Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

1. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Michelle Cox micox@nmu.edu

2. All about taking care of Earth • Help save our natural resources! • “Our natural resources are the things that we take from the Earth to make all of the things that we need. When those things get worn out we throw them out, and they become garbage. • Did you know that we make 250 million tons of garbage each year! That's a lot of garbage! • People are helping to save our resources by practicing the 3 R's: reduce, reuse and recycle. You can help, too.” This information can be found at:http://members.aol.com/kidz4peace/dinopals/3r.htm

3. The 3 R’s • REDUCE • You can help by PRECYCLING. 1/3 of all garbage is packaging. • Buy things that are in packages that can be recycled or are made of recycled materials. • When you buy something small, say no thanks to a bag. • REUSE • Many things can be reused before you throw them out. • Use coffee cans and cottage cheese containers for storage • Use backs of paper or backs of used envelopes for jotting notes • Put leftovers in resealable containers instead of using wraps and foil • Use old clothes as rags for cleaning instead of paper towels • Have a garage sale or donate clothes, books or toys that you don't use anymore • RECYCLE • Each year we use: • 25 billion plastic containers • 30 billion bottles & jars • 65 billion aluminum cans • 100 billion pounds of paper

4. Landfill • What is a landfill? A landfill is place where our garbage is taken and buried between layers of dirt. • How does a landfill work? The solid waste is compacted in layers. Each layer is covered with a layer of dirt. • Paper takes up as much as 50% of all landfill space.

5. Buy remanufactured or used items Buy items in bulk rather than multiple, smaller packages to decrease the amount of packaging waste created Maintain and repair durable items Reuse bags, containers, and other similar items Borrow, rent, or share items that are used infrequently Donate items instead of throwing them out Leave grass clippings on the lawn or use them for backyard composting Rake fallen leaves for composting rather than bagging them and throwing them away Reduce Waste

6. Composting • What is composting? Composting is when you combine all organic matter to decay. When this mixture decays, it has nutrients that can be used to fertilize. • How to compost? • http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/sustainable/slidesets/kidscompost/cover.html

7. Reuse • Store leftovers in reusable containers instead of wrap or bags • Shop carrying cloth bags instead of paper or plastic • Make your own Paper!  • Use old rags to clean your room or paint with  • Use Styrofoam, cans, boxes and other containers to make things, like crafts. • The next time something is broken try to repair it instead of replacing it   • The next time something is broken try to repair it instead of replacing it   • Have a yard sale with your family or friends.   • Use cloth napkins instead of paper napkins • Make a cloth lunchbox, or use a store bought one to replace paper bags. 

8. Recycling • What is recycling? Recycling is to reuse or reprocess materials. • What materials can you recycle? Most materials can either be recycled, reused, or composted. Contact your city recycle center to find out what your community recycles. • How do you recycle? Check the hours for your local recycle center, or use the curbside system most cities have set-up. Make sure to separate your recyclables into separate recycle bins! Also, look for blue bins at local businesses, parks, etc. for paper and aluminum can recycling.

9. Recycle Paper! • By recycling 1 ton of paper, we save: • 17 trees • 7,000 gallons of water • 380 gallons of oil • 3 cubic yards of landfill space • Enough energy to heat an average home for 6 mo.

10. Recycle Bottles and Cans! • Manufacturers can make one extra-large T-shirt our of only five recycled plastic soda bottles • Recycling aluminum cans saves 95% of the energy required to make aluminum cans from scratch • The amount of aluminum recycled in 1995 could have built 14 aircraft carriers

11. Recycling Facts

12. Learn about and participate in a community recycling program. Know the collection schedule or drop-off location as well as which items are acceptable. Empty all fluids and remove all lids from bottles and cans when recycling and do not contaminate recycling containers with trash. Participate and encourage your classmates to recycle in the containers provided in your school. Make an effort to find recycling opportunities. Use recyclable products and encourage others to do the same. Recycling in Action

14. Check Out these Useful Worksheets • Follow that Bottle • Energy Story • Trash Town • Energy Expedition

15. Most of the information and resources for this presentation was acquired from the United States Environmental Protection Agency at: http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/kids/quest/index.htm