Recycling involves processing used materials so they can be used again. It is important because it reduces the use of raw materials and energy, lowers pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The document defines recycling and composting and discusses the importance of the three R's - reduce, reuse, recycle - in waste management. Common recyclable items include metals, glass, plastics, paper, electronics, and some compostable food waste.

1. Recycling

2. What is recycling?
Why is it important to all of us?

3. Definition
— To recycle: to treat or process used
materials or waste so we can use
these materials again
— This stops us from wasting useful
materials

4. Recycling is
important
because…
— It reduces the
number of fresh raw
materials we use
— It reduces the
amount of energy
we use
— It reduces air
pollution
— It reduces water
pollution
— It lowers the amount
of greenhouse gases

5. Did you know….
During your lifetime, you will produce so much trash that it
will weigh 600 times as much as you. This would fill many
trucks.

6. Examples of
Recycling
u Reusing plastic bags
when you go to the
supermarket
u Recycling paper so it
can be processed and
used again
u Melting food cans
made from steel and
making them into new
food cans
u Instead of throwing
away uneaten food, you
can compost it

7. Compost
— Compost is an
earthlike material. It
forms when organic
materials biodegrade
(are broken down by
worms and bacteria).
— Compost is great to
use in your garden: it
returns nutrients to
the soil and helps
your plants to grow.

8. What do you think we can
recycle?

9. We Can Recycle…
— COMPOST
— METALS
— GLASS
— PLASTICS
— PAPER

12. What Can We NOT
Recycle?

14. You can help by
learning about
and practicing
the “three R’s”
of waste
management

15. Reduce
— Reduce/Reduction:
to make something
smaller or use less.
The result is a smaller
amount of waste.
HOW
— Only buy what you
need, and use everything
that you buy
— Buy products that don’t
have much plastic
packaging and buy
things like recycled
paper
— Use reusable bags at
supermarkets

16. Reuse
You can "reuse"
materials in their
original form instead
of throwing them
away. You can also
give materials to
others who could use
them after you.
HOW
• Use washable cups or
travel mugs
• When you use things like
plastic cups, plates, and
plastic food storage bags,
don't throw them away!
Wash and reuse them.

17. Recycle
Remember the
things you use
every day that
you can
recycle!!
— Aluminum cans
— Cardboard
— Electronics
— Glass
— Metal
— Newspaper
— Paper
— Plastic Bottles
— Steel cans

18. How Are Materials
Recycled?
— Materials are either
brought to a center
that collects recycled
materials OR they are
picked up from
recycling bins that are
on the streets
— The materials are then
sorted, cleaned and
reprocessed into new
materials

19. Vocabulary
— RECYLATE – a raw material that is sent to and processed so it can be used to form new products
— LANDFILL – where trash is buried between layers of earth
— COMPOST – decayed organic material that is used to help plants grow
— WASTE MANAGEMENT – the process of dealing with waste of humans and animals
— RE-MANUFACTURING – rebuilding, repairing and restoring materials so they can be used
again
— COLLECTION CENTER – a place where recyclable waste is collected and sorted for processing
— BIODEGRADABLE WASTE – waste such as food or garden waste
— GREENHOUSE EFFECT – the warming of Earth’s surface and the air above it. It is caused by
gases in the air that trap energy from the sun.
— GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS – Any of the gases that take part of the greenhouse effect:
examples are carbon dioxide, methane and water vapor

20. Recycling Video
— https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=w1l8HXa3HLk

21. Discussion Questions
1. Why is recycling important to learn about?
2. How do you take part in the three R’s of waste
management?
3. Why is the greenhouse effect a bad thing?
4. What did you learn today about recycling that you
did not know before?
5. What can we do to make recycling even easier?