County Health Department.
reduce
It may seem odd to think about cutting back when buying new things, but there are some ways to avoid creating a ton of excess waste throughout the school year.
Reusable water bottle: Always bring a spare and check the lost and found office if your bottle didn’t arrive at home.
Food storage: For lunches and snacks brought from home, using reusable containers can help reduce the amount of waste that may be generated.
Food waste: Be conscious of what your child eats and adjust what they pack in their lunch accordingly. For children who eat lunch at school, you can also talk to them about what goes into their tummy and what ends up in the bin. This may help them think about the choices they make when they pick up their tray.
School Supplies: For middle and high school students, sometimes less is more. Stock up on everything when it’s on sale, but pack your backpack and pencil case sparingly. Have a school supply storage bin at home. This will help you avoid the habit of trying to cram all your school supplies into your backpack or pencil case at the beginning of the school year only to have them all disappear in the backpack or at the bottom of your locker in no time. Having a box at home means you can refill your pencil case whenever you need to, eliminating the need to stock up on emergencies throughout the year. And the less you buy, the less waste you’ll create!
Buy in bulk: If you have three kids and they all need glue sticks, buy a big box and share it among them instead of buying individual packages for each one. This will reduce the amount of waste that ends up in the trash.
Reuse
Somehow we’ve fallen into the mindset that our kids need new things every year that can actually be reused.
Backpacks: A flashy new TV show character might make your child want to flaunt their backpack, but instead, consider something that will last for several years. If you have a middle or high school student who needs to carry heavy items in their backpack, buy one that can not only withstand the weight, but will also last for years to come.
School Clothes: You can give your child a fresh look by purchasing “new” clothes from thrift stores and garage sales. This helps reduce the amount of textiles that end up in the landfill and saves you money. Try visiting local non-profits like Goodwill, Blessings and More, and the Salvation Army. There are also some cute consignment stores in town where you can find stylish clothes that fit your child perfectly.
recycling
Finally, don’t forget to recycle. Look for the triangles on the packaging of your school supplies to see if they can be recycled. Even if they have a thin plastic front that won’t fit in the bin, if they have a cardboard backing, they often can be tucked away and tossed.
Staples here in Adrian also has a school supplies recycling program. Items that are collected include:
Backpacks and Lunch Bags
Binders and zipper binders
Crayons and colored pencils
Glue sticks and empty glue bottles
Pencils and pencil case
Pens, markers, highlighters
Rulers and drawing tools
One of the ways these items are recycled is through the Crayon Initiative, which melts down old crayons to remake new crayons that are then distributed to children’s hospitals across the United States.
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We hope your child has a great start to the new school year, and by following some of these tips, you can also teach your child to do their part in keeping waste out of landfills.
— Julie Maurer is the solid waste and materials management program coordinator for the Lenawee County Health Department. She can be reached at 517-264-5263 or by email at julie.maurer@lenawee.mi.us.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Julie Maurer: Shares sustainable school supplies shopping ideas
