Tips for a greener world: educating young people.

Children and teenagers are the adults of a near future. We have to involve them in recycling schemes and other activities to improve the environment. Educating young people about the importance of recycling and the environment provides a path to a healthier future.

When students learn the importance of caring for the environment, they start doing it in their daily activities at school or at home, they will develop new eco-skills for their future life, and they will become a model and a source of information for their friends and families.

There are almost 34,000 schools in the UK and they play a vital role in dealing with waste. Recycling schemes in schools help to improve the environment and can reduce money spent by the school on waste disposal.

Students can work in three different areas:

Paper recycling

Paper makes up at least a quarter of all the rubbish created by schools. It is essential that schools have a paper-recycling bin where all members of the school community can put used paper in. Teachers and staff should be aware of the importance of recycling because they are models for the students.

Metal Recycling

Most schools have vending machines or canteens which sell hundreds of soft drink cans. These cans are easily recyclable and save valuable resources. Placing clearly labelled bins next to the vending machines or the canteen is a simple way of reminding students of what they are about to throw away.

Composting

Some schools are lucky enough as to have a garden and compost is an excellent fertilizer. If schools are provided with compost bins, teachers and students can be involved in making the compost by adding items such as tea bags, fruit and vegetables from the canteens and left overs from lunch.

Condensed from http://www.recycling-guide.org.uk/facts.html