Too Good to Waste!

1. Too Good to Waste!

2. What is Garbage? • Commonly, it is the stuff we throw away • A.K.A: rubbish, waste, trash, refuse

3. What’s in Our Garbage?

4. How Much Do We Create? • Each person generates ~ 2.7 kg of garbage each day • Together, Canadians produce more than 31 million tonnes of garbage each year That’s roughly the same volume of piling up 31 million average family cars!

5. Where Does it Go? • Approximately 67.2% of Canada’s 31 million tonnes of garbage is disposed of in a landfill • A landfill is a large area of land or an excavated site that is specifically designed and built to receive garbage • Canada has over 10,000 landfill sites

6. The Problem More People + More Garbage = Less Available Landfill Space

7. The Solution Garbage = RESOURCE

8. The 3Rs REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE

9. Reduce • To decrease the amount of garbage produced • Reduce paper use by using both sides • Pack your lunch in reusable containers • Purchase products with recycled content • Use cloth bags when shopping

10. Reuse • To extend the product by using it again, repairing it, or creating new uses for it • Donate clothes, toys and other goods to local charities • Reuse jars and containers for storage • Use the coloured comics to wrap gifts • Purchase durable products that can be repaired and reused

11. Recycle • Collecting and reprocessing already manufactured materials into either the same product or something different • Recycle in the garden by composting organics • At home, use recycling services set up by your municipality • When shopping consider the material that the item is made from and packaged in. Only purchase materials that can be recycled

12. Get Involved • Register for Waste Reduction Week in Canada at www.wrwcanada.com • Plan Waste Reduction Week activities in your school • Complete a classroom waste audit • Hold a litterless lunch day • Challenge another class to a waste free day • Let your community know what you are doing