7th June, 2022
How students can help protect the environment
The 3 R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Reduce, reuse, recycle is a popular slogan that encapsulates core concepts of living sustainably, and in English-speaking countries it’s often taught to school kids. The three R’s have been with us since the 1970’s and they are as relevant today as they were back then – perhaps even more so!
- Reduce: Buy and use less. Buying less not only saves you money but it reduces the amount of raw materials being taken out of the planet; it reduces the amount of water being used for production; it reduces the amount of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere from production and transport; and it also reduces the amount of trash joining landfills or entering our oceans.
- Reuse: You may not be aware of it, but single-use plastics are one of the most polluting products in the world today. By using reusable packaging such as lunch boxes and reusable water bottles and coffee mugs, you are reducing the amount of litter entering the environment. Shopping for secondhand items is a great way of reusing that reduces waste and also saves you money. If you are finished using something that could still be valuable or useful to someone else, donate it – for example to a charity store.
- Recycle: For products that have reached the end of their lives, recycle them! Recycling is the process of taking waste and turning it into something new and useful. This reduces the amount of raw materials being taken out of the planet and reduces the amount of waste. When you have the choice, pick things that are made of recycled materials or of materials that are easy to recycle after use: for example, food packaged in tin cans or glass bottles. Buy recycled materials to help support the recycling industry.
Consumerism causes huge damage to the environment. We are brainwashed by advertising companies to always buy new things. But these new things have to come from somewhere! The pillage of our planet for raw materials causes habitat loss, affects the climate, kills animals and dislocates people from their homes. So, reducing your consumer footprint by reducing, reusing and recycling is one of the best ways you can help the environment.
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