Week 2: Sorting

The theme of this week will be proper recycling practices, particularly sorting. Sorting is important in communities that do not use single-stream recycling systems because minimal contamination makes for optimal recycled products.

Agenda:

1. Test your sorting knowledge with the coloring activity below ("Where Does It Go?").
   • If you need a hint, check out the image carousel below.
2. Watch the sorting section of the RISE Recycling video (see Week 1 page, minutes 2:37-7:00). Ask yourself: "How accurately have I been sorting?" Use the information in the RISE video to check your coloring activity.
3. Watch the RISE Student Board's "One Day of Trash" video.
   • After sorting, which pile was the largest? Which was the smallest?
   • Why do you think the items weren't sorted correctly in the first place?
   • What surprised you about this video?
   • What is the overall message behind this video?
4. Follow your educator outside for the sorting relay. Listen carefully to the rules.
   • There will be two teams, chosen randomly by the educator. Each team must line up about 20 feet away from the recycling station the educator has set up.
   • Each team will have a pile of recyclables and trash.
   • When the educator says "go," the first student in line will pick up an item from their team's pile, run over to the station, sort it, and run back. Each person in your team will take turns until your entire pile is sorted.
   • The first team to sort all of their items correctly wins.
   • If the team that finished first sorted any of the items incorrectly and the other team was 100% accurate, then the other team wins. If neither team was 100% accurate, the game ends in a draw.
   • The two teams will switch piles and repeat the relay.

Optional activity for at home: See if you can master the Zero Waste Sorting Game on the City of Davis website!

Another optional activity: Read this NPR article about the issues with single-stream recycling. "With 'Single-Stream' Recycling, Convenience Comes At A Cost." Think about the following questions:

• What is single-stream recycling?
• If single-stream recycling is easier for us than sorting, why doesn't everyone use single-stream recycling?
• Can you name all the different bins in your school recycling station?

Click through the image carousel to view examples of properly and improperly sorted waste.

1. This is an image of the contents of a trash can. Which items do not belong? Where should they go instead?
2. What about this trash can?
3. The contents of this trash can are properly sorted - except for one item. Which one?
4. These items have all been correctly sorted into an organics bin.
5. A classroom recycling station, properly sorted.

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