Recycling for Kids

Our Planet Has Limited Resources

Earth gives us a lot of amazing and useful resources such as trees, plants, water, and minerals. As the human population increases, more of Earth’s resources are needed to grow food and make necessary products such as paper, medicines, clothes, and more.

Why Do We Recycle?

Many people will live here on Earth after us. They will need resources, too. That is one reason why it is important that we recycle old materials to make new products, reduce the amount of resources we use, and find ways to reuse the items we already have.

Reduce – Reuse – Recycle

Reduce

Reducing means creating less waste or garbage and is one of the best ways to help the planet stay clean. You can reduce the amount of waste you throw away by using a lunch box and reusable water bottle at school.

Pack your Lunch in Reusable Containers.

Did you know it’s better for the planet if you pack your school lunch in a lunch box instead of plastic or paper bags? Plastic bags are bad for the planet and can take hundreds of years to decompose. Lunch boxes can be used over and over again without having to be thrown away.

Reuse

When we reuse and repurpose items, we can keep those items out of our limited landfill space. A great way to give unwanted items new purpose is by donating them to someone who can reuse them or repurposing things in unique ways.

Donate Old Clothes, Shoes, Books & Toys.

If your clothes and shoes don’t fit right anymore, consider donating those items to someone who can use them. The same is true for books and toys. If you no longer want a toy or book anymore, donate it to another kid in your community who will enjoy them.

Recycle

Recycling is where the creativity begins! Recycling is taking thrown away items and making them into something new and useable. This can happen two ways. You can set aside items in your home that can be recycled and ask your parents to help you bring them to the appropriate place to be made into something new or you can recycle household items yourself.

Build Recycled Planters

Enjoy your very own repurposed planter with discarded plastic bottles or other plastic containers. Cut bottles in half, fill it with soil, and add your very own plant or seeds. If you enjoy making things from recycled products, a quick internet search will help you find countless ideas. (Be sure to ask for help and permission first.)

Fun Recycling Facts

Recycling one aluminum can will save a lot of energy- enough to watch TV for 3 hours!
Did you know that Americans use about 4 million plastic bottles every day?
Each ton of recycled paper can save 17 trees!
Recycling one glass bottle saves enough energy to light a 100-watt lightbulb for four hours.
Recycling one ton of plastic saves the equivalent of 1,000–2,000 gallons of gasoline.