College campuses are both good and bad for the environment-- and college students can do more than they think to keep their campuses ecofriendly.
When it comes to being ecofriendly, college campuses have both advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, college campuses generate an awful lot of waste. Campuses can have as many people as a small city crammed into a fairly small geographic location, so that can add up to quite a bit of concentrated trash.
In addition, the student lifestyle can generate an abundance of garbage For starters, there may never be a time in your life when you use so much paper. Combine that with the student need for quick, easy food and beverages, and the resulting mountain of paper plates, plastic utensils, and cans add up to an environmental nightmare.
There's a plus side to college campuses and environmentalism though, and that is this: college students are becoming more and more aware of their impact on the Earth. Many young people are more than willing to recycle and to do their part. In addition, many college campuses are progressive when it comes to waste disposal and other environmental issues. It's not difficult to find recycling bins near dorms, office buildings, and throughout campus.
College campuses have something else going for them too: they're usually pedestrian friendly, and many offer good public transportation systems that are free or inexpensive. Many students can get by without a car, and if they have cars, they don't have to use them frequently.
Interested in doing something for the environment? College students can do more than you might. Here's a guide to being a green college student.
