Hey kids! Did you know that waste isn't just smelly garbage? It's all the stuff we throw away, and there are some really surprising facts about it! Thinking about waste is super important because it helps keep our planet clean and healthy for everyone.
Wow! Look at All That Waste!
Sometimes, we throw away a lot more stuff than you might think. Big numbers can be hard to imagine, but here are some facts that show just how much waste there can be:
- Cups, Cups, and More Cups! Imagine a stack of cups reaching to the moon and back – maybe even further! Each year, people in America throw away 25 trillion Styrofoam cups. That's a HUGE number of cups that often just get buried in the ground.
- Diaper Mountain! Think about all the babies in Britain wearing diapers. In Britain, over 9 million "nappies" or disposable diapers, are used every single day! That's a lot of diapers that become waste every 24 hours!
- Newspaper Nuisance! Many newspapers can be recycled into new paper, but sometimes they don't make it to the recycling bin. Every Sunday, Americans waste 90 percent of recyclable newspapers. That means most of those papers that could become something new end up in the trash instead.
But Here's Some Good News About Recycling!
Recycling is like magic – it turns old trash into new treasures! It helps save resources and makes less waste.
- Paper Power! Did you know that when you recycle paper, it can be used to make new paper? It's true! More than 1/3 of all fiber used to make paper comes from recycled paper. That means recycling helps save trees!
Why Waste Is a Problem (Simply Put)
When we throw things away, they often go to a big place called a landfill. Landfills take up a lot of space, and some waste can hurt the Earth, water, and air. Reducing, reusing, and recycling helps make less trash go to the landfill.
You Can Help! The 3 R's!
You have the power to be a Waste Warrior and help our planet! Just remember the 3 R's:
- Reduce: Use less stuff in the first place! Maybe use a reusable water bottle instead of buying plastic ones, or bring your own bag to the store.
- Reuse: Use things again and again instead of throwing them away. You can turn old jars into art supplies holders or use both sides of a piece of paper.
- Recycle: Put things like paper, plastic bottles, glass jars, and metal cans into the recycling bin so they can be made into new things. Remember the awesome fact that recycled paper helps make new paper!
Be a Waste Champion!
By thinking about the 3 R's, you can make a big difference in how much waste we create. Every little bit helps keep our world clean and green!
