6 Ways To Teach Your Children More About Reduce, Reuse And Recycle

As the native proverb goes, “We did not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrowed it from our children.”

In 2020, the amount of waste that we generated is 5,880,000 tonnes. This is a significant drop from the past few years from 2016-2019 where the average amount of waste generated is about 7,500,000 tonnes. While this could be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, our overall waste generated decreased for the 4th consecutive year since 2017. This is a good sign and shows that our recycling efforts have not been in vain.

However, this does not mean that we can be complacent but, in fact, continue to reduce, reuse and recycle to keep up with the good records we have over the past few years.

What are the 3 Rs?

Reduce is to make smaller or less in amount, degree or size. This means reducing the amount of waste that we generate or reducing the amount of materials and goods we consume.

Reuse refers to using the items more than once instead of throwing it away after one use.

Recycling is the action of the process of converting waste into reusable materials. This reduces the need to get new raw materials to make new items, preserving the planet’s resources.

What is the importance of the 3Rs?

1. Reduces Landfill

When we recycle, old materials used are processed to make new products. As a result, the amount of rubbish being sent to the landfills is being reduced. In a similar vein, when we reuse our old items, we reduce our need to buy new things. This can help reduce the number of things that are sent to the landfills.

According to the Straits Times in 2020, Singapore’s one and only landfill that has been in operation since 1999, will run out of space by 2035 if no action is taken. This is only 14 years from now. This shows the pressing need for us to embark on this recycling journey.

2. Save Energy

Here is the pathway that our trash after we have disposed of it.

After throwing our waste down the rubbish chute, the waste is then transported to waste-to-energy plants via was collectors. The waste is then being sent for incineration, where the volume is reduced by up to 90%. Useful materials, such as copper and aluminium are first recovered from the incineration ashes. After which, the remaining ashes are then transferred to Semakau Landfill via tugboat. Large excavators and dump trucks then unload the waste on Semakau Landfill from the tugboats.

This shows that a lot of resources and energy is used to process and transport this waste. By reducing our waste, we can reduce the amount of energy used to process these wastes.

3. Save our Environment

Recycling reduces the need to extract, refine and process raw materials, which causes air and water pollution in the process. This also reduces greenhouse gas emissions to help slowdown climate change. As a whole, recycling, reducing and reusing can help save our environment.

6 Ways to teach them how to reduce, reuse and recycle

1. Field trips to recycling plants

“Seeing something once is better than hearing about it a hundred times” – Lisa See

Instead of telling them about the landfills and recycling plants in Singapore, why don’t you bring them on a field trip to see those things themselves.

Join a tour and take them to view the one and only landfill of Singapore. You can click the link here to join this tour agency that offers this tour.

Another great place to go for a visit is the NEWater visitor centre. Over there, one can get a better understanding of how our country recycles our waste water via reverse osmosis to maintain a sustainable source of water. This is Singapore’s very own innovation and definitely a place that is worth a visit.

For more information on what you must do to visit this site, you can click on the link here.

2. Become a role model for your children

Becoming a role model is the best way to teach your child how to get started on recycling. Simple actions, such as switching off the lights, air-con or fan after they leave the room, using recyclable bags during shopping or turning off the water when soaping themselves.

Though these actions may seem insignificant, your child can easily pick up these good habits from you. This helps your child get started on reducing, reusing and recycling in the long run.

3. Educate them about climate change through books and documentaries

It is very hard for one to visualize the consequences and effects of climate change. This can be helped with books and documentaries.

For movies and documentaries to introduce them with, you can click the link here. 

4. Motivate them

To encourage them to keep up with environment-friendly ways, do a score system with them and reward them at the end. This helps them feel motivated to keep up with these actions, allowing them to create good environmentally-friendly habits.

5. Teach them about how to get started

Start with something small and explain the rationale behind these actions. This will allow them to better understand what they are doing and are more likely to carry them out. For example, remind them to turn off the tap when they are brushing their teeth. This prevents water from running unnecessarily, reducing their water wastage.

6. Embark on environmentally-friendly projects with them

Students often have a lot of unwanted uniforms and books after they graduate. Work with them how to recycle these items. It can be as simple as following them to a donation drive to donate their own clothes, to something more adventurous, such as embarking on a project that repurposes their old books and clothes.

For more ideas on what you can do with them, you can refer to our articles here.

No matter how small and insignificant an action may seem, it can still make a difference. Let us all do our part to save the environment today!

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