College swap shops are a hit with undergrads and good for the environment

It's back to school for millions of college students across the country. But one unintended consequence of those returning scholars is the up to 640 pounds of trash the average college student produces each year, the majority of which accumulates at the end of the academic year while moving out, according to one study. Do the math and then consider just how quickly those household items and dorm supplies — made of plastic, glass or synthetic fabrics that take years to naturally break down in landfills — contribute to the overall waste problem