Princeton Public School embraces sustainability. Here are some terrific tips from Sustainable Princeton, one of our esteemed community partners.

Walk to School

• Get some exercise and have fun using a wrist tracker or smartphone app to monitor your progress.

• Greet neighbors. How walkable is your neighborhood? Check out your neighborhood’s walk score or take a walk and decide for yourself with this checklist.

• Set up a walking school bus. Bring students together to help parents save time while kids have fun.  

• Get up 5-10 minutes early to give yourself enough time to get to school or work in a sustainable fashion.

Bike to School

• Burn calories instead of cash for gas. 

• Use the Bike Boulevards to get there safely.

  • What’s a Bike Boulevard? Princeton’s Bike Boulevards identify and mark low-traffic roadways suitable for cyclists of all ages and abilities, and help establish a connected network around our city and to popular destinations, including all Princeton Public Schools.

  • Bicycle maps of Princeton reflect the new Bike Boulevard and are available here for the Greater Princeton area: https://www.princetonnj.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1598/Greater-Princeton-Area-Bike-Map-PDF

  • And here for the Central Princeton area: https://www.princetonnj.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1597/Central-Princeton-Area-Bike-Map-PDF

  • Ride with the CP BICIBUS!
     

     

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• Bike safely.

  • Let others know you’re approaching. Bells are required.

  • It’s always smart to wear a helmet. Under 17, it’s required.

  • Ride in the same direction as traffic, as far to the right as practicable.

  • Use a light. A front white light and rear backlight are essential and required.

 

Learn more at www.sustainableprinceton.org/transportation/walk-or-ride/

 

Ride the Bus

These days, a gallon saved is $4 earned. Public bus rides save the U.S. 4.2 billion gallons of gasoline annually, helping to reduce our carbon footprint.

Learn more at www.sustainableprinceton.org/transportation/take-public-transportation/

 

Don’t Idle in Car Lines

• Did you know?
• Idling is  “fuelish”
• Idling is unhealthy
• Idling for more than 3 minutes is illegal

Learn more at www.sustainableprinceton.org/transportation/stop-idling/

Support the Circular Economy

Keep these tips in mind as you buy school supplies:

• Go recyclable. It’s now possible to buy notebooks, backpacks, and pens with recycled content.

• Shop vintage. Enjoy find fashion treasures through the area's consignment stores: Greene Street, Nearly New Shop, and Princeton Consignment are all right in Princeton.

• Go in style. There’s a growing rental market for clothing, bags, and jewelry, and other accessories.

Learn more at www.sustainableprinceton.org/purchases/buy-used/
 

Don’t Forget Your Water Bottle

• Thirsty? Use your school's water bottle filling stations and skip the disposables.

• Packing lunches and snacks? Replace plastic bags with lunch and snack boxes that can go in the dishwasher. Wax paper and wraps make handy sandwich wraps and are compostable.

Learn more at www.sustainableprinceton.org/purchases/reusable-vs-disposable/

 

Make School Events Low-Waste

• Get durable dishware for your events. Check out PreserveⓇ cups, plates and cutlery. They are made in the USA from 100% recycled materials — including old yogurt cups and toothbrushes.

• Check with your teachers. Many schools have reusable dishware that can be used for in-school parties.

• Get coffee from Small World in a returnable dispenser – great brew for less price than the box.

• Serve water and borrow our 5-gallon water dispensers.

• Borrow our educational materials, bin signs, reusable gloves, aprons, or trash grabbers for your next event.

Learn more at www.sustainableprinceton.org/purchases/low-waste-events/
 

ICYMI: All Princeton Public Schools Collect Food Waste

When you’re at school, sorting your food scraps saves the district money! Oh, and it’s good for the environment too. The district sends its food waste to Trenton Renewables where it is converted to electricity. That’s watts from waste, folks!