Recycle Right

Artist info:
Name: Annika L.
Grade: 4

A Simple Habit With A Powerful Impact

LEARN

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Students will:

  • Understand the difference between recyclable, compostable, and landfill materials
  • Learn how to correctly sort everyday waste items
  • Develop habits that support school- and community-wide recycling efforts
  • Gain communication skills to advocate for proper recycling
 WHAT TO DO

Encourage students to practice proper recycling by engaging in hands-on activities and critical thinking exercises. Suggested activities include:

  • Conduct a “Sorting Challenge” to classify items into bins: recycle, compost, trash
  • Design posters that explain what can and cannot be recycled at school/home
  • Create a short video or skit showing the consequences of recycling mistakes
  • Track classroom recycling contamination rates over a week and report improvements
  • Organize a “Recycle Right Week” with daily challenges
 WHY IT MATTERS

Recycling right isn’t just about tossing something in a blue bin–it’s about reducing contamination and improving the entire recycling system.

  • Contaminated recycling often ends up in landfills
  • Many items (e.g. greasy pizza boxes, plastic utensils) look recyclable but aren’t
  • Recycling correctly reduces waste, conserves natural resources, and saves energy
  • When done right, recycling supports jobs in the circular economy
  • By learning to recycle properly, students contribute to a cleaner, more efficient waste system
 THE SCIENCE BEHIND IT
  • Different materials (plastic, paper, glass, metal) require specific sorting and processing methods
  • Contaminants (like food residue) can ruin entire batches of recycling
  • Recycled materials are used to create new products–reducing the need for virgin resources
  • Compostable items break down naturally and return nutrients to the soil, unlike most plastics
  • Listening to recycling guidelines from local haulers or MRFs (Materials Recovery Facilities) ensures what you recycle actually gets processed

DO

 Improving The Curriculum

Design Posters

  • Turn creativity into change by designing posters that spark awareness of Earth on Us actions
  • Show Us Your Creativity: Inspire Real Change
    • Design a poster and show the world how small actions can make a big difference! Your creativity can help spark a movement of everyday Earth-friendly action!

Design Badges

  • Create meaningful badges that symbolize commitment to protecting our planet
  • Show Us Your Creativity: Inspire Real Change
    • Design a badge and show the world how small actions can make a big difference! Your creativity can help spark a movement of everyday Earth-friendly action!

Create Videos

  • Share powerful stories through short videos that move people to act
  • Show Us Your Creativity: Inspire Real Change
    • Create a video and show the world how small actions can make a big difference. Your creativity can help spark a movement of everyday Earth-friendly action!
    • Submit this video to competitions such as the Scholastic Arts and Writing Awards to inspire even more people!

Create Mobile Apps

  • Build fun, engaging apps and games that encourage Earth-friendly habits
  • Show Us Your Creativity: Inspire Real Change
    • Create a mobile app and show the world how small actions can make a big difference. Your creativity can help spark a movement of everyday Earth-friendly action!
    • Submit this mobile app to competitions such as the Congressional App Challenge to inspire even more people!

IMPACT REPORT

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