recycle right.
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Grades 8-12
Tutorial 6: Going Beyond Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Objective: Make a school supply list with recycled content items and visit a green oceanside store.
Beyond the Three Rs
When you think about cutting down on landfill waste, you probably remember hearing about the three "Rs"; Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Those actions are important, but over the last decade we’ve gone even further to reduce what we send to the landfill.
In order to really make a dent in the amount of waste on our planet, we also need to Refuse unnecessary items, Repair broken appliances or ripped clothing, and Rethink the way we shop. Finally, we need to have a plan to compost or recycle our food waste so it can Rot and become part of the soil cycle as a recovered resource.
Read below to learn what is meant by each term and see if you can adopt some of these practices.
When you think about cutting down on landfill waste, you probably remember hearing about the three "Rs"; Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Those actions are important, but over the last decade we’ve gone even further to reduce what we send to the landfill.
In order to really make a dent in the amount of waste on our planet, we also need to Refuse unnecessary items, Repair broken appliances or ripped clothing, and Rethink the way we shop. Finally, we need to have a plan to compost or recycle our food waste so it can Rot and become part of the soil cycle as a recovered resource.
Read below to learn what is meant by each term and see if you can adopt some of these practices.
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.
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One 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. Can you think of another item that you can refuse to use?
Reduce
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Reducing waste at home or at school begins with small changes in daily habits that payoff tenfold in cutting down on unnecessary waste. Using a refillable water bottle each day instead of purchasing water in single-use plastic bottles is one of the easiest ways to combat waste. 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.
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Filling up your reusable water bottle everyday and getting your friends and family to do the same will make an enormous difference. The same rules apply to coffee cups, plastic utensils, grocery bags and even take out containers. All of these items have a reusable counterpart that drastically cuts down on landfill waste.
Reuse
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Even if you try your best to reduce the products and packaging that come into your home, chances are you’ll still have spaghetti sauce jars, yogurt containers and empty cans. Sure, you can put these items in the recycling bin, but is that really the best use? It takes energy and resources to collect these items and turn them into new products. That’s a good thing if it is the only choice you have.
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To conserve the most resources, try turning those empty containers into something useful. The spaghetti jar can store extra rubber bands or paper clips. A large yogurt container is the perfect vehicle to carry leftovers to school or work for lunch, or even use to freeze leftovers for later. And that can from the beans is exactly the right container to collect hot bacon grease since you should absolutely not pour it down the sink. What are some other uses for these items?
Repair
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Some people say we live in a “throw-away society.” 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.
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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?
Rot
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To truly come close to zero waste in your home, you’ll have to figure out what to do with your food scraps. Composting food scraps at home is a great way to put those food scraps to good use. You’ll create a healthy soil amendment while diverting all that extra waste from the landfill. One of the easiest ways to compost at home is by having a worm bin, otherwise known as vermiculture.
Follow these directions to create a simple worm bin. |
Recycle
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Are you surprised that recycling is one of the last things you should do to reduce waste? It’s a very important step to be sure, but it should be the last stop for plastic, glass, cardboard or aluminum. As mentioned above, it takes energy and additional resources to create new products out of old ones. If it really is the end of the road for your recyclables, make sure you recycle them the right way. Items should be free from food contamination and placed loose in the blue bin.
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Remember that flimsy plastic bags should be collected separately and taken to the grocery store. Otherwise, they can get stuck in the expensive sorting machines at the Material Recovery Facility, or MRF. A recycle station that runs smoothly is better for everyone.
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 material. 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. An abundance of consumer products are made with post-recycled material.
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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. Here are examples of some companies you may have heard of that walk the recycling material walk: 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. Ikea has even pledged to use 100% recycled materials in their furniture by the year 2030. How are you rethinking your waste?
Tutorial Challenge
- Create a school shopping list and then see if you can find a recycled content product for each item.
- Green Oceanside Businesses are recognized as environmental leaders that incorporate sustainable practices. Visit a Green Oceanside store or restaurant and take notes on all of the environmentally friendly practices. Do they donate surplus food to a food rescue organization? Do you notice a stash of folded cardboard in the back that is ready for the recycling bin? Do they have a plastic bag collection container on site?
