the 3 r's dossier

7/24/2019 the 3 R's dossier

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The Rs

REuse, REduce, REcycle


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The Rs.

REuse REduce REcycle

ALL ABOUT WASTE.

Waste has been a major environmental issue everywhere since the industrial revolution. Besides the wastewe create at home, school and other public places, there are also those from hospitals, industries, farmsand other sources. Humans rely so much on material things and they all (almost) end up as waste.

And hey, where does the waste end up?

WHAT IS WASTE? TRASH, GARBAGE, RUBBISH, REFUSE)

Waste are items we (individuals, offices, schools, industries, hospitals) dont need and discard. Sometimesthere are things we have that the law requires us to discard because they can be harmful. Waste comesin infinite sizessome can be as small as an old toothbrush, or as large as the body of a school bus.

Everyone creates waste, although some people are very environmentally conscious and create very little.Likewise, some countries do a very good job creating less waste and managing the rest. Others are pret-ty horrible and have created huge environmental problems for the people and animals living there.

All over the world, communities handle their waste or trash differently. Some common methods of mana-ging their waste include landfilling, recycling and composting. Other communities strongly embark on wastereduction and litter prevention/control aimed at reducing the production of waste in the first place.

WASTE

DID YOU KNOW?

Europe creates about over 1.8 billion tonnes of waste each year. This means eachperson creates about 3.5tonnes on average.


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TYPES OF WASTE

Generally, waste could be liquid or solid waste. Both of them could be hazardous. Liquid and solid wastetypes can also be grouped into organic, re-usable and recyclable waste. Lets see some details below:

LIQUID TYPE

Waste can come in non-solid form. Some solid waste can also be converted to aliquid waste form for disposal. It includes point source and non-point sourcedischarges such as storm water and wastewater. Examples of liquid waste in-clude wash water from homes, liquids used for cleaning in industries and wastedetergents.

SOLID TYPE

Solid waste predominantly, is any garbage, refuse or rubbish that we make in ourhomes and other places. These include old car tires, old newspapers, broken fur-niture and even food waste. They may include any waste that is non-liquid.

HAZARDOUS TYPE

Hazardous or harmful wastes are those that potentially threatenpublic health or the environment. Such waste could be inflamma-ble (can easily catch fire), reactive (can easily explode), corro-sive (can easily eat through metal) or toxic (poisonous to humanand animals). In many countries, it is required by law to involve theappropriate authority to supervise the disposal of such hazardouswaste. Examples include fire extinguishers, old propane tanks, pesti-cides, mercury-containing equipment (e.g, thermostats) and lamps(e.g. fluorescent bulbs) and batteries.

WASTE

DID YOU KNOW?

In 2010, Americans generated about 250 million tons of trash and recycled and compostedover 85 million tons of this material, equivalent to a 34.1 percent recycling rate. On average,they recycled and composted 1.51 pounds out of the individual waste generation of 4.43

pounds per person per day. EPA, USA.


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The Rs.


ORGANIC TYPE:

Organic waste comes from plants or ani-mals sources. Commonly, they include foodwaste, fruit and vegetable peels, flowertrimmings and even dog poop can be classi-fied as organic waste. They are biode-gradable (this means they are easily bro-

ken down by other organisms over timeand turned into manure). Many people turntheir organic waste into compost and usethem in their gardens.

RECYCLABLE TYPE:

Recycling is processing used materials (waste) into new, use-ful products. This is done to reduce the use of raw mate-rials that would have been used. Waste that can be poten-tially recycled is termed "Recyclable waste". Aluminum prod-ucts (like soda, milk and tomato cans), Plastics (groceryshopping bags, plastic bottles), Glass products (like wineand beer bottles, broken glass), Paper products (used enve-lopes, newspapers and magazines, cardboard boxes) can berecycled and fall into this category.

WASTE

DID YOU KNOW?

Food waste includes leftover portions of meals from food preparation activities in kitchens,restaurants and fast food chains, and cafeteria. The amount of food waste generated hasincreased by 1.2 million tons in the last 25 years, this is one of the lowest increases on a

percentage basis of any component of the waste stream.


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Read the information about waste and answer the statements.

