Since coming to NYU, I have lugged my huge duffel bags of clothing back and forth between my home state of California and New York. With every trip, I can’t help but think about the impact my four-closets worth of clothes have on both my sanity and the environment. Since my initial schlep, I have bought very few new clothing items. I recently went into a mall for the first time in years and I was immediately caught up in the uber-consumerism and “have-to-have-it” mentality that so many of us struggle with. However, I resisted the urge to buy anything other than the black jeans I had come for; something I hadn’t splurged on since sixth grade.
Author: Lilly Peale
Lilly Ferris is a Senior in Gallatin studying narrative and storytelling with a minor in Environmental Studies. She is a Student Engagement Coordinator at the Office of Sustainability and President of EarthMatters. She also enjoys rock climbing, hiking, cooking, traveling and is an avid tea drinker.
Serve the Earth for MLK Day
Every year Americans across the country honor Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday through a Day of Service. MLK Day officially falls on Monday, January 16 but there are volunteer opportunities all weekend long. This year, consider getting involved in one of the green volunteer opportunities or activities in New York City in celebration of this American hero!
ConSERVE NYC: MLK Day Service at Morningside Park
Join The Student Conservation Association in their effort to ConSERVE NYC at Morningside Park this Saturday. Help restore and conserve this Harlem green space and be sure to register for the event! Read more
Green Gifting
The holiday season can often be a time of over doing it; over spending, over eating, over stressing and over wasting! To keep trash bins light and wallets full, try going green for the holidays! Here are 5 simple gifting tips to help keep your stress levels low, and your spending and waste to a minimum.
1. Don’t buy, DIY.
Do It Yourself gifts are a great alternative to store bought presents. It is easier than you might think to make your own natural beauty products, ready-to-make mason jar recipes, fun accessories, and more! Your friends and family will be super impressed and ready to try out these authentic, homemade gifts! Read more
Don’t stress! Buy, cook, eat, and waste less!
Still having nightmares of Thanksgiving leftovers? It’s difficult not to go overboard with delicious comfort food when entertaining for the holidays, but once your guests leave and the fridge is still full, the gravy regrets start to kick in. As the holiday season progresses avoid the stuffing sweats and apple pie anxiety. Here are 5 easy tips to reduce your waste and be sustainable in the kitchen this season!