Sustainability Tips

What You Can Do

Daily lifestyle changes may be the most challenging to implement. Whether positive or negative, it can take up to 3 months for a habit to form, so making shifts in your lifestyle towards more sustainable behavior is a journey that will involve both failures and successes. However, with time and energy, you will find that you can realize the changes in your lifestyle you would like to see, and promote more environmentally ethical behavior in your daily life. If you are interested in learning more about environmental issues, try these quizzes! Or check out the Sustainability Office’s master sustainability guide for anything sustainability related.

On Campus

Truman State offers the following services to students:

  • Plastic (1 & 2), paper, and aluminum recycling bins around campus buildings and in the dorms.
  • Glass recycling is available in the Sustainability Office in Violette 1310 and in the dorms.
  • Compost can be taken to any of the green bins located in various spots on campus. There are bins in several of the dorms, behind dining halls, and next to the communiversity garden which is located behind the abandoned building next to West Campus.
  • The Sustainability Office recycles many items that are not readily available to recycle anywhere else on campus.

Tips for living more sustainably on campus:

  • Turn off all lights when they aren’t in use. Study in common areas such as lounges or the library where the lights are already on to save electricity.
  • Be moderate with adjusting the temperature in your room; instead of adjusting your thermostat, adjust your clothing layers. It adds up! In spring and fall when the weather is nice, turn off your AC or heat and open the windows.
  • Take shorter, cooler showers. This saves water and the energy used to heat water.
  • Reduce consumption of animal products, especially red meat. Livestock are one of the top consumers of natural resources in the United States. Start with small changes, even a switch from beef to chicken makes a large difference.
  • Print double sided and make the font smaller to save paper and money.
  • Bring your own mug if you are getting coffee in a C-Store, or bring your own bag anywhere you shop.
  • If you need to go off-campus, bike, walk, or carpool to reduce your carbon footprint!

Off Campus

Services available for students off-campus:

  • Curbside glass recycling bins can be purchased at City Hall for $3.99. The weekly pick up is free.
  • Sign up for weekly compost pick up by emailing Rot Riders at rotriders@kvpermaculture.org. This service is also free.

Tips for living more sustainably off-campus:

  • Conserving water, light, heating and cooling, and electricity will save resources and money.
  • Weatherize your windows during the wintertime. Supplies for improving insulation can be purchased at places like Walmart or HomeDepot. You can put insulating shrink film over your windows insulating door sweeps on home entrances.
  • Wash clothes in cold water to save energy.
  • Grow a garden to have free, sustainable, and healthy food.
  • Limit consumption of animal products and buy local as much as possible. Hy-vee has a decent selection of plant based alternatives.
  • Bring your own water bottle or coffee mug, shopping bags, or to-go containers.
  • Biking to campus rather than driving will save money, increase physical activity, and reduce your carbon footprint.

Local Food Resources

     While living in Kirksville, many Truman students decide to buy produce from local farmers in order to help stimulate the local economy and reduce their environmental footprint. The weekly Kiwanis Farmers Market is a gathering of local farmers in the town square where they sell their produce to anyone interested. You can stop by the Kirksville Farmers Market on Saturdays from May to October and support local sustainable food systems! Buying locally reduces dependency on food sources with large carbon footprints that have to be shipped and processed. Some students even contact the farmers directly so they may continue to get produce during the wintertime. If you are interested in being in contact with local farmers in order to buy produce directly from them, we recommend you first connect with them at the Kiwanis Farmers Market.