1. Waste has been a major environmental issue everywhere since the industrial revolution

A. Yes, its true

B. No, the major environmental issue is recycling.

2. Everyone creates waste, although some people are very environmentally conscious and create very

little.

A. False, not everyone creates waste.B. True, we need to be very environmentally conscious and create less waste.

3. If you want to reduce waste, what should you do?

A. Buy lots of disposable products

B. Live in the countryside

C. Buy things that you can use again and again.

4. How many types of waste are there?

A. 5, liquid, solid, hazardous, organic and recycled

B. 2, organic and recycled

C. 3, liquid, solid and hazardous

5. The amount of food waste generated has increased by _________ in the last 25 years,

A. 120 million tons

B. 1.2 million tons

C. 12 million tons

6. If you reduce waste, what happens?A. You conserve valuable resources

B. You save money

C. You help the environment

D. All of the above

7. Recycling is processing _________ into new, useful products

A. Hazardous materials

B. Solid materials

C. Used materials (waste)

D. That process is called reusing, not recycling

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WASTE
http://www.ollierecycles.com/uk/html/reduwas1.htmlhttp://www.ollierecycles.com/uk/html/reduwas1.htmlhttp://www.ollierecycles.com/uk/html/reduwas2.htmlhttp://www.ollierecycles.com/uk/html/reduwas5.htmlhttp://www.ollierecycles.com/uk/html/reduwas5.htmlhttp://www.ollierecycles.com/uk/html/reduwas1.htmlhttp://www.ollierecycles.com/uk/html/reduwas2.htmlhttp://www.ollierecycles.com/uk/html/reduwas5.htmlhttp://www.ollierecycles.com/uk/html/reduwas5.htmlhttp://www.ollierecycles.com/uk/html/reduwas5.htmlhttp://www.ollierecycles.com/uk/html/reduwas6.htmlhttp://www.ollierecycles.com/uk/html/reduwas6.htmlhttp://www.ollierecycles.com/uk/html/reduwas5.htmlhttp://www.ollierecycles.com/uk/html/reduwas5.htmlhttp://www.ollierecycles.com/uk/html/reduwas5.htmlhttp://www.ollierecycles.com/uk/html/reduwas2.htmlhttp://www.ollierecycles.com/uk/html/reduwas1.htmlhttp://www.ollierecycles.com/uk/html/reduwas5.htmlhttp://www.ollierecycles.com/uk/html/reduwas5.htmlhttp://www.ollierecycles.com/uk/html/reduwas2.htmlhttp://www.ollierecycles.com/uk/html/reduwas1.html


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theWaste Hierarchy

The 3 Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) and Disposal are organized in a hierarchy, or order of importance. The

first goal is to REDUCEthe amount of waste we generate. If we use less stuff, we reduce the amount

of waste produced.

When waste does occur, the next level in the hierarchy is to REUSEitems. The reuse of items does not

require the expense of energy or new materials because the manufacturing process is not involved.

If waste items cannot be reused, the next level is RECYCLING. For example, paper can be recycled to

produce new paper. Glass can be recycled to produce new bottles or kitchen tile. Recycling conserves

natural resources, reduces air and water pollution and saves energy.

Finally, throwing an item that cannot be recycled, DISPOSAL(Incinerator or Landfill), into the waste

bin should be our last option, as it has a negative impact on the environment and costs money.


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REDUCING TIPS

TURN OFF THE LIGHTS:If you are not using something, turn it off. Lights, CD players, compu-

ters, TV sets, and other electronics use a lot of energy. Make sure you are conserving by shutting offlights and turning off stuff that needs electricity when you are not in the room.

REDUCE

The Rs.


The best thing you could do to minimise your waste, is not creating it in the first place. By doing so, you

will be saving natural resources, reducing your negative impact in our environment, and saving money

(remember that your schools pays a fee to the Council to get your waste collected!) Some ways to

reduce waste include buying products with minimal packaging, using a cloth bag instead of paper or plastic

and buying durable products with a longer life span

Can you think about other ways to reduce waste? Discuss with your partner and write down 2 examples

about how to REDUCE. Later you will share them with the

class.

