Think twice before you throw something away
The snow is almost all gone and we’re seeing the first signs of spring: sunshine, mud and lots and lots of garbage. All of the cigarette butts and McDonald’s wrappers that were left behind in the cold winter months don’t just disappear, and now we are paying the price. Here are some tips for reusing and recycling some things that you may not even consider, so the summer months can be a little greener and a lot cleaner on Queen and College.
1. Don’t just throw it away!
When walking from the fast food areas restaurants as McDonald’s, Subway or Tim Horton’s, take the recyclable materials that are plastic and cardboard based and bring them with you instead of putting them directly into the trash. For example, the take-out plastic bags from Subway are lightweight and can fit nicely into your pocket until you find a recycling bin.
2. Reusable accessories.
Buy a water bottle or coffee mug or container. Instead of using a cardboard container that is coated with wax (and therefore not recyclable), use one that can be reused every day. Not only will you be able to refill your bottle or mug with water where water fountains are accessible, but you won’t have to worry about dirtying the environment every time you have a coffee. Also, since our campus will no longer be selling bottled water (since the referendum passed) it will be your best option!
3- Printer cartridges and ink.
Instead of buying a new ink cartridge after every time you run out of ink, why not just refill it? There are places that can refill your ink for you for less rather than buying a new cartridge. Also, if getting your cartridge refilled isn’t possible, having your printer cartridges recycled is another green option.
4- Make your own bin.
Whether you live off campus or in residence, try to make your own recycling bin or container. Having a designated bin for the paper and plastic makes it easier for you and your roommates to recycle, and it doesn’t require much effort. Just try and remember to take it outside every week.
5- Donate clothes.
Spring cleaning may be underway, and instead of throwing away the clothes you will never wear again, make a separate pile for donations. The Salvation Army, Estrie-Aide, the women’s shelter or a church around town would greatly appreciate your gently used items. The same goes for old books—if you don’t have a use for them anymore, think about donating them to a high school around town or a local church.
6- Cell phones.
Maybe you have a cell phone that you don’t use anymore because you have upgraded to the latest and greatest. Instead of throwing the phone away, donating the phone to organizations such as the women’s shelter would be a good idea. Donated phones are given to women who are victims of domestic abuse and violence so they can contact the police if they are in a dangerous situation. They don’t have to be fancy to get the job done.
7- Envelopes.
If you’re a student who uses snail mail to write to your parents, significant other or to a friend, you can reuse the same envelope. Just don’t forget to cover the old address if you’re writing to someone new. You still need to use a new stamp and would have to cover the black or fluorescent barcode on the envelope. One of those thin white labelling strips should do the trick!
8- Rechargeable batteries.
Sure, buying batteries from Dollarama only cost a dollar but they don’t last very long and are not reusable. Whether you use an electric toothbrush, a TV remote or a digital camera, buying rechargeable batteries will save you money in the long run. It’s almost like recycling a single battery a hundred times over!
9- Clean your recyclable items.
Whether it is a juice container or a plastic Tupperware, make sure that it is properly cleaned out. If a recyclable item is dirty, the recycling center will label it as a contaminant and will not be able to recycle it. Therefore it is very important for everything to be clean in order to make the process as easy as possible.
10- Plastic bags.
If you’re one of those students who are constantly forgetting to bring an eco-friendly bag and have to use plastic bags at the grocery store, you can always reuse those plastic bags for other household necessities such as garbage disposal. Another use for the plastic bags would be to use them for the sorting of your recyclable material. That way, not only will the paper be recycled but the plastic bag containing the paper will be as well!
