News Release
For Immediate Release
Contact: Beth Gorman (520) 243-7446
Tucson, Arizona (July 30, 2008) Many families are making plans for the first day of the new school year. How can parents save money, save resources, and do something good for the planet while getting the kids ready to go back to school? Pima County Department of Environmental Quality suggests trying one or two of the tips below to be eco smart. Some tips require up front costs, but will last for a long time and reduce the need for future purchases while eliminating waste. Others will need a little extra initial planning and will reap significant benefits throughout the rest of the school year.
Pack a “No Garbage Lunch”
Think reusable, refillable, and precious resources. It’s hip to be green now, so lay in the supplies for a no garbage lunch. Use a lunch bag/box/pack and fill it with refillable containers. You can even go chic with a washable and reusable cloth napkin or bandana to wipe that peanut butter off. No more plastic or paper bags and napkins to buy and our landfills will last longer.
Carpool, bus, bike, or walk
All of these are good choices for clean and green ways to travel. Bike maps are free and available at http://bikeped.pima.gov/Publications.html or call 243-7446. Check out the ride guide for Sun Tran trip planning at www.suntran.com or call 792-9222. The bus is a bargain and there are reduced prices for some students! Walking saves pollution and offers a cardiovascular boost. Parents can organize a “walking school bus” in your neighborhood to pick children up as the group walks by their home. Parents can alternate leading the group each week and the combined savings in gasoline and air pollution will benefit everyone.
And, by the way, Walk to School Day is Wednesday, October 8. Celebrate walking and biking to school as a means to promote health, safety, physical activity, and concern for community and the environment. Contact Pima County Department of Transportation at 205-8309 for more information and remember to ask how to form a walking school bus in your neighborhood.
The Wheels on the bus (and car) go round and round
Riding the bus saves gas when compared to driving, but kids may be exposed to fumes that have been linked to rising asthma rates. Talk with your principal about creating a “No Idling Zone” around the school. Is there an area where parents sit in their vehicles and wait for dismissal? And one where buses sit and wait for the kids? Encourage No Idling Zones at your school where bus drivers and parents turn off their vehicle motors while waiting. They will save money on fuel and we will all breathe easier.
Make it green
Those lists of school supplies can be overwhelming and a stretch on the wallet. Buy and use recycled products when you can; the prices are going down and many are comparable to virgin products, plus the kids think they are cool. Have you seen the cardboard notebooks, Capri Sun juice box backpacks, recycled money pencils, and old school lunchboxes? They all help close the loop by reusing and recycling materials collected.
Pima County Department of Environmental Quality promotes a healthy environment; suggests alternatives to driving alone; and encourages carpooling, busing, biking, and walking to reduce air pollution in our community. For more information on ways to go green, please contact PDEQ at 243-7446.
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