You can follow the example.What do you think

about reducing?

A good idea is to

buy dish soap in

concentrate forms

A good idea

I think than we

We should

Why not

Is to

Can

buy

avoid

use

Cloth bags

Rechargeable

In bulk

used

To do the shopping

Batteries

Of recycled materials

Rather than individual packagesinstead of new

example 1:

example 2:


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REUSING TIPS

USE CLOTH NAPKINS AND WASHABLE PLATES.When eating at home or on vacation, bring reu-

sable plates and napkins. Check to see if there is a way to wash plates and napkins when you get backhome, instead of buying paper and plastic that gets thrown away after one use.

REUSE

The Rs.


Think twice before your discard something, maybe you can use it again; or, if you no longer need it, it

may be useful for somebody else. You can reuse at your school by having scrap paper draws to use both

sides of the papers. Or donating unwanted items to a charity.

What do you think

about reusing? Why not to donateold toys to the

school nursery

A good idea

I think than we

We should

Why not

Turn off

Is to

Can

buy

donate

Use

Toys

Lights

Books

Second hand

Reusing

clothes

Books

To the hospital

The public library

after leaving a place

Ink cartridges

example 1:

example 2:

Can you think about other ways to reuse waste? Discuss with

your partner and write down 2 examples about how to REUSE.

Later you will share them with the class.

You can follow the example


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RECLICLE

Recycling is processing used materials (waste) into new, useful products. This is done to reduce the use ofraw materials that would have been used. Recycling also uses less energy and and great way of controllingair, water and land pollution.

Effective recycling starts with household (or the place where the waste was created). In many seriouscountries, the authorities help households with bin bags with labels on them. Households then sort outthe waste themselves and place them in the right bags for collection. This makes the work less

difficult.

RECYCLING IS BENEFICIAL IN MANY WAYS

INCLUDING:

Recycling helps protect the environment:

This is because the recyclable waste materials wouldhave been burned or ended up in the landfill. Pollutionof the air, land, water and soil is reduced.

Recycling conserves natural resources:Recycling more waste means that we do not dependtoo much on raw (natural) resources, which are alreadymassively depleted.

Recycling saves energy:

It takes more energy to produce items with raw materials than from recycling used materials. This meanswe are more energy efficient and the prices of products can come down.

Recycling creates jobs:People are employed to collect, sort and work in recycling companies. Others also get jobs with businessesthat work with these recycling units.

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RECYCLING TIPS

USE CLOTH NAPKINS AND WASHABLE PLATES.When eating at home or on vacation, bring reu-

sable plates and napkins. Check to see if there is a way to wash plates and napkins when you get backhome, instead of buying paper and plastic that gets thrown away after one use.

The Rs.



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1. In this first activity, use the Answer Bank below to fill in the blanks with the correct

key words. Remember, the words in the Answer Bank can only be used once, and they are

mixed up, so you have to hunt to find the right one for each blank.

Why We Already Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle Many of

you might already know that the three Rs -reduce,

reuse, and __________- are the most important

ways for kids like us to prevent our trash from

harming the Earth. When we think of ways to reuse

our stuff or when we collect it for the recycling

bin instead of throwing it in the garbage can, we

help keep our ___________(including the air, wa-

ter, and soil) healthy. For example, when we recycle,

less garbage will pile up in those big holes in the

ground, called _________

In addition, when we reuse our old things instead of buying new products, like reusing an

old jelly jar as a pencil holder, we help keep the air clean. In other words, because were

reusing our old products, factories dont have to make as many new products, which will

save energy and reduce the amount of ___________ that factories release into the

air.


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2. Name these recyclable items. Choose the names from the box.

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3.Colour the recyclables items in the boxes of this page. Then cut them out andpaste them into the proper recycling bins on the other page

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4. Lets do some practice about the 3 Rs.

THE RUBBISH CHALLENGE COMPUTER GAME

Please, read carefully the following instructions

1. In pairs choose a coputer and go to http://www.recyclezone.org.uk/

2. Go to the FUN ZONE option3. Choose the option RUBBISH CHALLENGE

4. Click on enter

5. Click on the words how to play and follow the instructions

At the end of the activity you have to complete the following table giving

viable solutions (reduce, reuse, recycle) to each of the items.

