Help Your Kids Grow Up Green: Recycling

With all that we know today about the danger of overflowing landfills, it is no surprise that green is the most talked about color.  There is good reason to want to take care of the earth.  It is our home.  It provides us the ability to live.  We want it to be in good shape for future generations.  If that is to be the case, then we need to pass on the “green” ideal to the younger generations now making their way in the world.  If you have children, this is a great time to start teaching them ways to be green, and one of the easiest things kids can do is recycle.

The best place to start your efforts is right in the comfort of your own home.  Children who are taught to be eco-friendly at home are nearly twice as likely to continue that trend once out on their own, which is exactly what this generation would ask of those to come.  The first step is to prepare some recycling bins.  Many towns will provide recycling bins, which help designate which are to be handled separately when the trash collectors come through each week.  However, if your town doesn’t provide bins, it doesn’t mean that you can’t continue putting your plan in action.  Just be sure to use clear bags, or those marked with standard recycling symbol, so the trash collectors can easily decipher the recycling versus regular garbage.  In the kitchen, have a recycling bin(s) so family members have a place to toss the items to be recycled.  It is best to line the can or bin with one of those trash bags, because many bottles and cans will hold tiny amounts of liquid even after they are rinsed.  That liquid can build up quickly and is often sticky – especially if there is a soda or beer drinker in the house.

There are several items other than cans and bottles that can be recycled.  However, you may want to keep your cans and bottles separate from the rest of your recycled items if you intend to return them for the deposit money.  Aside from those, it is okay to put plastics (such as gallon jugs, juice bottles that have no deposit fee, and plastic containers), cardboard (such as pizza boxes or boxes that bulk food is often contained in), paper, glass, and aluminum cans in the recycling bin.  However, in order to be recycled, these materials must be clean.  In other words, rinse out cans, bottles, and jars.  Also, ensure that boxes are empty before being tossed in.

Some materials that cannot be placed in a recycling bin can still be separated from normal trash, in order to help do one’s part to avoid excess landfill.  Compost bins, kept in the back or side yard, can produce wonderful fertilizer for gardens and potted plants.  Plus, they provide a place to toss grass clippings, autumn leaves, fruit and vegetable peels, egg shells, coffee grounds, and many other organic materials.  This is yet another project that will encourage your children to preserve the planet.

Cans and bottles were already mentioned for their unique recycling benefit.  Many areas in this country today offer a deposit for bottles and cans returned to a store or redemption center.  It is one way that many states are standing up in defense of a cleaner world.  This is easily accomplished in the home and will likely amount to a few extra dollars to put toward the next grocery shopping trip, or to use toward a day of fun as a family.  However, there are many people who do not take advantage of this concept.  Far too many, in fact, are willing to just toss these, along with other pieces of trash, to the side of the road.  It was found that more than seventy-five percent of Americans admit to having littered in the past five years.  A large portion of that litter is made up of cans and bottles, which carry a value in many states.  In 2005, it was reported that more than one billion bottles and cans are carelessly tossed in the trash can or worse.  Those containers, had they been returned, would have accounted for a whopping two billion dollars.  While it might not make sense as a single person to go around collecting bottles and cans to make some extra money, it could be very beneficial to a community, town, school, or other organization to do a drive to make money.  You or your child could easily organize a group event where participants walked around to neighbors’ homes and along the side of the road, collecting bottles and cans for a good cause.  Many organizations have done can and bottle drives in the past with much success.

Teaching your kids about recycling, composting, and other green activities is a great way to get them thinking about being green.  Doing this can help ensure that not only will they grow up to be environmentally-concerned adults, but will also help keep our planet in good condition for generations to come.