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Earth Day Resolution: Recycling Focus!

By Zipporah Porton
Senior Editor, Online Content

In 2011, recycling should no longer just be a suggestion; it should be a requirement. Environmental awareness has become a mainstream notion, rather than something that is put into practice by “hippies,” and “treehuggers.” With more and more corporate entities continuing to “go green,” the importance of focusing on saving the environment is finally resonating throughout the world, as well as throughout the classroom.

On April 22, 1970, Earth Day marked the beginning of the modern environmental movement. Approximately 20 million Americans participated, and April 22, 2011 marked the 41^st anniversary of a holiday that has steadily increased in popularity and observation.

In March 2010, Green Headquarters reported that there is good news and bad news when it comes to recycling in the U.S. First of all, municipal solid waste through recycling and composting programs was up to 32 percent as of 2005, a significant increase from 1980, when less than 10 percent was recycled. However, since 1980, the generation of municipal solid waste has grown by 60 percent. On another positive note, almost half of the paper used in the U.S. is now being recycled into new paper products. Acid batteries, a dangerous entity when they end up in landfills, have been recycled at a remarkable rate of 99 percent.

Despite the positive news, when it comes to the Earth there is never a time to sit back and rest on laurels. As a whole, the U.S. has some distance to cover before catching up to the rest of the world. According to Environmental Pictures, the top five recycling countries are as follows:

1. Switzerland 52%
2. Austria 49.7%
3. Germany 48%
4. Netherlands 46%
5. Norway 40%

The U.S. has has the technical capabilities to appear on the list above, yet our country could not crack the top five.

Though we are often bombarded by “green” messages, sometimes we simply stop listening. Often, people will assume that others have recycling and energy conservation covered, so why bother with the inconvenience? This is the wrong attitude, because when it comes to conserving the Earth, everyone needs to get involved. As educators, it is our job to set the right example. Sometimes you may have to haul your recycling to a collection spot two miles down the road, but your efforts will only encourage students to follow the same practices, giving rise to another generation of students who are observant of the Earth’s needs.

First and foremost, if your school does not already have a recycling program, then take it upon yourself, and your students, to get that set up immediately. According to Niagra Recyling, recycling programs at schools have played a key role in the diversion of waste from local landfills. Additionally, if planned and implemented properly, recycling programs can actually save schools money, and in some cases generate money. According to the Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance in North Carolina, in 2010 77 percent of schools in North Carolina reported having a recycling program in place. Of the participants, 29 percent reported a net decrease in overall costs, while 10 percent of the schools collected revenue from the sale of recyclables. While this is good news, it is still distracting to note that almost a quarter of the schools in North Carolina do not even have a recycling program.

Even if your school already recycles, a 2010 report from Minnesota demonstrates that the program could possibly be improved upon. The study was conducted as a collaboration of Hennepin County; the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA); the City of Minneapolis; and Minneapolis, Minnetonka and Hopkins public schools. Some of the study’s findings are as follows:

• Nearly 80 percent of all the waste generated by a school could be recycled or composted.
• More than 60 percent of what is currently discarded as trash could be recycled or composted.
• Food waste and recyclable paper are two prominent materials thrown away by schools that could be recycled.

The full results to the survey can be found here: In all, the report concludes that there are significant opportunities to improve recycling at schools.

If your school’s recycling program seems to be self-sufficient, there are still a number of great ways to get your class excited about recycling. Not only will these lessons emphasize the importance of the act of recycling itself, but it could also spark an interest in a career in the increasingly growing field of sustainability. There is no limit to the careers your students can embark on, and thus every teaching opportunity can also segue into highlighting one of the many careers that are available today. Last but not least, these recycling tips can also lead to a discussion of how to be a positive contributor to one’s community.

Interesting Facts/Stats To Share With Your Class About Recycling

• The average time taken by plastic bottles to decompose in a landfill is close to 700 years.
• A plant takes a minimum of 15 to 20 years to grow into a tree, but takes less than 10 minutes to be felled, and on an average one tree can yield about 700 paper grocery bags, which will be consumed in less than an hour by a supermarket!
• Between 1950 and 2000, the U.S. population nearly doubled. However, in that same period, public demand for water more than tripled. Americans now use an average of 100 gallons of water each day — enough to fill 1,600 drinking glasses!
• Letting your faucet run for five minutes uses about as much energy as letting a 60-watt light bulb run for 14 hours.
• A full bathtub requires about 70 gallons of water, while taking a five-minute shower uses only 10 to 25 gallons.

Top Five Recycling Activities for Kids:
1. Create a simulation project for your students where they become the “recycling coordinator” in their home for 30 days. Kids would be responsible for sharing their project-based learning back in the classroom.
2. Take a poll in your classroom or school to discover how “green” your local community is becoming.
3. Investigate your community and take pictures of places to improve and places of pride with regard to recycling.
4. Design a campaign for your classroom or school that convinces others to recycle.
5. Research and report on famous people who are fanatics about recycling.

Some CCC! Recycling Video Content Suggestions:

1. Recycling Coordinator, Community Helpers Series, K-3^rd  Program ID 23540
2. Trash And The Environment, Real World Science, 4th-8^th Program ID 51203
3. Garbage, Bill Nye the Science Guy, 3rd-8th Program ID 47042