1. 5 Rs: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Repurpose

2. Problem?

3. Refuse Refuse things you don’t really need
Refuse one-time-use plastics (grocery bags, water bottles)
Refuse products with multiple layers of packaging
Show companies what you value by purchasing carefully
Organic
Sustainable packaging
Sustainable business practices

4. Reduce Select electronic versions where possible (coupons, newspapers)
Reduce energy usage
Reduce purchases of products in non-recycled packaging
Consider: do I really need this? Will I use this frequently?
For example, do I really need 3 pairs of sunglasses, or can I get by with one?

5. Reuse
Select reusable versions of one-time use products (water bottles, travel mugs, lunch containers)
Reuse plastic or glass containers that originally contained food or other products.
Donate unwanted items to a charity, thrift store, relative for someone else to use

6. Repurpose Upcycle projects (think Pinterest!)
Turn old clothes into cleaning rags, patches
Decorate amazon boxes or empty oatmeal containers to use as gift packaging

7. Recycle
Recycle the usual suspects
Recycle electronics

8. Refuse first, Recycle last
Recycling is great, but it is far better to not generate the waste in the first place

9. How can we get kids engaged with the 5 Rs?
Cost analysis: reusable water bottle vs. plastic water bottles (1 per day)

10. The Majestic Plastic Bag

11. Earth Day: Expression Contest
My idea (TOTALLY up for negotiation, fresh ideas more than welcome!)
Ask students to use a means of expression to show a change they can make in their lives to refuse (focus on this one in specific), reduce, reuse, repurpose, and recycle (encourage students to avoid this one, they have done it over and over already)

12. Some resources
repurpose-recycle.html
ling_ pr.pdf