Start by watching this

It's hard to find a short video with exactly what I would want to say. The video, The Story of Stuff, that's the first thing I ever posted, says it best. This video unfortunately leaves out Composting, which is referred to as Rot. I like everything else this video talks about.

We need to go beyond just talking about Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. We also need to talk about the importance of the order. Recycling is not the answer, it's the last ditch attempt to keep things out of the landfill. We need to focus more on what comes before.

Refuse: You have to actively refuse that you don't need, especially sing use plastics. It's a new habit I'm still working on myself. People still think I'm weird when I say no straw. Every time you refuse single use plastic, even just a little straw, you are making a difference. It's worth it.

Reduce: Reduce how much stuff you buy, how much packaging (especially plastic) that stuff comes in, and also how much water and energy you use at home. I've switched to products based on packaging

Reuse, Repair, Repurpose: All have the same goal, extending the life of an item instead of throwing it away.

Recycle: I have a hierarchy of recycling which is also how I choose product packaging. 1. Paper and Aluminum are best, 2. Glass (I often reuse the jars), 3. Highly recyclable plastics, 4. everything else. Not everything you think is being recycled

Rot: We've talked about composting before. Reduce greenhouse emissions for landfills, don't fill up landfills, create beautiful rich soil

This year, we can clearly see the effects of climate change. It causes more extreme weather. Watch the short video to learn about the basics of what climate change is.

The fashion industry as it is now is killing the Earth and exploiting millions of people. We need to change our relationship to clothing.

I have started making my own clothes, upcycling old clothes, and repair clothes instead of throwing them away. Buying second hand clothes is another great way to help solve this global crisis.

Electronic waste is polluting the planet and putting people in dangerous situations.

• Don't throw out your electronics

• Try to buy second hand

• Find a responsible recycler

Keep food out of landfills

Save space in expensive landfills

Stop dangerous greenhouse gases from forming

Watch the video to learn about composting, turning food scraps into useable, rich soil

Check out our very own City Composting Pilot Program. Talk to your parents about starting to collect food scraps at home.

You know that water is vital to life on Earth. We have a limited amount of clean fresh water on the planet. Our area often experiences dry seasons where we need to restrict our water usage even more. Everyone can help reduce how much water we use daily with some easy habits.

1. Turn of the water while you are soaping up your hands for 20 seconds.

2. Turn off the water while you are brushing your teeth.

3. Take shorter showers and turn off the water while you are soaping up.

4. Notice dripping faucets and notify whoever is in charge about the issue.

5. Ask you parents if you can place a filled water bottle in the tank of the toilet.

During this time I haven’t always been able to avoid plastic bags. I make sure they are clean and dry and save them up to drop off at my grocery store. Also during this time some stores have stopped collecting plastic bags. My @wincofoods still does, so does Kroger. I even collect bags from my grandparents and mom to take. There’s more than just plastic bags that you can take. I check every thin plastic item for recycle symbols. My second picture shows the mix of what I had in my current bag.

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Thin plastic to recycle at the store drop off:

Bags.

Case wrap (think what toilet paper comes wrapped in)

Bubble wrap.

Plastic mailers (remove label, I usually end up cutting them off)

Those air pockets used in shipping.

Bags inside food boxes, like cereal.

Some frozen vegetable or fruit bags (check for symbol)

Plastic packaging film with symbol (like the stuff IKEA will use as wrapping in their products)

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Remember to remove receipts and stickers. I will rinse out food bags and hang them upside down from a magnet clip on my fridge. Might seem tedious at first, but now it’s habit and just part of my everyday.

I didn't learn this until last 2019.

To recycle foil: clean it, dry it, gather it into a ball. When you have a ball as big as a soda can, then put it into your blue bin.

Remember that some candy comes wrapped in foil like Hershey Kisses. You can even save up those little bits to recycle.

Also, when I have really sturdy foil, I'll wash and reuse it.

Write to companies letting them know what you think they should do that can help the environment.

Example: stop using Styrofoam, make straws and utensils ask for only items, switch to compostable containers

1. Tell them why you like the company

2. Tell them what is the reason you are writing, what's the problem

3. Give them a solution

4. Thank them for their time

5. Follow up

Find the contact us page on their website

Americans throw away an extra 25% of trash during the holidays

Reduce what gets thrown away:

Most wrapping paper is not recyclable and tissue paper isn't, instead of putting it in the trash, keep to to reuse for other purposes: packing material for shipping boxes, material for art making