The document discusses waste reduction efforts at East Fairhaven School. It explains that producing too much trash is a big problem and outlines the 3Rs - reduce, reuse, recycle. Specific ways students can help are separating waste in the correct bins in the classroom and cafeteria, bringing reusable containers to school, and collecting items for terracycle recycling. The goal is to cut down on trash and protect the environment.

1. East Fairhaven School GREEN TEAM

2. GARBAGE

3. What’s the problem? The mountains of garbage we create are a big problem for the planet. Most of our trash is taken to a landfill where it gets buried We produce to much trash/waste and will run out of places to put it.

4. Trashing the Planet Litter bugs One of the biggest worries is that some garbage such as batteries, hairspray, and plastics, release toxic, or poisonous substances. These can escape into the air or leak into the soil and pollute the water that runs underground. Some of this ground water flows into rivers, harming wildlife. Our drinking water can get polluted too. Even the smallest actions add up and can make a difference.

5. Reduce Reuse Recycle Fight waste at school! Waste is a problem. Fortunately there are things that we can all do about it. We call these the 3Rs - reduce, reuse and recycle . Reduce means cut the amount of stuff you use in the first place so that you have less to throw away Reuse means use things again (and again and again) Recycle means using things that have already been used, to make new things

6. Reduce Reuse Recycle Reduce means avoiding creating waste in the first place and is an even better thing to do than reusing or recycling . Examples of waste reduction include buying items with less packaging and not replacing items until really necessary. Other example includes using reusable water bottles & sandwich containers at school, using reusable bags instead of plastic at the store.

7. Reuse Reusing means using something again, either for the same purpose or for something completely different. Examples include repairing electrical goods when they go wrong instead of throwing them away, donating items you no longer need/want to someone else to use, reusing boxes & other plastic containers. Reduce Reuse Recycle

8. Recycle Recycling means using things that have already been used to make new things. This can involve turning the old material into a new version of the same thing or materials can be recycled into something completely different, for example plastic can be recycled to make soft fleece jackets. Reduce Reuse Recycle

9. How can we help? In the classroom Always use both sides of a piece of paper, before you recycle it or throw it away. Make sure that every classroom has a 'scrap' paper tray and put paper that has only been used on one side into this, rather than putting it straight in the bin or sending it off for recycling. The paper can then be used for 'rough work’. Another good place for one of these scrap trays is by the photocopier! Recycle ALL Paper and Cardboard in the labeled bins

10. How Can We Help? In the Cafeteria Reduce : Aim towards 'waste-free lunches’ if you bring a packed lunch. Use reusable bottles and flasks for drinks instead of individual cartons or cans. Use reusable airtight containers for snacks and packed lunches instead of disposable wrappers.

11. How Can We Help? In the Cafeteria Reduce : Buy snacks with less packaging on them, for example, an apple or instead of individual package of pretzels buy a big bag of pretzels at the store and then putting a few pretzels in your reusable airtight container rather then individual bags.

12. How Can We Help? In the Cafeteria & Classroom Separate your waste in the correct bins: Terracycle , Paper, Plastic/Glass/Aluminum , and Trash .

13. How Can We Help? In the Cafeteria & Classroom Recycle Plastic/Glass/Aluminum barrel in cafeteria will have soapy water in the bottom to rinse items

14. How Can We Help? In the Cafeteria & Classroom Recycle Paper classroom bins will be emptied every morning by “Green Team” workers.

15. How Can We Help? In the Cafeteria and Classroom Upcycle Juice containers need to be squeezed out in liquid barrel/classroom sink. No juice BOXES for terracycle, only pouches. Peel-able lids need to be removed from yogurt, pudding, jello & applesauce containers & thrown in trash. Only ELMERS glue containers can be collected. All brands of other terracycle items are accepted. The cardboard of lunchkits goes in with paper, the rest goes in terracycle.

16. How Can We Help? In the Cafeteria Trash

17. How Can We Help? At Home: Encourage your parents to get you reusable containers for lunch. Make sure you recycle these things at home. The town collects all of the same paper, plastic, aluminum & glass from your house when they pick up your trash. Make sure your family is separating them from the regular trash. Bring in terracycle items from home and deposit them in the schools terracycle bins. We earn money for the school by collecting these items!

18. Questions and Ideas What are examples of things that would go in these bins? Are there other items you are unsure about? What are some other things we could do to reduce, reuse and recycle?"