How to Teach Children About Recycling

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As an environmental educator by day, I am passionate about teaching children of all ages, aka our future generation, the importance of caring for the world in which we live, including the importance of recycling. At home, living a sustainable life as best I can is not just something I do just because, it’s something I am passionate about doing because I care about the natural world.

This recycling game is a fun way to think and talk about how and why we sort our waste, including the types of items that can be recycled. There’s no better day than today to talk to kids about recycling, why it’s helpful and what we can do as families to make our own positive footprint on this planet.

Sort the Recycling Game

Materials

-  2 to 3 containers (i.e. empty food containers)

-  card stock or cardboard (i.e. empty cereal box)

-  magazines, grocery store flyers, printed photos

-  scissors

-  double-sided tape or glue stick

-  marker

Instructions

1. Do some research - how is the waste streamed in your area and what is collected? For example, in Toronto, we have 3 streams: recyclables, trash (non-recyclables) and compost. 
2. Label the containers, which will act as your collection bins, according to the number of streams your municipality collects.
3. Using old magazines, grocery store flyers or printed photos, cut out different recyclable, non-recyclable and compostable items. Start with around 20 items. Remember, if creating this game for younger children, make sure to pick items that they can easily recognize and understand what they represent.
4. Tape or glue these items to card stock. 
5. Have a discussion with your children around why we recycle: Plastic in landfills and oceans is dangerous because it not biodegradable and leaches toxic chemicals. Instead, plastic photo-degrades, which means over times, it will break down into millions of smaller particles, but never fully bio-degrade/decompose. In our oceans, lakes and even on land, animals mistake these tiny pieces of plastic for food and ingest them, passing toxic chemicals through the food chain and ultimately, to our plates.
6. Time to play! Set out the container and spread the items on a table in front of the child. Have them examine each item and sort in the appropriate container. 

Modifications

• For younger children, use actual items, such as empty drink containers, milk jugs, toothpaste boxes, yogurt containers, etc. 
• Make this activity a little more challenging by adding more bins and have the children sort by recyclable type, i.e. paper, specific plastics, glass, aluminum, etc. 
• Challenge your child’s reading skills by adding the name of the item to each the card. Have your child read the name before placing the item in the appropriate container. 
• Challenge your child's critical thinking by asking them to explain why they have sorted the items the way they have.
• Go above and beyond and discuss the other two Rs - reduce and reuse! How can you reduce your household consumption? How can you reuse some of the items in the garbage or recycling? If an item in the garbage, such as a toy, is no longer of use to you, what can you do with it instead?

Recycling has come a very long way since we were young. There are now a lot of household items that we use every single day that can be recycled, and I bet you didn’t even know it. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 75% of solid waste is recyclable, but only about 30% is actually recycled! For example, did you know that old cell phones can be recycled? How about used batteries? 

So what happens to those used batteries once they are properly recycled? Nowadays, they get turned into new batteries! Energizer® EcoAdvanced™ is the world's first AA battery made with 4% recycled batteries AND is Energizer's longest-lasting alkaline battery ever. Longer lasting batteries means the use of fewer batteries, which creates less waste and has less impact on the planet!

*It is important to note that before you recycle any item, check with your local municipality to see what items can be put in curb-side pickup, and what must be recycled separately, such as electronics and batteries.

Found at the battery kiosk in the electronics section or in the checkout aisle at your local Walmart, Energizer® EcoAdvanced™ batteries are a step in the right direction towards living a more responsible and sustainable life!

Have you tried Energizer® EcoAdvanced™ batteries, or recently recycled, reused or repurposed something in your home? I'd love to hear about it!

15 Ways to Green Your Holidays

As we decorate, travel, give gifts and feast this holiday season, we will be consuming large amounts of energy and resources, and creating large amounts of waste. Consider the impact your holiday actions are having on the environment. 
The holiday season offers plenty of opportunities to go green - from holiday decorations to lighting and gifts for your family and friends. Here are 15 ways to green your holidays,
Bring a reusable bag when out shopping. Thousands of paper and plastic shopping bags end up in landfills and polluting the environment every year. 
Think "green" while shopping. Buy items with minimal packaging and/or made from recycled materials. Check product labels to determine an item's recyclability. Consider a product's durability and longevity before you buy.
Send e-cards. Almost 3 billion Christmas cards are sold in the US every year. Sending electronic holiday cards is a simple way to reduce waste. There are many great websites that offer personalized e-card options. If you prefer the traditional route, look for cards printed on recycled paper.
Make your own gifts and gift tags. Homemade gifts are more thoughtful, and often more practical, than something store bought.
Give experiences, not things. Movie tickets, gas cards, date night gift certificates and staycation options all make perfect, and much appreciated, gift alternatives.
Donate to a charity in someones' name. Donate a monetary amount or new or gently used toys/items that you no longer use. 
Wrap gifts in recyclable items, such as newspaper and magazines. Add a creative touch with stamps or recycled yarn/ribbon. Save wrapping paper, bows, ribbon and tissue to reuse the following year. Can't save it? Make sure to review the list of recyclables that your city accepts first.
Skip the artificial tree. Use a live potted tree which can be planted outside later, or a cut tree from a Christmas tree farm. Nearly all cut Christmas trees are grown on farms, which means their stock is replenished yearly and forests aren't depleted. Artificial trees are made with petroleum-based materials and are often shipping thousands of miles before they reach store shelves. After Christmas, donate your tree to a program that will chip the tree and use in local parks.
Take inventory of your holiday decor. Do you really need anything new? If you do, take a visit to a second hand store. You'd be surprised what you can find.
Use LED holiday lights on a timer. LED lights are more efficient than traditional Christmas lights and last longer, saving you money and energy. Also, place lights on a timer. Leaving your holiday lights on 24 hours a day is a waste of energy and money. Set your timer to turn the lights on at dusk and off when you go to bed. No one is up in the middle of the night to see them anyways.
Reusable place settings. If you are playing host, set the table with cloth napkins and reusable dishes, glassware and stemware. Consider renting more formal place settings that you may not have or use very often. Save and reuse decor and favours. After dinner, fill your dishwasher to capacity before running it.
Pack up or compost leftovers.  Pack up leftovers in reusable containers for your guests, or use your leftovers in a new recipe. Does your city have a green bin? Make sure to put any appropriate food scarps in the compost. 
Buy local.  Support small local businesses instead of shopping at large box stores. Gifts found at locally are often more unique, less expensive and have travelled less of a distance to reach you.
Carpool to holiday parties. Traveling during the holidays? Consider taking public transit or carpool with friends and family to save on gas, money and emissions.
Rethink your wardrobe. Do you really need a new holiday dress, or can you wear your dress from last year? Dig into your closest and wear what you already have, rather than purchasing new. 
Don't wait until the new year to make an eco-friendly resolution. Start by making responsible decisions this holiday season.

Do you have any holiday green tips?

10 Winter Energy Saving Tips

Everything you do in your home, from cooking dinner to taking a shower, uses energy. Being a conscious energy consumer and knowing exactly how you use it, can greatly reduce your energy bill and help the environment. 
This winter, and beyond, be more responsible with your energy consumption. 

10 Winter Energy Savings Tips

1.  Take advantage of the sun.  Open curtains on your south-facing windows during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat your home. Don't forget to close them at night when the sun begins to set to reduce the chill. Make sure to keep these windows clean up let the light through.
2.  Cover drafty windows.  Use a heavy-duty clear plastic sheet to cover drafty windows in the cold winter months. Make sure the plastic is sealed tightly. When winter is over, make sure to save the plastic for next year.
3.  Find and seal leaks.  Add caulking or weatherstripping to seal air leaks around leaky doors and windows.
4.  Keep doors closed.  Keeping doors closed will help keep heat in. It is especially important to keep doors to unheated rooms, such as the garage, closed to minimize heat loss.
5.  Use appliances efficiently.  Do only full loads when using the dishwasher and washing machine. Use the cold water cycle on your washing mashing when you can. Using cold water reduces energy consumption by 75%. 
6.  Reduce heat loss from the fireplace.  Keep your fireplace damper closed unless a fire is burning. Check the seal on the fireplace to make sure it is as tight as possible and cold air is not getting in when it is not in use. 
7.  Lighting solutions.  Replace your home's light bulbs with LED bulbs. These bulbs take less energy to power, and unlike incandescent bulbs, do not give off as much energy as heat. Also use LED holiday lighting to reduce the cost of decorating your home during the holidays.
8.  Insulate!  Check the insulation in places like your basement, garage and attic. Do not heat these areas unless they are properly insulated.
9.  Bundle up.  Save money on your heating bill by programming your thermostat to a lower temperature at night and when you are not in the house. Lowering your thermostat by just 2 degrees Celsius can save as much as 4% on your heating bill.
10.  Maintain filters.  Cleaning your furnace filter every few months will increase its efficiency, and save money on your energy bill.


Do you have any winter energy saving tips?

Celebrating Mother Nature

April 22 is Earth Day.

Like Earth Days in the past, Earth Day 2014 will focus on the unique environmental challenges of our time. Today, more than half of the world's population lives in cities. As this number increases, and the bleak reality of climate change becomes more apparent, the need to create sustainability communities becomes more and more important.

Here are some activities that you can do at home to help celebrate Mother Nature:

Plant a Tree

Not only do trees refresh the air by taking in the bad and breathing out the good, they have additional benefits as well - they provide wildlife habitat, improve property value and aesthetic, reduce utility bills, prevent soil erosion and provide sound buffers! 

Conserve Energy

Turn off the water when you brush your teeth, take a shorter shower, wash your laundry in cold water, carpool to work, turn off the lights when you leave the room, unplug electronics not in use.  Not only will conserving energy reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it will also save you $$$!

The 3 Rs - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Reduce waste - bring your own grocery bags next time you go to the store and buy a reusable water bottles. Reuse an item - refurnish an old piece of furniture.  Reduce waste - buy products with less packaging or compost organic waste. Do your part by recycling glass, paper, plastic and other reusable materials. Clean out your closet and donate your unused items to charity!

Buy Locally, Cook Seasonally

Visit a local farmer's market or start your own vegetable garden!  Gardening is a wonderful way to gain an appreciate on how much we depend on Mother Nature for survival. Choose local and organic foods that are in season, and support local farmers.Buying local or growing your own is environmentally friendly and will save on fuel and keep money within the community. Growing your own fruits and vegetables is also a great family activity! 

Get Outside! Get inspired!

There is no other way to get back in touch with nature than to get outside and actually experience its many wonders. Go for a walk, ride your bike, grab your favorite book and a lawn chair.  Get outside, breathe in the air, feel the sun on your face and appreciate this beautiful planet we call home. 

Although Earth Day is a great reminder for all of us to be environmentally conscious, don't let your environmental actions stop once April 23 hits. Make every day Earth Day.

How do you celebrate Mother Nature?

Earth Hour 2014

As global citizens, we are witnessing the devastating effects of climate change, and we understand that these impacts are a result of human behaviour that will, without action, only get worse. 

Since 2007, millions of people across the world have rallied together in a symbolic demonstration for action on climate change. It all starts with a simple flick of the lights at 8:30pm on March 29. This hour of darkness is a time to come together to display our commitment to the one thing that unites us all, the planet.

This global phenomenon and the largest grassroots action in history is called Earth Hour.

This year when you turn off your lights, take a moment of darkness, a moment of reflection and introspection, be inspired to choose a future where climate change is no longer a threat. Earth Hour is a chance to step away from our every day activities and think about what is happening to our planet, what we'd like to see in the future, and most importantly, how we can help. For one hour, focus on your commitment to our planet for the rest of the year, and into the future. Why do you care about the planet? Why is making a difference and making a change important to you? 

So, join millions of people across the world who will switch their lights OFF q for an hour on March 29 at 8:30pm, all to raise awareness for the planet. Instead have a candle lit dinner, take  a nap, read a book by flashlight, talk with friends, stargaze, play board games, join a community event, or reflect on the changes you will make this year. The possibilities are endless. 

Whatever you chose to do for the hour, know that hundreds of millions of others across the global will be doing the same. Uniting behind a common goal provides a powerful message that WE CAN make a difference. 

We only have one planet, you can help protect it.

Will you join me?

H20

I grew up on the shore of Lake Huron and spent every free second in or around water. Ever since I can remember, I was drawn to the water. This love paved the road I've taken in life, and today, I couldn't imagine my life without water.

Today is World Water Day. So in honour of a resource we could never ever live without, here are some interesting water facts...

• Waters covers 70% of the Earth's surface.
• 80% of the Earth's water is surface water, the other 20% is either ground water or atmospheric water vapour.
  
• Only 3% of the Earth's water is freshwater, the other 97% is salt water.
• Water found at the Earth’s surface in lakes, rivers, etc. makes up only 0.3% of the world’s fresh water; 68.7% of fresh water is trapped in glaciers; 30% of fresh water is in the ground.
• Canada holds 20% of the world's fresh water.
• A gallon (3.8 L) of water weighs 8.34 pounds.
• Water makes up between 55-78% of a human’s body weight.

Water is life. All living things depend on water to support life functions. So, whether you are drawn to it like me, or absolutely terrified of it, please take a moment today to appreciate water.

What does water mean to you?