Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
First, I'd like to share some infographics that we found really helpful as we educated ourselves as a family. While recycling has been a part of our routine, we have had to make changes now that we've moved. It's not offered in our new building and so we will be taking steps on our own to recycle as a family.
Some quick facts from the site below:
*"Aluminum is a sustainable metal and can be recycled over and over again."
* "Today it is cheaper, faster and more energy-efficient to recycle aluminum than ever before. The aluminum can is 100 percent recyclable and can be recycled indefinitely. The can remains the most recyclable of all materials."
* "Used aluminum beverage cans are the most recycled item in the U.S., but other types of aluminum, such as siding, gutters, car components,storm window frames, and lawn furniture can also be recycled."
For more click the link below!
Some quick plastic facts:
* "More than 180 speices of animals have been documented to ingest plastic debris"
* "The ocean is the world's largest plastic dump with areas twice the size of Texas where confetti like pieces of plastic accumulate."
* "The millions of tons of plastic bottles, bags, and garbage are breaking down and leaching toxins posing a threat to marine and human life"
* "Plastic materials in landfills sink in harmful chemicals into our groundwater"
When I was a child in school, we were taught recycling, I think you'd be hard pressed to find and adult that wasn't aware of how recycling benefits our environment. However, I do think it's important to note that even though we may have this knowledge, we don't always put it into practice. When we moved to our new apartment, setting up a new way to recycle was not high on my list. We've thrown away so many things that we could have recycled instead.
So we're changing that and using this as an opportunity to teach K about the importance of recycling.
Family Recycle Activities:
*) "Where does our trash go?" Explain where trash goes after the dumpster, showing pictures of our trash in our oceans and landfills.
*) "Explore the environmental impact of trash in our world" How does this affect our animal and plant friends?
*) "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" Learn the 3 R's and what they mean.
*) "What can we recycle?" Label and understand what can be recycled and what it can be made into.
*) "Recycling field trip" Make a trip to our local recycling center, redemption center, and landfill.
*) "Chad Pregracke" Learn about Chad Pregracke's river clean up.
*) "Clean up Clean up!" Plan, gather supplies, and friends for a mini river clean up event.
These are the activities that we will be doing as a family. Post's to follow! What are ways you're family recycles? Any suggestions for our list?
http://www.recyclingredefined.com/2010/12/09/recycling-cans-does-more-then-help-our-environment/
http://www.bennuworld.com/news/infographic-10-facts-about-plastic-recycling-2/
http://www.endangeredspeciesinternational.org/plastickills.html?gclid=CN7vpeLN4L0CFQ5gMgodYk0AqQ
http://visual.ly/recycling-glass-why-bother