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Some conclusions that would be drawn from the primary and secondary articles would be:
- Students would understand how to better advocate for their environment.
-Students would see how environmental conservation started with stamps.
-Students would learn why "reduce, reuse and recycle" are key to protecting and changing the environment for the better.

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Kids Environment Kids Health - National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences

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"Source reduction" is reducing waste before you purchase it, or by purchasing products that are not wasteful in their packaging or use. A key part of waste "reduction" is "conservation"-using natural resources wisely, and using less than usual in order avoid waste.
You can practice reduction by selecting products that do not have to be added to landfills or the waste stream in general. This is really easy to do...

First and foremost, buy and use less! If all the other people on the Earth used as much "stuff" as we do in the United States, there would need to be three to five times more space just to hold and sustain everybody.... WOW! So buy only what you need and use all of what you buy. Or make sure that when you are through with something, you pass it along to other people who can continue to put it to good use. This is especially important when it comes things that can be dangerous to our environment, such as paint and chemicals.

Start making wise "package" selections. Why is it important to consider how something is packaged when you consider what to buy? You can reduce waste by selecting products that are not wasteful in their packaging. Flashy and fun packaging costs more, usually adds little or no value to the product, and (worst of all!) can do considerable harm to our environment by creating more waste or waste disposal difficulties. Keep the following package-related tips in mind no matter what you are buying:
Precycle by purchasing products in materials/packaging that can be readily recycled. So whenever you have a choice, put plain and recyclable packages high on your list to reduce packaging waste in our environment.

Avoid single-serve containers. You can buy juice or water in large recyclable bottles or cans and then divide it up in reusable, washable containers as you need it at home or to take with you. And if you want to take juice or water with you on your bike rides or to the gym, just take it along in your own reusable sports bottle.

Before you buy bottled water, first find out if you really even need bottled water. City water (and clean well water) is usually just as healthy, much cheaper, and may even be safer than bottled water products.

Refuse store bags! When you buy one or two items at a store, carry them out in your hands; or take a reusable bag with you to carry the items you buy. And don't forget to take your old plastic and paper bags back to the grocery store for reuse or recycling. Most grocery stores have convenient paper and plastic recycling bins located near the entrance.

Hints for parents

Think BIG! Buying in "bulk" (a large amount that is not divided into separate containers) gives you the best "product to package" ratio. Many stores allow shoppers to scoop out the amount they need of bulk goods like nuts or coffee. This considerably reduces waste and packaging materials. Or you can buy in bulk by selecting bigger quantities in a single box or package-for example, buy the largest box of toothpaste, dishwasher detergent, or cereal, rather than a series of small boxes. This not only reduces the waste (from having to throw out the old containers) but it will also save you money. Packaging is expensive, so buying in larger volumes reduces the unit cost.

Buy concentrates rather than diluted products-the result is less waste for disposal when it is empty.

Use durable goods longer. Durable goods are sturdy things like furniture or household appliances that can (and should) be used for many years. You can save money and reduce waste by keeping these items longer and repairing them when they break, rather than buying new ones.

Use durable items rather than disposable items whenever possible. For example, select reusable razors rather than the disposable one that you can only use a few times and then have to throw away.

Say NO to junk mail! Call toll-free numbers in unwanted catalogs and ask to be removed from mailing lists. Whenever possible, use the Internet to obtain (and pay) bills, news, catalogs, stock reports and other information that usually comes to your house in a paper format. Reducing paper reduces waste.

Start a garden. Food that you grow yourself does not have to be "processed" or "packaged", and no fossil fuels are needed to get it to the store and then to your house.

Start a compost or vermiculture bin to transform your household garbage (food wastes, coffee grounds, etc.), into a rich earth-like material that can be added to a garden to help plants grow. Grass, leaves, paper, and some other types of food can naturally decay and turn into compost, and that compost can then be put to good use in your garden. Replace lawns with mulched gardens that are just as pretty, but are better for our environment.

Games galore! Piles of Puzzles!

What's That Word

Scientific Dictionary

Not sure of what a word means?

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Reduce/Reduction: to make something smaller or use less, resulting in a smaller amount of waste. Source reduction is reducing waste before you purchase it, or by purchasing products that are not wasteful in their packaging or use. A key part of waste reduction is conservation-using natural resources wisely, and using less than usual in order avoid waste.

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To sustain this free service, we receive affiliate commissions via some of our links. This doesn't affect rankings. Our review process.

