The three R`s of waste management is particularly important if we do not manage waste properly, it can harm our health, our environment, and even our prosperity.
We need to understand that it is not enough to talk about an environmentally way of life, but we also need to do it, because it is the growing population, pollution and technological abuse that are causing severe problem in our environment.
Poor rubbish handling is damaging the world's oceans, clogging sewers, and creating flooding, transferring infections, increasing respiratory problems from burning, injuring animals who inadvertently consume rubbish, and hindering economic development, such as tourism.
Every year we dump a massive 2.12 billion tons of waste. This stunning amount of waste is partly because 99 percent of the products we buy is trashed within 6 months (The World Counts, 2022).
We are on the verge of a global environmental disaster; we need to learn how to keep our waste in low level and keep our children informed and teach them in early age about how to care for our environment. Strive to have as little ecological impact as possible on the Planet while we are here. Many people and organizations are now dealing with the importance of recycling, and they think about recycle as first solution of environmental protection, but it still uses valuable energy and resources. It does not turn into miracles.
We must think twice when we put something into recycle bin and ask yourself can it be use somewhere else or is it the end of useable life them. Get into the practice to reduce or reuse first before we recycle them.
Teaching kids how to recycle is a valuable lesson that we should pass onto the next generation. If they adapt these habits at a youthful age, it will be easy for them to understand what can and cannot be recycled in the future. This way, the children will be environmentally conscious. They will have a responsible life and will be aware of their habit, action effects on the Planet. For children, learning to recycle is now easier and more enjoyable than ever before.
One of the main reasons to decrease litter is to save space in existing landfills and avoid the need to construct new landfills, which squander valuable land and pollute the air and water. Reducing waste can also help us to save money and save energy. We can teach kids how to reduce waste during shopping, for example:
- Do not put banana into a single usage plastic bag because it is unnecessary. Banana has their own original package.
- Buy refills for cleaning products.
- Buy only amount of food what we need in their shelf life.
Reuse old materials or turn them into something useful is one of the best things that we can do with unwanted items, and it helps fight climate change too. When children know that the things they use can be made into other handy things, their imagination come in live and create incredible arts. Show to children how to reprocess things at home, for example:
- Donating toys and grow out clothes which is still in good condition can help to other families and it is very environment conscious.
- Using washable makeup cloth instead of cotton pad.
- Turn your food waste into compost and you will get free fertiliser for your garden and plant pots to keep them looking beautiful.
Doing recycle in right is reducing demand for raw materials and conserving natural resources. The world's natural resources are finite, and some are in truly short supply. Waste sorting means that the resulting paper, metal, glass, and plastic waste is collected separately. The point is that the various recyclable wastes do not end up in the mixed bin. This is important because most waste can be recycled separately in its material but mixed only increases the landfill.
Follow the next teaching method to being able to fascinate your kids about recycle:
- Prepare: Research and develop your knowledge about this topic. Make sure you have a right level of detail. Find all materials that you can use to demonstrate and illustrate recycle.
- Presentation: Make it fun! Turning 3 R's waste management into a game is a fantastic way to get your children motivated. Informe your kid about their waste is important in the environment, they become more aware of the recycling and reducing process. Keep simple your content, make eye contact with your child. Consider the age of the child when you explain recycle method. Use volume appropriately and positive.
- Try out: Place three bins beside each other in the kitchen area. Use one for recycle, compost and general waste it will be easy to see and use. Every time you recycle or compost, make it a habit to tell your kids what you are doing. This will help your children better understand the different materials has to go into the different containers.
- Follow up: Make it a game over time, and play like quiz game, question if you throw out things. Is it going to the recycle bin? Make a score board to see who has more points.
The most important thing when we want to raise eco-conscious youth is that we are as an adult being consistent and positive role model.
Credits
Melinda Szijarto created with work by
- Kidadl Team (2021) “65 Best recycling quotes for the whole family”, Kidadl. Available at: https://kidadl.com/quotes/best-recycling-quotes-for-the-whole-family (Accessed: 27 March 2022).
- The World Counts (2022) “A world of waste”. Available at: https://www.theworldcounts.com/challenges/planet-earth/state-of-the-planet/world-waste-facts/story (Accessed: 28 March 2022).
- Photos by Pixabay, Artem Podrez, Vladislav Vasnetsov, Mumtahina Tanni, Cottonbro, Aleksandar Pasaric, Shvets Production, Ron Lach, Monstera, Ryutaro Tsukata, Ksenia Chernaya, Kamaji Ogino, Kaboompics from Pexels.