Every school day, we passed by the barangay hall. In front of the hall are two gigantic wire containers for plastic and glass bottles. Yes, it is a local initiative where the locals—us—may place their trash on these containers for recycling.
My younger daughter would ask me what those are and what they are for. I have no idea; all I know is it is for recycling.
When she got home, she asked me why we must recycle. I told her that resources are not finite. Those dystopian movies that we binge-watch on Netflix would come true if we were not mindful of how we use the available resources in our surroundings.
FAQs about recycling
Here is an FAQ about recycling.
What is recycling?
Recycling is the process of collecting, sorting, and processing used materials or waste into new products.
Why do we need to recycle?
We need to recycle to reduce the consumption of raw materials, energy usage, and the overall environmental impact associated with the production of new goods. By diverting materials from landfills and incinerators, recycling helps conserve resources, decrease pollution, and contribute to the creation of a more sustainable and environmentally friendly society. Commonly recycled materials include paper, glass, plastic, metal, and electronic waste.
What are the simple ways to recycle at home?
Recycling at home can be made simple and convenient. Here are some easy ways to incorporate recycling into your daily routine.
1) Set up recycling bins
Place labeled recycling bins in easily accessible areas of your home. Designate separate bins for paper, plastic, glass, and metal. This makes it simple for everyone in the household to sort recyclables.
2) Know what’s recyclable
Familiarize yourself with the recycling guidelines in your area. Different locations may have specific rules about what can and cannot be recycled. Check with your local recycling facility or municipality for information.
3) Create a composting system
Set up a composting system for organic waste such as fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, and eggshells. Composting reduces the amount of organic matter sent to landfills and creates nutrient-rich soil.
4) Donate unwanted items
Instead of discarding usable items, consider donating them to local charities, schools, or community centers. This extends the life of the product and reduces the need for new manufacturing.
5) Buy recycled products
Support the recycling industry by purchasing products made from recycled materials. Look for items with recycling symbols or labels indicating they are made from recycled content.
The question remains: How do you teach your kids to recycle (when you do not recycle yourself)?
Well, obviously, I suck at explaining things. But I am clever enough to use games I found online to teach them how to recycle. Here are the games I let them play to get a good grasp of the concept of recycling.
Online children’s games about recycling
1) Sort the Trash
Sort the Trash is a fun game, and the instructions are straightforward. You just have to drag the recycle bin to collect the recyclables. You need to avoid the contaminators to keep playing.
Here are the recyclable items:
Here are the non-recyclable items:
There are tips as you go along the way.
The game is over once you exhausted your three lies.
2) Twin the Bin
Twin the Bin is like the first one, but you have to move your cursor to catch whatever is asked.
Select the character first.
This is your task.
You have three minutes to play, though what you need to collect may change throughout the game. This is called the New Wave.
The trash falls faster as you play within the three-minute frame.
All in all, you have to collect organic, paper, and glass.
3) Treehouse Troubles
Treehouse Troubles is a heavily interactive game. It has a story that revolves around the downtown you must follow.
Instructions are given as you go.
After that, you need to move on to another treehouse to fix.
For every block that you do not, you put it on the recycler. And you need to fill the recycling meter to complete the task (build or recycle).
The player is rewarded a medal for each task completed.
So, while the concepts presented are basic, she now knows what recycling is and what can be recycled.
These are simple games that deliver on their purpose. I want teachers to discover this website and use the games there to teach science concepts such as recycling.
Anyhow, gamification inside the classroom is one of the most essential strategies in this digital age.
Jenv T Corre's Wall 