Go Green this Move-In

As you or your student is preparing to head back to MSU for the upcoming school year, there are many ways to get ready and be green! Check out our helpful "Green Back to School" tips below, and be sure to follow Be Spartan Green on Facebook and Twitter for more green tips, events and news.

• Before school supply shopping, check all of last year's supplies to see what you can reuse.
• Make a shopping list early enough that you have time to think about what you'll really need or use. When you eventually do go shopping, stick to the list.
• Think big and small. Buying in bulk can save on packaging and costs, while some lesser-used items (like certain foods and art supplies) can go bad before you use them all. 
• Reusable or refillable pencils, water bottles, lunch boxes, baggies, book covers, and binders will last week after week and year after year. Find ones made from recycled and recyclable material when possible.
• Printer paper made from recycled materials is increasingly easy to find, and printing on both sides of the page helps reduce paper waste even further. You can use the backs of single-sided documents for scrap paper before recycling them.
• Used goods or clothes can be just as good as new, and they're usually much cheaper. The Surplus Store has a full selection of furniture, housewares, electronics, clothes, and more.
• Walk, bike, skate, or bus to and from class, and team up with your roommates or neighbors to take turns carpooling back home on weekends.