Don’t Throw it Away – Recycling Lessons for Kids

Just where is "away" when you throw things there?

Every Monday morning, we lug our 64-gallon trash can out to the curb for garbage pickup.  Every other week, a similar-sized recycle bin stands next to it.  We’ve come a long way in the past 40 years, but I believe we can go much farther when it comes to recycling.

When I was going up, we tossed everything into the trash- milk jugs, cardboard, soda cans and more.  Today, we instruct our kids “don’t throw it away,” but do they really know what that means or why we do it?  Have you thought about recycling lessons for kids?

One imaginative teacher specifically asked his students:

“when you throw something away, where does it go?”

In other words, where is this magical place called “away?”  Doesn’t away ever get full?  What happens if away goes away?  Then what?  Could we make do with throwing away less?

A landfill in Calgary

My kids are pretty inquisitive.  In fact, I sometimes dread driving them around because of the barrage of questions I am bound to encounter.  I like to turn the questions back to them, from time to time – just to make things interesting (and yes, to give me a break from answering so many inquiries)!

It just so happens that one of our errands regularly takes us out past the local landfill.  The land area is vast, but no one would notice it driving past because there are huge concrete walls that surround the landfill.  Even though it is pretty much invisible, I asked my kids the other day - how long do you think it will take for the landfill to get full?

Since I have four children, I got four different answers.  But all of them were pretty interesting.  “4 years.”  ”40 years.”  “Can’t they just dig deeper?” and “100,000 and 1 years.”  So, I asked them next, “how could we make sure the landfill lasts longer and they won’t have to give up more land for our garbage?”

RECYCLING!!  They all yelled together.

Here’s a great video that illustrates basic recycling lessons for kids.  Maybe your child will be inspired to start a recycling program in your neighborhood or at their school?

Code: recycle!

My children are set on the instructions about recycling the newspaper and aluminum cans.  Obviously some one other than me is teaching recycling lessons for kids!  The older two know a bit about plastic bags and other plastic materials.  Still, they were surprised to learn that our laundry detergent container could be recycled, as could the ketchup bottle.  We all took some items out of the cupboard and turned them over, looking for the recycling code on the bottom (numbered from 1-7, indicating the type of polymer).  Typically, those that are identified with a “1″ or a “2″ can be recycled.  If you are not certain, call your local recycling center.  Have a school-aged child look up the phone number.

Next time you shop, your children can help you identify plastics that can be recycled by looking on the bottom of the containers.  Kids can treat this like a scavenger hunt!  It may even help stop the “I’m bored” behavior that normally erupts at the grocery store.  Plus, they will feel very proud having done a bit to help the environment by shopping smarter.

Naturally, glass can be recycled – just make sure that it is properly separated from the rest of the recyclables.  Check about tin cans, too.  No question that soda cans should be kept out of the garbage.

Popular artist, Jack Johnson (of the Curious George soundtrack fame) as put together a catchy tune, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” that kids of all ages enjoy:

Jack Johnson had a great idea for getting across recycling lessons for kids!  Set a green message to a fun tune, and parents and children alike will be singing the praises of going green.  Make a game of it!  Challenge your kids just a bit.  Young people are especially excited about helping out.  When you explain that you are helping the entire planet by recycling, they may even pass the lesson along.  And that is something we should all dance and sing about!