22 Days Till School: 5 Ways to be Green in School

Each day of the month leading up to the first day of school, Oakland Township Patch will bring you useful back-to-school information, tricks, trends and tips.

Several of our schools have achieved Michigan Green Schools status, including , for reaching environmental goals that include "protecting the air, land, water and animals of our state along with world outreach through good ecological practices and the teaching of educational stewardship of students pre-kindergarten through senior high school."

To help your child's school reach or retain its status as a Michigan Green School – and to help the environment – here are a few simple earth-friendly things your child can do.

1. Recycle papers, bottles and cans. Most schools have recycling bins. If not, your child can bring most of these items home to .
2. Use recycled school supplies. Most stores that sell school supplies now carry a selection of school supplies made with recycled paper and plastic.
3. Turn off the lights. Encouraging children to turn off the lights when they leave a room is a great, easy way to save electricity and money at school and at home.
4. Pack reusable lunch containers. Reusable containers and lunch bags can help cut down on the lunchtime waste generated by plastic sandwich bags, paper lunch bags and drink containers.
5. Walk or ride a bike to school. For students who live close enough to their school, riding bikes or walking to school can help cut down on pollution.

Countdown to School

• 31 Days:
• 30 Days:
• 29 Days:
• 28 Days:
• 27 Days:
• 26 Days:
• 25 Days:
• 24 Days:
• 23 Days: