Reduce 3R Objectives: describe ways their actions can reduce garbage identify items that can be reused, recycled and composted understand the 3R s and C are a hierarchy Our First Class/School Garbage Monster Intro: Use the following activities and worksheets to create two garbage monsters made from your class or school s garbage, one made before waste reduction education and the other after. If possible, keep the first garbage monster a secret until you are ready to collect the waste, that way all your garbage-free education and efforts will be measured by the second garbage monster. Materials: Garbage Monster large piece of paper glue and/or tape poster marker scissors Garbage Collection student handout Student Waste Collection # (different levels available) class worksheet Summary: Our First Garbage Monster rubber reusable gloves and/ or tongs sorting station (e.g. bags, wire racks and liners, plastic totes or other sorting system) tarp scale (optional) Before the Waste Audit 1. Determine when and where the waste audit will happen An afternoon waste audit may be more representative of waste created in a day, depending on when your garbage and recycling bins are emptied. Which rooms are included? (e.g classrooms, hallways, offices, teacher s lounge, cafeteria) Do any rooms require permission or assistance to gain access? Which bins are included? (e.g. garbage, recycling, compost) For a more complete waste audit, measure all waste types, even items in recycling and compost bins. Which bins are excluded or should be visually inspected only? (e.g. bathroom paper towel and food waste bins) 4
Reduce Activity Activity 1. Have students collect the waste and recyclables from designated areas using gloves and/or tongs. Note: The time of day impact collection results (e.g. in the morning after recess versus after lunch). 2. (Optional) Sort and measure the waste into categories and complete the student handout First Waste Collection. 3. Combine the results and complete the class worksheet Our First Garbage Monster 4. On a large piece of paper, outline your garbage monster. 5. Glue all the waste inside the outline and cut out the monster shape Review: 1. Review each of the items on the monster: Is there an alternative that would produce no or less waste? (reduce) Could the item have been reused? (reused) Could the item have been recycled or composted? (recycle and compost) Define your waste reduction goal(s) e.g.: οο οο no contamination (e.g. all recyclables in the recycling and only garbage in the garbage) reduce the overall amount of waste produced (recycling and composting included) 2. Remember the 3R s are a hierarchy. The easiest product to manage is the one that is never produced. REDUCE is the most important R is because it is preventative and does not need resources to do it. Garbage, recycling and composting all have a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) impact. DID YOU KNOW? CRD s Community Clean Up Program supports groups that make visible environmental improvements to their community through organized clean-ups. Learn more and apply for funding at www.crd.bc.ca/cleanup $$$ 5
Reduce Activity Did you know? The CRD conducts Solid Waste Stream Composition Studies every five years. Discover how much of what we throw away could have been recycled or composted: https://www.crd.bc.ca/ service/waste-recycling/ solid-waste-management Conclusion/Discussion 1. What is the primary source of garbage for your garbage monster? Is it lunch waste? 2. Brainstorm ways to reduce the highest volume waste in your garbage monster. (See extension activities for ideas) 3. Display the garbage monster in a high traffic area to raise awareness and inspire action. 4. Before building your second garbage monster, learn about local garbage and waste reduction options: CRD 3R Hierarchy Educator s Guide available online free-ofcharge at www.crd.bc.ca/teacher Learn about the history of our garbage from 1900 to today, from burning, dumping and sanitary landfilling. Video: History of Garbage (2:02) Discover where our garbage goes. Garbage at Hartland (2:05) Register your students for an interactive workshop and tour of Hartland landfill and recycling facility online at www.crd.bc.ca/ teacher or by calling the CRD Hotline at 250.360.3030. Extension Activities 3R Hierarchy lessons and activities Graph the Goods (K-3) What s in My Lunch Activity (4-7) Waste-Free Lunch School Challenge Eco-Schools Ontario has developed useful resources for the provincewide Waste-Free Lunch Challenge which could be adapted for your class/school. http://wastefreelunch.com/ Plan Garbage-Free Events sporting events (e.g. reusable beverage containers) fundraisers (e.g. homemade bake sales) birthdays sleepovers other celebrations 6
Reduce Activity Useful Links Local Reuse, Recycle and Compost Information www.crd.bc.ca/service www.myrecyclopeida.ca compost.bc.ca www.rcbc.ca recyclinginbc.ca Contact the CRD Hotline at 250.360.3030 or hotline@crd.bc.ca Additional Resources CRD Solid Waste Stream Composition Studies Identify what materials are disposed as garbage at Hartland landfill and recycling facility. CRD Solid Waste Annual Reports These reports include information about CRD waste diversion programs and landfilled waste. https://www.crd.bc.ca/service/waste-recycling/solid-wastemanagement https://www.crd.bc.ca/service/waste-recycling/solid-wastemanagement CRD Kitchen Scraps Diversion As of January 1, 2015 kitchen scraps are restricted from our garbage. To earn more about the Regional Kitchen Scraps Strategy visit: www.crd.bc.ca/organics Did you know? Kitchen Scraps were restricted from Hartland landfill January 01, 2015. www.crd.bc.ca/organics What happens to the Kitchen Scraps at home and at school? 7
Garbage Monster Date: Name(s): Student Waste Collection # Material Type How much? (weight or number of items) Did it come from home or school? Could it be recycled or composted? plastic paper metal kitchen scraps (compostable) glass polycoat Garbage
Garbage Monster Date: Names: Student Waste Collection # 1. We collected garbage from: 2. What did you observe? Something that surprised us was A question we have is... We predict that Remember: The 3R s and C are a hierarchy. REDUCE is the most important R is because it is preventative and does not need resources to do it. The easiest product to manage is the one that is never produced. Garbage, recycling and composting all have a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) impact.
3. Fill in the chart below: Material Type Items Weight or quantity Where was it from? Could the item be...? Where could it be recycled or composted? plastic paper glass metal kitchen scrap (food waste) polycoat (juice box or milk carton) other school home reduced (avoided) reused recycled composted home school depot nowhere
Garbage Monster Summary: Our First Garbage Monster This is our garbage monster, (name) who is made of our waste collected (location) on (date). Attendance that day was. 1. Our First Garbage Monster is made up of: Material Type Common Item(s) TOTAL Weight/ Quantity Mostly from home or school? Could it be reduced, reused, recycled, composted? Where? plastic paper glass metal kitchen scraps polycoat garbage other
2. Calculate the waste composition of the first garbage monster. Material Type or Waste Type (recyclable, compostable, garbage) A: Weight or Quantity B: Garbage Monster s Total Weight or Quantity C: Waste Composition Percentage (A/B x 0=C) TOTAL: (A) (B) (C) 3. Label the garbage bin with the waste composition percentage (%) of each material in our garbage monster. 0% Did you know? The CRD conducts Solid Waste Stream Composition Studies every five years. Discover how much of what we throw away could have been recycled or composted: https://www.crd.bc.ca/service/waste-recycling/solid-waste-management
4. On average, we each made (E) of waste. Material Type or Waste Type (recyclable, compostable, garbage) A: Weight/ Quantity D: Attendance (#) E: Average amount of waste made per person ( A/D=E) TOTAL: (A) (D) (E) Future Garbage Monster 5. If we don t change our waste habits, this school year our garbage monster will be (G). Material Type or A: Material Weight/ Quantity F: School Days in a Year G: Our Garbage Monster after one year Waste Type (recyclable, compostable, garbage) (#) (A x F=G ) TOTAL: (A) (F) (G)
Garbage Monster Our Waste Reduction Goal and Plan How can we reduce the size of our garbage monster? 1. Our goal(s) is/are: 2. We predict that we can reach our goal by: 3. We will know if we have acheived our goal if: