Your Impact

Your impact matters. The decisions each of us make have compounding effects on our communities and planet, which is why we want to encourage you to take action to reduce your waste. 

Take a look at the information below to learn more about small steps you can take to help the planet.  

Reduce Your Waste

• Minimize printing on campus. Consider using electronic copies of music as opposed to printing paper copies. Note that most professors accept electronically submitted work.
• When purchasing/renting textbooks, look for e-book options as opposed to obtaining physical copies.
• Bring your own reusable water bottles and coffee thermoses to campus, and avoid purchasing disposable cups and plastics. Here is a list of water bottle filling stations on campus.
• Remember to turn off lights and electronic equipment when you leave your home, office, or dorm room for any length of time. Unplugging electric devices will save even more energy. 
• Minimize your food waste. Avoid over-portioning, and only take what you can eat.

Reuse: Don't Buy New

• If you need to buy paper copies of textbooks, always look for used copies. They’re usually cheaper, too.
• Always try to shop second-hand, and make sure you’re bringing your own bags.
• Join and stay active on Berklee social media groups, including Free and For Sale pages. There you can sell or give away items you no longer need (such as textbooks, clothes, or household items), and find items that you need yourself. 
• Go thrifting. Here is a list of some popular thrift stores in Boston. Be sure to thrift responsibly, and don't exploit financially disadvantaged districts.

Recycle Correctly

• Recycling isn't always intuitive and varies from city to city. To see what can be recycled in the city of Boston, check out this helpful guide.
• To see what items contaminate recycling bins, check out this helpful guide. For more information about recyclables, visit the Massachusetts Recyclopedia.
• Berklee Dining Services is committed to composting food waste. Make sure that the food you don’t eat is returned to the Berklee Caf to be composted. If you live off-campus, check out these local composting services:
  • Bootstrap Compost 
  • Project Oscar
  • Black Earth Compost 

Get Involved

• Visit the Get Involved page to see how you can participate in the sustainability movement on campus.
• Visit the External Resources page for more links to sustainability efforts around Boston.
• Encourage institutions, organizations, and communities you're a part of to utilize this carbon footprint calculator.

Here are some more great resources on how college students can "go green."