With Earth Day just this past weekend, we are reminded that yes indeed, our planet is still in danger. It’s been said before and I’ll say it again, it’s time for change. Our environment needs us and there are many actions we can take as college students to help out Mother Earth! Here are three ways students at Villanova can help on a day-to-day basis

1. Reuse & Recycle

We are so attached to disposable items- we use them every day. Take note: these are some of the biggest sources of waste! Use real utensils or biodegradable ones instead of plastic next time you go for a Ben & Jerry’s run. Another smart move would be to get yourself a reusable water bottle and shopping bag as well. There are plenty of refill stations all over campus to make sure you never go thirsty, and the bag will keep you from using more paper and plastic than necessary.

There are recycle bins all around campus, use them! It’s difficult completely avoid plastics and harmful materials to the environment all at once, so start small. Be mindful of where you’re throwing your trash, because out of sight, out of mind on this one may come back to bite you!

2. Meatless Mondays

Let’s play a game! It’s called no meat on Mondays and in the meantime, we can save the planet! The Meatless Monday campaign was founded fifteen years ago to encourage healthier, more environmentally-friendly practices. Meat production is associated with fossil fuel usage, methane gas, water waste, land consumption and massive energy use. There are plenty of healthy alternatives to meat in Villanova’s dining halls such as fish, legumes, eggs and grains.

3. Use Less Paper

Taking class notes on your computer saves the massive amount of paper you would be using if you didn’t. Embrace technology! We can do so much more than we once could with the click of a button, so take advantage and only print assignments when absolutely necessary. You can also bring your own reusable bag to carry things in, no need to collect brown paper bags from the Sparket or Connelly Convenience if you don’t have to!