This post is sponsored by Republic Services, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.
Growing up, we put a lot of emphasis on recycling. By definition, recycling is converting waste into something usable. Why does it matter if we recycle? If you haven’t noticed, there are a lot of people living on this planet now days, and the cumulative effort of all of us to take care of it really adds up!
Not only does recycling make the planet a better place to live (not just for us, but also for our future generations), but it also makes you feel good knowing that you’re doing your part in helping the environment. So how can we demonstrate the importance of recycling to our kids? It’s actually much easier than it sounds. Today we’re covering five different recycling ideas for kids to have fun while recycling.
- Sorting – If there’s anything that kids love to do as much as playing, it’s sorting. Not only is it educational for them, but they can also learn the value of recycling while they’re doing it. Grab a few paper bags and label them with “Cans”, “Plastic”, “Glass” and “Paper/Cardboard”. From there, your child can sort your recycling bin into each of the bags. Not only does it teach them to learn material but it also teaches them what can and cannot be recycled.
- Visit a Recycling Center – If you’re feeling ambitious and up for a little travel, why not take a little trip to your local recycling center? Republic Services has over 91 recycling center locations, so you have a good chance to find one near you. Bring your newly sorted recycling and show the kids where their recycling goes next!
Republic Services Recycling Center (Inver Grove Heights, MN)
- Use What You Have – Next time your child asks for a new toy, or an activity to do, hop onto Pinterest and see what you can make together using items that you already have in your recycle bin for some fun recycling ideas. There have been countless times when I’ve pulled together a few toilet paper rolls and some cardboard and made marble runs or musical instruments on a whim and they ended up playing with them for hours!
- Create a Game – Throughout the week, you can play “Is this recyclable?” Whenever you have an object that you’re done with. Is it waste or is it recyclable? It will help your child make the distinction the next time you use that same object and he/she will know what to do with it from now on.
- Decorate Your Bins – If you want to keep them busy for a while, give the kids the opportunity to decorate your recycling bins. Print out and cut out an example of the objects that go in each bin, and then allow your kids to tape it onto a bin and decorate the rest of it as they see fit. Not only will they know which item goes where, but they’ll also take pride in the fact that they helped to distinguish those bins too! Not only that but it also helps you organize your home for recycling – double win!
On our tour of Republic Services here in Minnesota, we learned a few tips on what exactly is recyclable and what isn’t. I was really surprised as to some of the things that people tried to recycle, and even more surprised by items that I had thought might be recyclable but are not.
Let’s take a look at acceptable things you can recycle.
Acceptable recycling items include:
- Newspaper
- Envelopes
- Magazines
- Poster Board
- Frozen Food Boxes
- Cardboard Boxes
- Milk Cartons
- Water/Soda Containers
- Food Cans
- Glass Food Jars
- Scrap Metal
- Aluminum Cans
- and similar type items.
The following include some of the things you should NOT recycle, including:
- Appliances
- Batteries
- Bubble Wrap
- Plastic Bags
- Rubber Balls
- Styrofoam
- Baby Food Pouches
- Wood/Yard Waste
- Tires
- Stuffed Animals
- Food Waste
- Waxed Cartons
- and more similar items.
In the image above, you see two different photos of what is recyclable. The first photo (in the “Yes” column) shows cardboard, wine bottles, plastic containers, junk mail, detergent containers and more. Each of these items is rinsed and thus not contaminated, meaning they are all recyclable.
In the second image, you’ll see items that have gone through the recycling bin that should NOT be recycled. This includes dirty diapers, car rotors, power tools, oil, toys, clothes hangers, and lots more. Another rule of thumb is if it is smaller than a credit card, it can’t be recycled as the machines can’t typically sort items that small.
I hope these easy ways to recycle help you to teach the importance of recycling to your children! It can be a lot of fun teaching them some neat ways to live an eco-friendly lifestyle. If you want to learn more about recycling or need some fun facts or videos to show the kids along the way, check out Republic Services’ “We Work for Earth” website for some fun content to share with them!
This post is sponsored by Republic Services, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.
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That’s right, Teaching children to recycle and collect garbage is a very important and brave thing. It’s a pity that not everyone is worried about the situation in the world.