Our students are very happy to learn to separate waste into recycling streams such as plastics, paper and aluminium/metals.
Why should waste be separated?
As we know, all materials have different decomposition rates. Non-organic waste such as metals, plastics, aluminum and other metals need hundred of year to decompose compared to organic waste such as leaves, paper,cardboard . So, if the garbage is going in to the landfill, these types of waste will remain for hundred years.
Sadly, most of this rubbish doesn’t actually make it to the landfill sites and it generally is discarded in our parks and gardens, or burnt off. Burning materials is not only extremely bad for the environment but for the community that breathe in this toxic smoke.
Rubbish we throw away often contains toxic materials, such as bottles of insect repellent, batteries, medicines, etc. If the garbage can be separated and handled specially, we can avoid the possibility of our environment being polluted by these toxic materials, which often end up in of waterways polluting the water we drink and the fish we eat.
Some materials that are thrown away have economic value and can be exchanged for a small amount of money at the recycling centre. Instead of throwing this trash away, we are recommended to do the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle).
Reduce – by saying NO to plastic bags and straws! THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP!
Reuse – taking plastic bags and water bottles to be reused instead of thrown away, as well as recycled plastic bottle craft.
Recycle – Taking the plastic bottles, cups and aluminium cans to the recycling centre.