Waste Reduction & Recycling
What's the problem?
The EPA estimates the US generates over 292.4 million tons of solid waste per year. Food waste continues to be a big problem. An estimated 63 million tonnes of food was wasted in 2018. According to the EPA, “more food reached landfills and combustion facilities than any other single material in our everyday trash.” The biggest problem facing the recycling movement is contamination by non-recyclables. Prior to 2018, the US relied on sending its contaminated recycled products to China. There, a portion of the waste would be used in manufacturing plants and the other portion deemed “beyond decontamination” would end up in the ocean. When China stopped accepting imports of these contaminated recyclables, the US was faced with a rude awakening. It had to adapt its domestic recycling processes to manage the excess of recyclable goods. Most cities were unable to adapt and therefore retracted funding for their recycling plants. Instead, they resorted to burning an alarming amount of recyclable products.
Why should we care?
According to the EPA, about 62% of materials, including food, paper, cardboard, textiles, and plastics, that enter a landfill could easily be recycled or composted. If items were correctly recycled, we could potentially divert more than half of what ends up in a landfill. Too much waste poses problems through increased air pollution, groundwater contamination, and reduced biodiversity. When food waste is dumped in a landfill, for example, it rots and releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas. In many cases, waste also ends up being dumped into the ocean. This marine pollution has become a global issue. The World Wildlife Fund estimates that 100,000 marine mammals are killed by plastic pollution every year. The improper disposal of hazardous waste also affects the water itself and surrounding soil and air. Our economy and way of life are both heavily reliant on the health of the ocean. A healthy ocean is a necessity for a healthy planet and the UN has set the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas, and marine resources as its 14th Sustainable Development Goal.
What can we do?
Effectively dealing with our solid waste plays a large part in helping the environment. In addition to starting a recycling initiative, education on what can and cannot be recycled is important. Miami-Dade County’s website is a good resource for how you should be recycling. Dream In Green’s Recyclepedia is another great recycling resource for Miami-Dade County residents. Remember, when in doubt, throw it out into the garbage. As a school or community, you can complete a beach cleanup. You can also request your school’s cafeteria to include biodegradable utensils in cutlery packets. Composting either at home or through a program at school can also greatly reduce our food waste. Lastly, we can support companies that are limiting or banning the use of plastics in their products and spread the word about what can be done to minimize plastic pollution in our oceans.
Green Schools Challenge Activities:
STE(A)M Activity - Pitch to Ditch Plastic
CREATE YOUR OWN - Submit Lesson Plan click here
Schools can choose to do more than one activity but maximum amount of points a school can earn for this topic is the same. Points for participation will be based on a rubric. Download here.
