recycle right.
|
Grades 5-7
Tutorial 5. Packaging and Plastics
Objective: Make a list of things your household does to reduce packaging, and a list of new things you want to try to further reduce packaging.
|
Do bananas need to be wrapped in packaging?
Sometimes, packaging protects products for consumers while also providing a space to display important information like directions, ingredients or warnings. Think about the box that holds your favorite brownie mix. People need to read what’s on the box to know how to correctly prepare the brownies. While sometimes packaging is important, all too often products are packaged when it is not necessary. Product packaging creates tons of waste — about 80 million tons every year. Sadly, almost all of this waste ends up in the landfill. |
|
Most packaging can be recycled
The good news is that almost all of that landfill waste can be avoided! When the packaging is made of rigid (hard) plastic or cardboard, it can be recycled. Glass jars and aluminum cans are recyclable, too. If you live in Oceanside, you can place these items right in your blue recycling bin. If you are out and about in Oceanside, you can place your recyclables in a City sponsored recycling bin. |
Even if you are trying your hardest to recycle packaging, sometimes you just shouldn’t. Soft or film plastic coverings or cardboard containers contaminated with food waste must be thrown away. |
|
But even though many cities have made it so easy to recycle hard plastics, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that only 13% of plastic waste is recycled.
Check out the chart to see EPA data on recycling rates from 2017. Which areas do you see room for improvement? How do you think the City could help encourage residents to recycle more efficiently? |
|
Plastic water bottles are one of the least recycled items. Tens of millions of plastic water bottles end up buried in the landfill every day. As the bottles break down they release harmful chemicals into the environment and impact our ecosystem. What can you do to help? If you simply refuse single use plastic water bottles and instead use a refillable water bottle, you’ll be part of the solution.
|
|
|
Aside from recycling, you can cut down on packaging waste in the landfill by reusing glass jars or other containers to hold bulk items at the grocery store. The first step is to locate a waste-free grocery store near you, or a store that has a large selection of bulk items.
These containers can be reused over and over again. What types of single-use, disposable packaging do you think we could eliminate if everybody brought their own containers to the grocery store? How do you think that would impact America’s waste stream?
|
Tutorial Challenge
- Make a list of the things your family already does to reduce packaging waste in your home. Does your family bring reusable grocery or produce bags to the store?
- Make another list of some new things you might try with your family to reduce packaging waste, like experimenting with glass jars and bulk purchases.
