Reduce Waste through Responsible Living

Discussion
Read the information provided on this page and discuss how waste reduction, proper disposal and recycling can prevent trash from turning into marine debris.

Activity
Students will determine how much trash is generated from packed lunches among the class, and then apply waste reduction principles to minimize that amount of waste.

Talk About It.
Before introducing this topic, tell the students that they will be required to bring in all the waste from their lunch (packed or purchased) to class the next day.

The next day, introduce the topic of discussion — what does reduce, reuse, recycle have to do with marine debris.

• Ocean experts report that one of the best ways to reduce marine debris is to dispose of waste properly, while reducing waste in general through reuse and recycling.
• According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in 1960 the amount of trash generated per person, per day was about 2.7 pounds. More than 40 years later, that amount has increased to about 4.6 pounds. How does the increased amount of trash affect the health of our oceans around the world?
• Fact: The EPA estimates that, currently, 30 percent of municipal solid waste is recovered and recycled or composted. 14 percent is burned at combustion facilities, and the remaining 56 percent is disposed of in landfills.
• Waste that ends up in landfills can be picked up with the wind and eventually blown into waterways. That's why it's important to reduce the amount of trash that goes to landfills.

Learn About It.
Have students bring in the waste from their lunch, as requested.

1. Weigh and record the total weight of the waste generated by the class from that day's lunch period. If desired, take a photo of the trash to record and compare it with the next day.
2. Separate the trash into categories for proper disposal, recycling or composting — paper, tin, aluminum and plastics for recycling, food waste for composting, and the remaining trash for proper disposal.
3. Discuss and review general principles of the 3 R's (see below), in the context of a packed lunch. How can students employ the 3 R's in packed lunches?
   
   
   • Reduce — Packing only what you need and no more.
   • Reuse — Using reusable utensils, cups and napkins.
   • Recycle — When using disposal items, choose products that can be recycled.
     
     
4. Introduce the activity — Use the principles of the 3 R's to reduce the amount of waste generated by the class for one day's lunch. Challenge the students to pack a lunch that generates little or no waste for the next day.
5. The next day, have the students either bring their lunches (or just the waste leftover) to class and have each student report to the class the steps they took to reduce waste.
6. Have the students weigh and record any waste from the second day's lunches. Take another photo, if desired. Compare the results with the first day. What's the difference?
7. By being more aware of the 3R's, was the class able to reduce the amount of waste it generated? If so, how much less? If no, why not?
8. Once again, separate any wastes into categories for recycling, composting and proper disposal.
9. Conclude by discussing how waste reduction and recycling can help prevent marine debris — by reducing the amount of waste overall, the potential for trash ending up in waterways is reduced.

Variation
Go a step beyond minimizing waste and challenge the students to pack a "no waste" lunch.

Activity Summary