Resolve to reuse and recycle to trim waste and waist

This year could be the one you consider making a change before you get back to the daily… This year could be the one you consider making a change before you get back to the daily grind.

OK, so no one likes New Year’s resolutions — they’re a tired and played-out universal joke that no one ever sticks to. But these aren’t really “resolutions” per se. They’re small changes that will positively impact your wallet, waistline and the environment.

Here are five simple ways to be more green this year:

1. Get out of the car — or bus — and onto your feet. It’s simple, but it’s true — our campus layout makes Pitt a convenient place to walk around. You’ll have to layer up to brave the cold, but it’s a great way to get moving. For those too far from campus: The bus is the second-best option. You’re still saving on the gas — and bills — of a personal vehicle.

2. For those who can’t stop shopping even after the holidays, consider environmentally friendly gear — whether that means saving up to shop well-known green brands like Matt & Nat, Blue Canoe or Tom’s of Maine, checking out thrift stores or swapping with friends. Eco-conscious brands employ sustainable practices and donate funds to support the less fortunate, making shelling out the cash a bit easier. And with thrift stores and swapping, you can save money by finding something that comes secondhand. It’ll also save the item from getting tossed.

3. Go meatless. Well, maybe not all the time, but consider incorporating more vegetables and perhaps even cutting meat out one day per week — you could initiate Meatless Mondays. The land, food and energy used to raise cattle outweigh the resources used to grow equivalent amounts of non-meat food. And meat is expensive. By dropping it for one day, you do a little something for the environment, and you save on your grocery bill.

4. Reuse. There are small, environmentally bad habits we have on a daily basis that we forget about. That cup of coffee you just bought will inevitably send another paper cup and plastic lid to the trash. Instead, bring your own reusable mug — you might even get a discount. Use regularly washed cloth towels in your kitchen instead of paper towels. And when you stock up on food, remember your canvas bags, so you don’t end up with an infinite supply of plastic ones slated for the dump. You’ll quickly see how much less you throw away by implementing just these tips.

5. Recycle and upcycle. You can do more than just recycling your cans and plastics — which, if you haven’t been, you should start doing. You can also recycle things in your own home. Get creative — like using dairy cartons as plant holders. As for “upcycling,” it’s a word that means taking something you might otherwise toss and making it even better. For example, did you know that you can use those plastic bags you’ve hoarded — before switching to canvas, of course — to make jewelry? If you’re stumped for ideas, browse some eco-blogs to discover all these awesome ways to recycle and upcycle.

So consider making small changes instead of one big resolution for a healthier, greener and cheaper New Year. Oh, and remember to recycle this paper.