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You don’t have to buy a hybrid or deck your flat out with solar panels in order to save the world. There are many inexpensive ways that students can minimise their impact on the environment. Students for Environmental Action Otago present twenty tips that will both make the planet a better place to live and save you money.

1.     Print double sided whenever possible: unfortunately most of the computer labs on campus still do not offer the option of double sided printing, but the Print Shop and Commerce 315 computer lab do.
2.              Reuse paper for notes: use the blank side of scrap paper left by most printing stations around campus (and don’t forget to recycle your notes at the end of the year).
3.              Don’t smash your glass beer bottles – recycle them! On “blue” weeks you can recycle unbroken glass bottles and jars in your blue bin. On “yellow” weeks you can recycle paper, cardboard, plastics 1-7, tins, cans, aluminium trays, foil and aerosols using your yellow wheelie bin. Recycling collection is on a Monday in North Dunedin. Alternatively, save your bottles up for the OUSA bottle buy back.
4.              No more takeaway trash: bring your own container or plate when buying takeaways, and skip the paper napkin. Napkins release methane and chlorine gas (if bleached) as they break down in landfills.
5.              Carry a coffee mug: bring your own coffee mug rather than using a disposable takeaway cup. Some retailers will even give discount, such as the Strictly Coffee Company at 137 Frederick St ($0.50 off).
6.              Become a hoarder: come up with clever ways to reuse things rather than throwing them out or recycling them. Those old plastic spindles used for packaging blank CDs make great bagel holders.
7.              For the ladies: try out the “moon cup”. It’s comfortable, more practical (you can leave it in all day, unlike tampons), cheaper, and less wasteful. Also consider switching to cloth pads.
8.              Reduce plastic packaging: take reusable bags to the supermarket. Choose products with the least packaging. Some stores (such as Taste Nature at 131 High St.) allow you to fill old bottles and jars directly from their bulk supplies. If you have empty jars or bottles take them to Taste Nature to be reused (remember reduce, reuse, and THEN recycle).
9.              Start a compost bin: if you’re really lazy, start a compost “pile”.
10.            Make a veggie garden: this month plant garlic. Plant the outer cloves of organic garlic bulbs (supermarket garlic is treated with growth inhibitor) or purchase “seed garlic”. Now is also a good time to start growing onions in trays to overwinter so that you can plant them in spring. Check out www.urbanorganics.org.nz for information about growing veggies in Dunedin. If you’re worried about moving flats and leaving behind your precious plants, you can grow herbs and veggies in pots and take them with you.
11.           Have a “Meatless Monday”: the livestock industry is one of the largest contributors to environmental degradation worldwide, causing air and water pollution, land degradation, loss of topsoil, climate change, the overuse of resources including oil and water, and loss of biodiversity. Producing animal-based food is typically much less efficient than the direct harvesting of grains, vegetables, legumes, seeds and fruits for human consumption.
12.           Buy locally grown food: visit the Otago Farmers Market on Saturday morning from 8am-12.30pm at the Dunedin Railway Station. Buying locally cuts down on fossil fuel emissions from transport and supports your local community.
13.           Drink organic beer: “traditional” agriculture use synthetic fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides. Support sustainable agriculture by buying organic. The Green Man Brewery at 9 Grange St wash and reuse their bottles so you can take along your empties after a big night to reduce landfill waste (for every dozen empty bottles you can get a $5 discount off your next dozen). You can learn how to brew your own organic beer at SEA’s brewing workshop on Tuesday May 31 at 6pm in the Clubs and Socs kitchen, or come along to SEA’s annual Organic Festival (late July) to sample some tasty organic beers.
14.           Reduce the amount of dairy in your diet: it’s no secret that New Zealand’s rivers and lakes are fucked. They have been nutrient enriched and degraded by nitrogen fertiliser, animal faecal matter and eroded sediment associated with dairying. Most of New Zealand’s lowland waterways are now unsafe for swimming and there have been huge losses of biodiversity. Buying New Zealand dairy is also contributing to tropical rainforest and peatland destruction by importing huge quantities of palm kernel for cattle feed from Indonesia and Malaysia. Last year 1.4 million tonnes of palm kernel was shipped to New Zealand, representing almost a third of the global trade in palm kernel. If you can’t give up cow juice with your cereal, try watering it down.
15.           Don’t be a fashion victim: let’s face it – most of us have wayyyy more clothes than we need. Only allow yourself to buy something brand new once every six months, that way you will be certain that you need it. Satisfy your urge to splurge by hunting around op-shops, the OUSA Market Day (the next one is on July 14), or sell on behalf stores (Recycle Boutique, Collectibles, Refind Rig and Trademe).
16.           Save water: if your toilet has a large cistern, put a brick or filled drink bottle in it. The brick displaces an amount of water, so it takes less water to fill up your toilet cistern. Another (funner) way to save water – shower together!
17.           Start cycling: why go to the gym when you can cycle to uni? Buy an old bike and learn how to fix it up with the awesome volunteers Crooked Spoke for Koha in the Corso building carpark 111 Moray Place on Wednesdays 2-6pm and Fridays 4-8pm (ph: 477 8546).
18.           Save power: if everyone from your flat is going away for the mid-year break (or even a weekend), make sure that everything is left turned off and unplugged. Consider turning off your hot water cylinder while you’re away.
19.           Take it up a level: turn saving power into a game. Every time you catch your flatmate leaving their light or computer on while they’re out they get a strike against their name. Three strikes and the rest of the flat can choose an entertaining punishment. Alternatively, have monthly inter-flat power saving competitions using your electricity meter. The flat that saves the most electricity gets their power bill paid for them.
20.           Keep informed: come to one of SEA’s meetings (6pm every Tuesday in Room 2, Clubs and Socs), e-mail seaotago@gmail.com, or come along to one of the FREE monthly movie screenings (cheap date night?). Check out the screening of “A Farm for the Future” tomorrow night (May 31) at 8.30pm in the Evision Lounge.