There are plenty of facts out there on why recycling is important. The world population is growing, not shrinking, and currently, each human being adds significant waste to the planet over his or her lifetime. In New York alone, people produce enough trash in one day to fill the entire Empire State building.

The frustrating thing is, in most developed countries, it's not that difficult to make a difference. And what a difference we can make. If everyone repurposed their copy of a single edition of The New York Times, we could save 75,000 trees.

What Exactly Is Recycling?

Every day we use a variety of products in our households and workplaces to fulfill our basic needs. Most of these products and their packaging are wasted and dumped in bins, which end up in landfill sites. Consumers place recyclable materials over to your local waste facility by placing it in a designated disposal container. Then it is taken to a recycling facility and/or transported to a location when that material can be reused for a new purpose. A recyclable product is turned back into a raw form that can be used to create a new and different product.

Not only are natural resources limited, but recycling efforts can significantly reduce additional waste that will not only harm the planet today but for future generations as well. The natural resources on our planet earth are limited so we must make the most to conserve, recycle and reuse whenever possible.

Recycling things involves using a product, in part or as a whole, in the production of similar or same products again. In regular production, the use of raw materials is sourced directly from natural resources. For example, fresh pulp from cut down trees is used to create first-generation paper. Recycled paper can be used in producing new paper without vastly compromising the quality of the final product. The same applies to most other materials like metal, glass and plastics.

What Can I Recycle?

What you can recycle depends on your area, not all materials may be recyclable. Check with your local recycling center to find out what you can and cannot recycle. You'll notice that recyclable products are labeled with numbers from 1 to 7, 1 being the most recyclable, and 7 being the least recyclable. Learn more about what recycling codes mean.

Also, check with your city to make sure that you have the correct disposal containers available to ensure your efforts are being put to good use and heading to the recycling center rather than the landfill you are working so hard to avoid!

Ways To Reduce Trash You Create

In general consumption of goods, we ignore the fact that a major portion of our waste can be reduced or reused before resorting to recycling. It would be very responsible of us if we could reduce the consumption of products to the maximum extent possible. So, the three R's of sustainability are Reduce, Reuse... and then Recycle.

Simply cutting down on the amount of non-recyclable materials you throw out is easier than you think. Here are some tips to reduce waste.

1. Bring your own reusable tote bags to purchase groceries. If you forget, insist on paper, and pack as many goods in one bag as possible, without double bagging.

2. Try to reduce the amount of packaging you purchase by buying products in bulk.

3. Switch from mail to paperless statements (bills, financial statements, newsletters, etc.) and have them e-mailed to you instead.

4. Buy products that are packaged in cardboard or paper board instead of Styrofoam.

5. Avoid disposable items such as paper plates, cups, and utensils.

6. When wrapping presents, opt for reusable gift bags instead of wrapping paper - or maybe even reuse wrapping paper.

7. Avoid using plastic wrap and instead opt for beeswax wraps for an eco friendly alternative.

Donate Your Clothing & Home Goods To Charity

1. Most likely your city has many charity shops (like Goodwill and the Salvation Army) that will take your gently used clothes, electronics, furniture and other household items to resell as income for these non-profit organizations. You can even donate your car. These donations help others and are typically a tax deduction for you too.

2. Shop at and sell your clothing on an online thrift store. Simply send in your items to sell them yourself or have them take care of the sale for a higher fee. Your trash just may be someone else's treasure!

3. Composting is the simple step of setting aside your fruit peels and pits along with other select food waste and putting it into a compost pile. This will not only reduce trash and create a much cleaner smelling kitchen but also produce great nutrients for your garden. Read more about Composting Bins

Why Recycling Is Important

There are many good reasons for adding recycling to your routine, ranging from a personal level to a global advantage.

Recycling your waste makes you more conscious in how you use and dispose of goods. Studies show that people who recycle instinctively cut back on buying unnecessary things. They think of how to dispose of the packaging or the product after use before even buying it. As a result, people end up saving a considerable amount of money while also saving the planet.

Individuals, governing bodies and companies can take pride in minimizing their waste as they are helping to reduce global environmental damage and making this earth a better place to live. It is a direct contribution that everyone can make.

Apart from the environmental and emotional benefits, there is an economic impact via employment generated. When you put your waste in different bins for paper, plastics, glass and so on, the contents of each are further segregated and taken to recycling plants. The manpower involved in the logistics and processing of your waste is considerable and thus, you are helping to provide jobs and aid in the welfare of their families. Some will argue that the manpower and steps to recycle are more expensive than trash, but multiple organizations insist that the benefits significantly outweigh the additional resources and costs.

