Recycling for Adults: “A Little Time Can Make A Big Difference”
Collins Hunter

Basic Concept:   Recycling is separating Papers, Plastics, Metals and Glass

Objectives for the Session:

1. To re-evaluate (and see potential uses for) disposable materials
2. To foster an attitude that individual efforts actually matter to a municipality.
3. To gain an awareness for one’s patterns of consumption

Background for the Teacher:

1. It is very easy to recycle paper, aluminum cans, and plastics.   An individual who is not used to recycling may have concerns.   It is important during an initial discussion between class participants to list 3-5 concerns they might have about recycling.   The materials listed above generally do not retain an odor if rinsed after use.  Most plastics have a number on the bottom of the container which indicates its ease in being recycled.   It is easier to re-use existing paper, plastics and aluminum cans than it is to find new sources, thus recycling will save money and energy.   In fact, recycling programs are becoming competitive with solid waste landfills and incinerators-which pollute the air, land and water.   Finally, when everyone in the neighborhood becomes involved through well designed and publicized neighborhood recycling programs, they can achieve 80% participation and higher. 1
2. No one wants a landfill or incinerator in their backyard.   Despite stringent conditions, toxic waste remains a potentially dangerous condition for groundwater, volatile organic chemicals which leech into the air and contribute to smog, methane, and greenhouse gases.   Municipalities must bear the financial burden of bringing older landfills into compliance with new regulations, costs for cleanup and leakage.   This translates into increased taxes for residents.
3. Shopping for materials made from recycled products is easy.   Most of these products are clearly labeled.   Promoting new practices in terms of quality of life and sustainability creates incentives for individual participation.

Methods of Teaching and Learning:

1. Visual/artistic- Bring three garbage bags full of trash with paper, aluminum and plastics to demonstrate ordinary household items.
2. Oral/linguistic – Allow for three (10) minute discussions: concerns one may have about recycling, hands on review of recyclable items, and strategies one may now employ when recycling in the future.
3. Kinesthetic – Touch and inspect ordinary recyclable household items.

Process of Teaching and Learning:(Ten minutes each, unless otherwise specified)

1. Make a presentation on recycling: paper, aluminum and plastic household items.   Itemize the environmental impact of recycling versus the impact of using landfills or incineration.   Discuss the lowered costs of using recycled products as opposed to finding new sources.
2. List individual concerns about recycling on large paper or blackboard for all students.
3. Debrief and deconstruct shared concerns.   Perhaps they are unfamiliar with the process of recycling, hold an opinion that individual effort does not make a difference, or that their communities will not participate in the process.
4. Have classroom members inspect ordinary household recyclable items by having them all sort items on one or two large tables.   Allow participants to talk about the sorting process.
5. Present effective neighborhood recycling programs by printing those listed below as handouts.   (See “Resources’ section 2).
6. Discuss strategies that participants might employ after having this discussion.   For example, one might contact local neighboring recycling programs, city officials, or environmental groups for assistance in creating a program for one’s own neighborhood.   One might drop off recyclables at a collection point.   One might vote for an elected leader who supports local recycling programs.

Room Set Up:

Place two large tables in the middle of the room (to provide room for display of household items).   Place chairs in a circle around the table.   When participants are instructed to share, have them share with one or two persons sitting beside them.

Resources

1. Household items:
1. Paper: newspapers, magazines, mail
2. Aluminum: soup cans, soda can, aluminum foil, Pam, lids from jars of jelly, soda, spaghetti sauce
3. Plastics: containers, toothbrush, water bottles, grocery bags, disposable table utensils, cups from fast food stores
4. Glass: containers of every size
2. Neighborhood recycling programs:
1. City of Houston: http://www.houstontx.gov/solidwaste/recycling.html
2. City of St. Louishttp://stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/recycle/
3. City of Bostonhttp://www.cityofboston.gov/publicworks/recycling/

Additional Information

I used the four step model from Seasons of the Spirit, The United Church of Christ

I was inspired by the Cool Globes Exhibit #71, sponsored by The Comer Connection; (Plastics, Metals and Cell Phones OH MY!), by Faheem Majeed and the Gary Comer Youth Center, Cool Globes Guidebook (2007), page 48.