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ITEM VIABLE OPTIONS ITEM VIABLE OPTIONSCrisp packet Old magazine

Milk bottle Wine bottle

Tin can Cardboard box

Old newspaper Paper cup

Piece of fish Old toy

Eggs box

Egg shell

Cola can Empty jam jar

Old toy (car) Old t-shirt

Apple core Banana skin

Old coat Chicken leg


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5. Discuss with your partner the best answer for these ideas about taking ac-tions against waste at home and at school. Write them down. You can use morethan one if its possible.

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Some ideas on reducing, reusing and recycling waste The 3 Rs

Place scrap paper trays in every room that uses paper and promote them!

Set up double-sided printing by default in every computer.

Have a compost bin and at your school

Check if local schools, children centres, nurseries, community centres, or

other organisations need items that you do not use anymore.

Everyone will think twice before printing! Avoid printing mistakes!

Advertise your unwanted items on Internet, maybe someone can find

them a second life.

Give parents the option to receive newsletters and other school information

by email.Why not set up a mailing list to share unwanted items?

Install air hand driers rather than paper towels in toilets.

When shopping, avoid suppliers with excessive packaging, and buy in bulk.

Donate to charities and NGOs your old toys and other items to schools in

developing countries.

Too much scrap paper? Why not taking it to nursery, reception and early

years? They will be delighted to have your scrap paper!Rethink portion sizes, if children are given too much food they won't eat it

If some furniture is broken, repair it instead of replacing it when possible.

Save and share documents electronically rather than printing them.


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6. Search for the words in the list below within the puzzle. Circle each word as you find itand cross it off the list. Words can be found going in any direction in the puzzle - up, down,diagonally, across and backward!

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The Rs.


AEROSOL

ALUMINIUM

CANS

CANSCARDBOA

RD CATALOGUES

CONTAINERS EG

GCARTON

ENVELOPES

GLASS

BOTTLESGLASSJA

RS

JUICECARTONS MAG

AZINESMILKCAR

TONSPAPER

PLASTIC

BOTTLES

TOILETROLL Y

ELLOWLID


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7. Use these words to complete the dialogue between Pol and Maria. Then practice it with

your partner

Maria, can you please put the recycling out? OK, Pol, but can I put theseb _ _ _ _ _ _ and c _ _ _ into therecycling bin?

Yes, they go into the recycling bin, but rinsethem with water first and you need to take

the lids off.

Do I put the y _ _ _ _ _ _c _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ into the waste bin orthe recycling bin?

They go into the recycling bin, but rinse themwith water first. Why do I need to rinse all of these things?

Sothey dont smell for the people in therecycling factory.

The c _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ b _ _ ,n _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and m _ _ _ _ _ _ _go into the recycling bin,

dont they?Yes, they do!

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The Rs.


yoghurt containers newspaper cardboard box

bottles cans magazine


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ALUMINUM:

A light strong metal often used in packaging as foil and cans.

BACTERIA:

Micro-organisms that help break down (decompose) organic materials.

BAUXITE:

The rock/mineral ore from which aluminum is made.

BIODEGRADABLE:

Something which breaks down into simpler elements such as carbon.

CARBON:

An element that is one of the essential building blocks of life.

COMPOST:

A soil-like material made from organic waste.

COMPOSTING:

A process consisting of breaking down organic waste into a usable material.

CONSERVE:

To look after something; to care for; not using up too many resources.

CULLET:

Glass in bottle-banks collected for recycling.

DECOMPOSITION:

The rotting and break down of organic material, involving bacteria.

ECOSYSTEM:

The complex web of life linking plants, animals, humans and other life forms

and the environment they live in.

ENERGY:

The force or strength to carry out activities.

ENERGY FROM

WASTE EFW):

The process of capturing the energy released by burning (incinerating)

rubbish.

ENVIRONMENT:

The surroundings in which all plants and animals live.

FUEL:

Coal or wood are examples of fuels burnt to provide power or heat.