We must also be aware of the emissions that result from the incineration. Sometimes the heat generated is used to generate electrical power (waste to energy plants) to offset the damage and minimize the carbon footprint. Even though this sounds positive, there are concerns about the type of waste being incinerated and if it has any toxic effects on the surrounding areas.

Recycling's Global Impact

What happens to your recycled items after leaving the recycling bin? Plastics, in particular, can be expensive to process or some products are not recyclable due to being contaminated with food or other materials. In these cases, the goods become an internationally-traded commodity that was, until recently, shipped to China for a high price tag.

In 2018, China announced a ban on the import of plastic waste as an initiative to clean up its environment. This left other Asian countries including Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam to become the top importers of plastic scrap. However, the surge in plastic imports in those areas has encouraged unethical practices, and the local government is cracking down and shutting down those facilities. As a result, leaving the scrap to sit in abandoned facilities or stranded at seaports with no destination.

Purchase Products Made From Recycled Materials

You're no doubt aware by now why this is so important. However, the effort involves not only recycling existing products but purchasing products that have already been recycled. Today, thanks to a strong push in the green movement recently, you'll notice more and more products made from recycled materials.

To purchase products made from reused materials, simply look for a recycling symbol and language on the product's packaging. Every day manufacturers are finding new ways to create items that are recyclable including paper towels, cardboard boxes, plastic containers, crayons, ink cartridges, paint, garden supplies such as hoses, furniture, wallpaper, and even garbage cans.

And don't forget the packaging. It is often too big for the product inside and uses non-recycled materials. This is wasteful and should be minimized as well when making a purchase decision. Voting with your wallet is one of the best ways to make an impact while sending a clear message to the companies that make these products as to your desire for more attention to recycle-friendly products.

Recycling Facts

Studies have shown that:

More than 60% of the rubbish that ends up in trash bins can be recycled.

Around 16% of the cost of a product is spent on its packaging, which is completely wasted if not disposed of properly.

Aluminum cans can be recycled entirely and put to use in a short time.

Glass can be recycled 100% and reused.

24 trees are cut down to make one ton of paper.
On the contrary, recycled paper is proved to create 70% less pollution compared to non-recycled material paper production.

Plastics, which can often be recycled, take around 500 years to decompose.

One recycled tin can saves enough energy to power a television for 2 hours.

70% less energy is utilized to recycle paper compared to making it from raw materials.

Similarly, when you recycle one glass bottle, it can save enough energy to power a personal computer for 25 minutes.

Reduce E-Waste Through Electronics Recycling

Due to rapid technological change, obsolescent items have created a fast-growing mass of electronic waste around the globe. E-waste (or waste from electronics) is toxic if disposed of improperly. The chemicals, metals and associated solders, glues and plastics can cause both environmental and health problems.

For this reason, the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Directive in the European Union makes businesses, manufacturers and retailers of electrical and electronic equipment responsible for making sure their goods do not end up in landfill or incineration. Some new regulations involve dismantling of parts into metals, plastics and individually processing them.

So any working TVs, monitors, computers, cell phones, batteries and other consumer electronics can be sold or donated, thereby prolonging their useful life. Find out how you can turn your old electronics into cash by recycling them. And if they are no longer working, the same companies who will give you money for them should be able to accept them and ensure they are disposed of properly.

We Only Get One Planet

Hopefully, this article has helped you realize just how important your efforts are. Not just for us, but also our kids, grandchildren, and anyone that follows in our footsteps. Take care of your planet, and it will take care of you. When looking for ways to reduce environmental pollution and cut back on energy consumption, recycling is an important step to undertake. A sustainable lifestyle is the need of the times and we can very well adopt such beneficial changes in our daily life.

If you'd like to learn more about this topic, we have plenty of articles about recycling, including freecycling programs and how you can reduce your use of plastic bags.

What are you doing to help reduce your carbon footprint?

Sources: [1] Indiana University. "Waste & Recycling." Web Accessed April 25, 2015, [2] Consumer Reports, [3] GPI.org, [4] WorldAtlas.com, [5] Environment about.com, [6] Environmental Protection Agency, [7] RecyclingBins.co.uk

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Why Is Recycling So Important? | Earth's Friends

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To sustain this free service, we receive affiliate commissions via some of our links. This doesn't affect rankings. Our review process. There are plenty of facts out there on why recycling is important. The world population is growing, not shrinking, and currently, each human being adds significant waste to the planet over his or her lifetime.

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In what ways can you adapt and change the way that you impact the environment?