Rocko's Modern Life: R-E-C-Y-C-L-E

You Can Help Too!
So, if Zero Waste is such a big problem…why not do something about it? Here are a few examples:

When buying a product, check if it is recyclable and if its packaging makes sense.


Always recycle things that can be recycled. Check for the recycling code on the bottom of plastic containers (materials with 1 or 2 codes can be recycled in Toronto).

Try and reduce waste as much as you can by not buying products that can only go into the garbage.

When you're able to reduce, do it! For example, instead of using a paper towel when cleaning up a mess, try a J-cloth.

Buy less disposable type products. We know disposables are convenient. But with the environment, convenience is often deadly.

Some make up companies are now making daily wipes for you to clean your face. 365 daily wipes times 30 million Canadians. Can you imagine the waste that would create? Here's an idea, use some soap, water, and a towel instead!

If you know a company has bad packaging, go ahead and write to the company.

Have waste free lunches. Sandwiches in a container instead of a plastic wrap; to keep plastic straw wrappers out of the garbage, have your drink from a glass bottle, pop bottle, or a refillable container instead.

Consider simple things like using both sides of a paper.

Being environmentally friendly normally involves saving money as well.

Take the disposable product issue. Instead of having to buy all sorts of paper towels throughout the year, by using hand towels, you have a one time cost and avoid any waste.

Educate people about this issue.

If we don't treat this planet right, it won't survive very long. It gives us so much, what are we going to give back?

Starting in the classroom

What type of paper can my school recycle?



SBooklets
Books - hard and soft cover

Boxes - for office supplies
Boxes - cereal, shoe, cracker, pasta, etc

Brochures
Calendars - wall type
Cardboard - corrugated & paperboard
Catalogs
Clasp envelopes
Colored paper
Cover and card stock, index cards
Envelopes -with plastic windows or labels
File folders
Glossy paper
Hanging file folders

Letters

Mail -including junk mail
Magazines
Newspaper
Office and copy paper - white or colored
Packing paper
Paper - lined, white or colored
Paper - fax
Pamphlets

Phone books
Photocopies
Shredding paper - loose or paper bags
Stationery -white or colored

Writing tablets

Earth Day

April 22nd often comes and goes without any recognition. Aprill 22nd is earth day of coarse and goes very unrecognized throughout many school systems. My idea for educating elementry students on recycling focuses on the week of earth day and making sure students recognize it and try and treat everyday like, "Earth Day."
Here is a list of ideas that incorperate the ideas of Earth Day into subjects taught in elementry schools everday.

-Use Art skills to create posters, flyers, T-shirts, and other things that can inform students around the school about earth day.
-Have students use math skills to calculate their ecological footprint and carbon outputs.
-Shop classes can build bird feeders and houses and either set them up around the school or sell them for a fundraiser.
-Get students outside by having trees planted in areas which will improve the areas around the school.
-Encourage english skills by having students write essays, poetry, or speeches about earth day and the enviornment.
-By incoperating science lesson plans, make sure students are well informed on local as well as global enviornmental issues.

These are all great ideas for teachers to use tools already in place by the education system to stress the importance of earth day and being able to let students make better informed descicions about their enviornment. Hopefully, the students will want to make everyday, "Earth Day."

Kid's Recycle

Recycle Song