FURNACE:

A very hot oven or fire used to heat or melt substances such as in glass

making

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GLOSSARY


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GLOBAL WARMING:

The warming of the earths atmosphere caused by a build-up of

greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. It is partly

caused by human activity and pollution.

GREENHOUSE GASES:

Gases such as carbon dioxide and methane in the atmosphere which allow

the heat of the sun to reach the earth but slow down its escape. In-

stead the heat gets radiated back to earth.

This is called global warming.

HABITAT:

The natural home of any plant or animal.

HIERARCHY:

A list of things in order of importance or priority.

HOUSEHOLD WASTE AND

RECYCLING CENTRE:.

A site provided by a local council where the public can recycle materials

and dispose of other rubbish

IMPERMEABLE:

A substance which does not allow fluid and/or gas to pass through.

For example, a layer or lining found in a landfill site stopping liquids seep-

INCINERATOR:

A large furnace which burns waste, usually with energy being recovered.

JUNK MAIL:

Unsolicited mail sent to houses by advertisers and companies

KERBSIDE RECYCLING:

Collections picking up material at the boundary of a property or house.

LANDFILL:

A method of disposing of rubbish by putting it in holes in the ground

a landfill site.

LANDFILL SITE:

Large holes in the ground used for waste disposal.

LEACHATE:

A liquid that forms at the bottom of landfill sites as organic material

rots down.

LID

A removable or hinged cover for closing the opening, usually at the top,

of a pot, jar, trunk, etc.

LITTER:

Rubbish dropped in our streets and local environment

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GLOSSARY

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METHANE:

A colourless gas produced from rotting organic waste. A greenhouse gas.

MICRO-ORGANISMS:

Tiny creatures only seen with the help of a microscope.

MINERAL:

A naturally occurring solid substance often obtained by mining.

MRF:

Materials Recycling Facility (pronounced murf) a specialised building for

separating, processing and storing materials separated from rubbish so they

can be recycled into new products.

NATURAL:

Something occurring in nature, not human-made.

NITROGEN:

A colourless, odourless gas that forms 78% of the air..

NUTRIENTS:

Substances or food necessary for the growth of plants and animals.

ORE:

A naturally occurring rock or mineral that metals are extracted from.

ORGANIC:

Living or once living plants, animals, people (i.e. not synthetic)

ORGANISM:

A single living plant, animal, bacterium or fungus.

OXYGEN:

A colourless, odourless gas essential for respiration; also used in industry.

PACKAGING:

Paper, cardboard, plastic or glass wrappings around the things we buy.

POLLUTANTS: Substances which can damage the environment when released into it.

POLLUTION:The presence in the environment of harmful pollutants, substances or ma-

terials.

RAW MATERIALS:Materials used to make products e.g. sand to make glass, ore to make metal,

oil to make plastic and wood to make furniture.

RECYCLING:

Collecting and processing waste materials to make new products ready to

be used again.

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GLOSSARY


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RECYCLABLE:

A resource able to be recycled.

REDUCE:

To make less; to become smaller

REFUSE:

Rubbish or waste

RENEWABLE:

A resource which can renew itself or be replaced e.g. wood.

RESOURCE:

Materials, energy or substances which we use

REUSE:

Using a product more than once in the same form.

RINSE:

To wash lightly, as by pouring water over as a final stage in washing:

RUBBISH:

Materials that people no longer want or think there is no further use for

STEEL:

Metal made from iron ore steel is magnetic.

SUSTAINABILITY:

The goal of using the Earth's resources in ways that do not diminish them andallow fair shares for all for the present and future generations.

SUSTAINABLE

DEVELOPMENT:

Development which helps achieving the goal of sustainability. It does not dam-

age, or take too many natural resources; it leaves the environment in good

order for future generations.

SYNTHETIC:

Artificial fibres such as lycra and nylon, made using chemical processes.

TEXTILES:

Fabrics or materials which can be natural or synthetic

VERMIN:

Unwanted pests such as rats and pigeons

VERMICULTURE:

Composting using special worms.

WASTE:

Rubbish, refuse

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GLOSSARY


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WASTE

Looking after or controlling, collected rubbish

WASTE

Reducing the amount of waste produced.

The Rs.


GLOSSARY

the 3 r's dossier

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