The new school year begins in a few days. Why not start the school year right by helping your child and your child’s school become a little greener? Below are a couple of steps you can take to help green your school.

1. Start With Your Kid
A) Pack your kid a green lunch – organic foods in a reusable lunch box. Click on this link to find out how to make your own reusable sandwich bag.
Also take a look at this website which provides other ways to pack a waste free lunch and save you money.

B) For school clothing you have several green options. Buy nice gently used clothing at resale shops, participate in clothes swap and/or buy clothing made of organic material –organic cotton, hemp etc.

C) Take a look at the list of school supplies your child needs this year and see if you can find eco-friendly versions of these supplies. For example if you need notepads buy recycled notepads instead. Every year there are more green options for school supplies. If you are worried about price consider looking for online deals and free shipping online to help you stay within your budget.

2. Get Involved
A) If you can Join the PTO and suggest green fundraisers. Terracycle, Greenraising and One Planet are just a few of the available fundraisers. Some are require only collections for recycling such as plastic, paper, juice boxes, etc. Others require purchasing green products. There are even a few available today that allow you to write reviews. Money made from the reviews goes to your child’s school.
B) Help your child’s teachers and collect reusable items for crafts in your child’s classroom. Tissue boxes, cereal boxes, milk gallon tops, etc can all be reused in your child’s class to make fun crafts. Ask your child’s teacher if she is interested in any of the items you have collected. Chance are she will have use for them and if she doesn’t she may know of another teacher that will.

C) Ask other parents you know well to get involved. Ask them to pack waste free lunches for their kids. Tell them about the good deals you found on green school supplies. If you have other parents emails who wish to be on your "inform list" forward them links of green fundraisers, tips etc. If you are really interested in bringing a green program to your child’s school ask other parents if they are interested in singing a petition to get the program started.

I hope these ideas have helped. If, so please feel free to pass these steps along. If you have any more green ideas please share them in the comments section below.