As kids, parents, and teachers prepare for the new school year, why not also take the time to teach keiki about the 3Rs of the environment – reduce, reuse, recycle! Inspiring our youth will help to instill eco-friendly habits as they continue to grow older. Let’s all start the school year off right by practicing these good habits to make a difference at home and in the classroom.
Reduce
- Resealable glass containers, reusable water bottles, and cloth bags are a great way to reduce single-use plastic waste and prevent them from being introduced to our environment.
Reuse
- Back to school clothes, pens, and backpacks are a fun way to start the year, but before you start shopping, ask yourself, “Do I need this?” Take inventory of what you already own before heading to the store.
- Give supplies a second life by purchasing used materials. Textbooks, calculators, and other supplies are often available at secondhand stores, both online and physical stores. Purchasing secondhand items helps limit the amount of waste created and can also help you save money!
Recycle
- Donate items you no longer have use for back to your school, friends and family, or to a local non-profit.
- Recycle paper items, such as notebooks and old schoolwork, whenever possible. If you need to purchase new items, consider researching eco-friendly school supply companies that use recycled materials in their products.
Sources:
https://www.sustainablejungle.com/zero-waste/eco-friendly-zero-waste-school-supplies/