WHY RECYCLE?

1

WHAT IS THE ENVIRONMENT?

The trees, air, & soil around us

Our fields, farms & the food we grow

Our oceans, lakes, and rivers

GOOD THINGS AROUND US

There are many things around us that help us stay healthy.

Family & friends

Beautiful scenery

to look at

Medicine & vitamins

Oxygen in the air

Nutrients in food

4

HAZARDS

A hazard is anything in the environment that can hurt you or make you sick.

Bacteria & viruses

Harmful chemicals

Loud noises

Tobacco smoke

Stress

GO GREENSave money, save the environment

GO GREEN

Energy and Water Efficiency Reduce, Recycle, Reuse

ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENCY

Lighting Heating and Cooling Equipment Water

LIGHTING

Fluorescent lights Daylight Turn off lights

HEATING AND COOLING

Summer Winter While you’re away Programmable thermostat

EQUIPMENT

Turn off equipment Turn off computer monitors Use a power strip Unplug chargers and adapters

WATER

Don’t let water run Fix leaks immediately Run full loads Lower water heater temp

REDUCE, RECYCLE, REUSE

GUESS WHEN………

The first city dump opened. 500 B.C.

Pigs were used to get rid of garbage. 1900

Landfills became popular.1920

The first solid waste management laws were passed.1965

A garbage barge circled Long Island with no place to unload.1987

WHAT CAN WE DO?

Reduce the amount of waste. Recycle items into new products through a

manufacturing process. Reuse the product in a different way.

REDUCE

Packaging Toxicity

Compare product packaging

Buy loose items Buy in bulk

Use least amount necessary

Use non-hazardous alternatives

Follow use and disposal directions

Find a hazardous waste collection site

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A TOXIC WORD GAME

Toxic means _____________________.

Toxic_____ is the study of poisons.

Toxic___ is a measure of how dangerous a chemical is.

poisonous or dangerous

ology

ity

17

WHICH ONES ARE MORE TOXIC?

Toxicity Rating

Highly Toxic

Moderately Toxic

Slightly Toxic

Not Toxic

RECYCLE

What Where

Paper Glass Aluminum Plastic

Curbside Collection Drop-off Centers Buy Back Centers

HOW MANY YEARS TO DISAPPEAR? Disposable Diaper

500-600 years Cotton Sock

5-6 months Styrofoam Cup

1 million years + Glass Bottle

1 million years + Leather Belt

40-50 years

Wooden Block10-20 years

Banana Peel3-4 weeks

Cardboard Box1-2 months

Plastic Bottle1 million years +

Aluminum Can200-500 years

REUSE

Consider reusable products. Maintain and repair durable products. Reuse bags, containers, and other items. Borrow, rent, or share items. Sell or donate goods instead of throwing

them out.

GO GREEN

Energy and Water Efficiency Reduce, Recycle, Reuse

INFOMERCIAL PROJECT

In a group of 5 research 10 ways to recycle, help the enviroment at home, school, outside and show the ideas

Using the websites below and your team write down the 10 ways.

Have a speech telling people why we should think about the environment and its health.

It will be video recorded, use posters to show information

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HTTP://PAULLLBCCEIP.WEEBLY.COM/

www.epa.gov/recyclecity/mainmap.htm

www.virtualrecycling.com/contents.htm