What is waste?
In this article you can learn about:
- What waste is
- How we can reduce or recycle waste
This resource is suitable for sustainability topics for primary school learners.
Video - What is waste?
In this video, join Albert the alien to learn about waste and how we can reduce, reuse and recycle waste.
Albert! You can't just chuck your waste away like that. You should recycle.
When we recycle, we sort our waste into different materials. So, Albert's baked bean can gets split into metal and food waste.
Our food waste can be put on a compost heap. Microorganisms break down the food and turn it into compost, which were used to help plants and vegetables grow.
The metal from the can, meanwhile, is cleaned, melted down to be made into large blocks and then rolled out to be remade into new products like new cans or packaging.
On the other hand, you can always reuse something again, instead of throwing it out straight away. Here, the limit is really only your imagination. Just make sure you use your common sense and, er, wash everything before reusing it.
How you can reduce waste
Waste is rubbish that is thrown in the bin or recycled. Recycle your rubbish so it can be made into something new. Paper, plastic, metal and food waste can all be recycled.
Rinse it first and make sure you put it in the right bin. Different coloured bins are for different types of waste.
You can reuse waste to turn it into something new.
Cereal boxes can be used for art projects. A glass jar can be used to collect spare change.
Reduce the amount of waste you create. Instead of wrapping sandwiches in cling film or foil, use a small, reusable lunch box or an empty butter tub.
Fill in the gaps
Try this activity to check how much you know about recycling and reusing waste.
More to learn about waste and sustainability
Food waste. revision-guide
Find out more about food waste in this article
Materials and resources. list
Learn about the impact of different materials and how we can use them more sustainably.
How can we live more sustainably? revision-guide
Find out what sustainability means, why it matters and how to make sustainable choices.
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