recycle right.
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Grades 5-7
Tutorial 6: Going Beyond Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Objective: Make a school supply list with recycled content items and list some things your family does to refuse, repair and rethink.
Beyond the Three Rs
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. You have probably been hearing about these famous three “Rs” your whole life! And by now, you can see how they play a major role in cutting down on landfill waste. Americans create 250 million tons of trash per year, and making a dent in this much waste will require a new set of tools.
We need to add a few more “R” words to our waste diversion vocabulary. In order to really make a dent in the amount of waste on our planet, we also need to Refuse needless items, Repair broken appliances or ripped clothing instead of trashing them, and Rethink the way we shop. These new “Rs” require a bit more thinking and a shift away from some long-standing shopping habits.
What do these new waste reduction techniques look like in action? Read below to learn what is meant by the term and see if you can adopt these practices in your home.
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. You have probably been hearing about these famous three “Rs” your whole life! And by now, you can see how they play a major role in cutting down on landfill waste. Americans create 250 million tons of trash per year, and making a dent in this much waste will require a new set of tools.
We need to add a few more “R” words to our waste diversion vocabulary. In order to really make a dent in the amount of waste on our planet, we also need to Refuse needless items, Repair broken appliances or ripped clothing instead of trashing them, and Rethink the way we shop. These new “Rs” require a bit more thinking and a shift away from some long-standing shopping habits.
What do these new waste reduction techniques look like in action? Read below to learn what is meant by the term and see if you can adopt these practices in your home.
Refuse
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At the top of any waste reduction tip list is the act of refusing to use or purchase products that create extra, unnecessary trash. Not only will this action — or lack of action — keep waste out of the landfill, but you’ll send a powerful message to those who make or distribute the products. One great example is the plastic straw. If enough people decide to skip the straw, a restaurant you visit or even your school may choose not to order them anymore. Many people take a plastic straw as a reflex and then never even use it. Whether it gets used or not, that straw becomes one of the 500 million plastic straws that are discarded daily.
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Can you think of another item that you can refuse to use? How about giving the boot to single-use, plastic water bottles in favor of refillable bottles? Americans consume around 70 million bottles of water every day and only about a third of those plastic bottles are recycled. Sadly, that means the rest are headed to the landfill.
The same rules apply to plastic utensils, grocery bags and even food take-out containers. All of these items have a reusable counterpart that drastically cuts down on landfill waste. Just say no to excess waste! How might you encourage others in your city to refuse wasteful items?
The same rules apply to plastic utensils, grocery bags and even food take-out containers. All of these items have a reusable counterpart that drastically cuts down on landfill waste. Just say no to excess waste! How might you encourage others in your city to refuse wasteful items?
Repair
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Some people say we live in a “throw away society.” What do you think that means? For many Americans, if something they own rips or breaks they toss it in the trash. Maybe the sole on a favorite pair of shoes is separating or the brakes on your bicycle are stuck. Committing to repair items rather than disposing of them is an important part of waste reduction.
To make this behavior shift easier, keep a list of local repair shops: bicycle, shoemaker, tailor, computer, watch, etc. Keep the list in an accessible place so you’ll be more motivated to repair a broken item rather than to toss it. You might even learn that your town holds a fix-it clinic every now and then. What item would you bring to a fix-it event? |
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Rethink
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If we want recycling to live up to its fullest potential, we need to make a real effort to purchase recycled products. Not only will we conserve natural resources by buying items made with recycled content, but we are supporting the end market for our recyclables.
Rethinking the way we shop sends a message to manufacturers that recycled content is in demand. All sorts of consumer products are made with post-recycled material. From clothing, to paper, to furniture, a close look at the product’s label will let you know if the item is made with recycled content.
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Another way we might shift our shopping practices to reduce waste is to buy in bulk. This might look like reusing empty spaghetti sauce jars to fill with rice in the bulk isle at your grocery store. Or, it could mean buying one large container of yogurt instead of five small plastic containers. Both approaches take a little thought ahead of time but the planet will thank you for your effort! What do you think is the easiest way for people to Rethink the way they shop? |
Here are some companies you may have heard of that make products from recycled materials. Patagonia makes clothes out of recycled soda bottles, Nike and Adidas both carry sneakers made with plastic bottles, Seventh Generation specializes in making paper towels and toilet paper that is 100% recycled content and Ikea has even pledged to use 100% recycled materials in their furniture by the year 2030. |
Tutorial Challenge
- Create a school supply shopping list and then see if you can find a recycled content product for each item.
- List one thing your family is already doing to:
Refuse:
Repair:
Rethink:
