Reusables Instead of Disposables for Eco-Friendly College Life

For the average college student, time and money are on short supply. Switching from common disposables to reusables can help cut back on waste - saving both natural resources and money. Check out our buying guide for our top five college essentials - the must-haves for every dorm and apartment, beyond the basics - gear for the experienced environmentalist, and activist gear - all designed to help you conquer use-and-toss disposables this school year. 

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Top 5 Disposable Habits to Kick

Become a conscious consumer and stop throwing money in the trash. With just a few simple changes to your routine you can significantly cut back on the waste you create, making a huge impact. Here are five common disposables habits to kick:

1. Say no to single-use bags – With an estimated 500 billion plastic bags consumed worldwide every year, this one is a no-brainer. Reusable bags are a smart, sustainable solution to the problem.
2. Kick the bottled water habit – Bottled water is a rip off. Fill your reusable bottle at home or at the drinking fountain – save money and reduce waste.
3. Avoid disposable coffee & tea cups – Don’t opt for disposables out of convenience. Instead, save money and resources by bringing your own - you may even get a discount!
4. No more paper lunch bags or plastic cutlery – Worldcentric.org estimates 40 billion plastic utensils are used every year in the U.S. alone. Packing a waste-free lunch saves money and resources.
5. Cut back on paper towels/napkins – Ditch disposable napkins and paper towels by opting for durable, washable cloth napkins that won’t end up in a landfill.

Check out some of our favorite products for kicking your disposable habits:

• reuseit™ Thank You and Have A Nice Day tote bags - printed locally with PVC-free ink on our best-selling dual-handled hemp tote bags
• reuseit™  Workhorse - the original replacement for plastic bags that folds into its own ultra-compact pouch attached inside the bag
• Bobble Filtering Reusable Water Bottle - affordably-priced PET water bottle with a built-in filter
• Eco-Cup, Single-Wall Porcelain Mug – looks just like a paper cup, but without all the waste
• Laptop Lunch Bento Box 2.0   - a modern version of the traditional bento box with lots of compartments for a waste-free meal on the go
• reuseit Hemp & Organic Cotton Napkin, "I'm Not A Paper Towel," Set of 4 - cut back on multiple use & toss items, including disposable napkins, tissues, wet wipes and paper towels - made with hemp & organic cotton
• Light My Fire Spork – a fork, knife and spoon all in one
• Eneloop - pre-charged rechargable batteries - use them right out of the package, recharge them 100s of times

Beyond the Basics in 5 Easy Steps

Disposables are everywhere, but they don’t have to become part of your apartment or dorm. Here are the top five less-evident areas where you can cut back on disposables and save money in the process. 

1. Revamp your health and beauty routine - replace your disposable toothbrush, over-packaged beauty products and more
2. Cut back at the laundromat - Replace your disposable dryer sheets and wastefully-packaged detergents
3. Eco-friendly Cleaning: - replace sponges, chemical-laden cleaners, plastic spray bottles and more
4. Tools to help you avoid bottled beverages - alternatives to straws, tea bags, and even bottled soda.
5. Ditch the plastic baggies - Save yourself a few bucks every month and spare the landfills when you switch to reusable snack and sandwich bags

Check out some of our favorite ways to go beyond the basics:

• Essential Oil Atomizer by Aura Cacia – make DIY perfume, air freshener and body spray with just a few drops of essential oils
• Eco-Dent Replaceable Head Toothbrush – this well-designed high-performance brush generates the least amount of waste possible, because you only have to swap out the head of the toothbrush instead of the whole thing
• Static Eliminator Reusable Dryer Sheet - replaces disposable dryer sheets and fabric softener at less than 4 cents per load
• reuseit Reusable DIY Cleaning Spray Bottle – pair it with essential oils or fresh lemon juice for non-toxic, effective, great-smelling household cleaner
• reuseit Biodegradable Garbage Bags made in USA from 100% recycled plastic - infused with a natural additive that allows the plastic to biodegrade completely into natural elements, manufactured locally from recycled plastic waste
• Stainless Steel Drinking Straw, set of 4 – save money by blending smoothies at home, and avoid waste with these reusable straws
• Stainless Steel Tea Ball and Tea Strainer, by Progressive International – brew loose leaf tea at home or on the go, avoid paper tea bags and disposable cups from your local coffee shop
• reuseit Snack Bag, 100% Made in USA and Wrap-N-Mat Regular, Made in USA – two smart ways to avoid plastic baggies in your waste-free lunch

Send A Message With Our Activist Gear

Designed to get people’s attention, we’ve crafted buttons, t-shirts, stickers and an entire reuseit line of activist gear that makes a statement. Check out our Plastic Bags Blow t-shirts, slogan bags, stickers and buttons for clever ways to send a message and look good while you do it.

For more lifestyle guides and resources, visit our Take Action and Learn sections. And read our DIY resources for upcycling tips and practical alternatives.

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