Teacher Earth’s 3R’s: REUSE

the greenie patch


by Jeneen R. Garcia


published July 2006


 


 


Great to see you here again, kids! Do you still remember the 3R’s all Earth-lovers must know by heart? Yup, it’s Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Last time, we talked about how we can Reduce our use of the Earth’s natural resources, and also Reduce the garbage that we throw into the landfill.


 


This time, let’s see how we can do the second Big R, Reuse.


 


“Reuse” simply means that whatever we have, we use again. Before throwing away a sheet of paper, see if you can still use the other side. If not for writing, then maybe to make paper boats or airplanes. Before asking for new pencils, check if the ones from last year just need some sharpening.


 


If you have toys, clothes or books you don’t want anymore, look around first, and you’re sure to find other kids who will want them. Giving old stuff away is reusing, too.


 


One good way to reuse is by buying reusable things like refillable pens and pencils, and rewritable CDs. These things you can reuse again and again and again. Just imagine, if everyone used these reusable products, we could reduce the garbage that goes to our landfills by hundreds, if not thousands, of tons!


 


Another thing we can reuse are containers. Tins that used to hold biscuits or chocolate are good to put things in, like balls of yarn, or crayons. Plus they look pretty on the outside. Glass jars are great for storing food. Reuse plastic bags and paper bags from the grocery to carry stuff in.


 


Ask your mom to put your snack or lunch in a hard plastic container that she can wash and use again the next day. Putting food in styro or cellophane not only adds to the garbage, it is also bad for your health. Remember, as a kid, you can help a lot by telling your mom and dad about these things.


 


Of course, not everything can be reused after some time. Once a newspaper is reused for wrapping vegetables at the market, or for a game in your party, there’s not much you can do with it anymore. That’s where the third Big R comes in: Recycle. Be here at next month’s greenie patch to find out how it’s done.

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