Blog: Waste Not Blog

Reuse and Recycle to Save on Back-to-School Costs

Every August before school starts, students and families head to big-box stores to pick up school supplies. Unfortunately, tons of waste are created from these purchases. Here are a few ways you and your kids can work together to minimize waste and save money as they prepare for school.

Use school supplies you already have.
Look through your desk drawers, backpacks, and art area for old school supplies -- you may find some that are practically new.

Shop smart!
If you need to buy paper and pencils, look for options made from post-consumer recycled materials. This helps “close the loop” by supporting a healthy post-consumer market for all that paper we want to recycle.

If you need to buy an expensive calculator for your high school or college student, consider renting one. Many schools provide this service.

Check out the University of Tennessee’s Free Store for free binders, paper, pens, and more! The UT Office of Sustainability holds Free Store pop-up events a few times every semester for your convenience.

If you are a college student and need professional clothes for a class or club, visit Smokey’s Closet. They have a large selection of free, gently used professional clothing for men and women in a variety of sizes. For a list of sustainable companies that have an array of professional clothing and accessories, check out the Waste Not Blog post, Have a Happy Low-Waste Holiday.

Pack your lunch.
Preparing your lunch at home instead of buying it out is frequently cheaper and healthier. You can also reduce the waste your lunch creates by packing it in a reusable bag or lunchbox. Choose cloth napkins or scrap cloth instead of paper napkins, and reusable cutlery instead of plastic utensils. Try using glass jars or discarded plastic food containers to pack your food, rather than disposable plastic baggies. Instead of buying single-portion snacks, buy in large bags and then pack smaller amounts in reusable containers. Together, over the course of the school year, these steps will really minimize your lunch waste.

Review the City of Knoxville’s Recycling Guidelines.
As you get ready for the new school year, you may find that you have some old supplies you can no longer use. Paper is obviously easy to recycle, but what about pens? Or last year’s cracked plastic pencil case? Or that binder that won’t quite close? Unfortunately, none of those items can be recycled in your curbside cart or at any of the City recycling drop-offs. If there are other materials you’re not quite sure about, look them up in the City’s “What Goes Where?” recycling tool.

Please email [email protected] with any questions regarding this blog post.

Posted by ptravis On 30 July, 2021 at 12:28 PM