Earth Day is April 22. Here are 13 things students and families can do to help the environment. A side benefit is that they will also help save money.

Reduce

• Turn off lights after leaving the room to save energy
• Spend less time on your phone and have a conversation
  • Save phone battery
• Don’t buy a new cell phone every year or two years  
• Plan your errands ahead of time to conserve gas
• Only buy the amount of food you will eat
• Buy food from the farmers market when you can (buy local)

Reuse

• Take your own insulated mug to Dutch Bros or Starbucks (you usually get a discount on your drink).  
• Buy reusable bags instead of getting plastic bags.
• Students who bring home lunch can use tupperware containers to reduce plastic
• If you don’t have reusable bags and get plastic bags. You can use plastic grocery bags for trash can liners instead of buying trash bags.

Recycle  

• Give away books, DVD’s, CD’s, and magazines to a used book store or Goodwill
• Shop at thrift stores or buy things though sites like Craigslist
• Put paper and cans in the recycling bin