We all aim to teach our kids good habits from a young age, so why
shouldn’t recycling be one? Household waste is a huge contributor to
environmental damage, and with landfill sites across the nation reaching full
capacity, there has never been a more important time to recycle. If we can show
our youngsters the benefit of recycling, then we are nurturing a very important
habit for them to keep as they grow up.
At Skip Hire UK, we are proud of our budget skip hire and impressive recycling rates our
waste collection services, and we’ve come up with a few great tips for teaching
kids how to be greener.
<h2 Education
In order to make your kids more likely to recycle, then you should think
about why you are doing it in the first place. For example, why not take a walk
in your local park and explain how the trees are used to make paper, so to
protect the trees we need to recycle our paper instead of putting it into the
ordinary bin?
While recycling is one of the most important issues in modern society,
explaining it to kids doesn’t have to be a difficult process; by using simple
associations, you can communicate the benefits of recycling with your children
effectively, in a way that they can understand. There are plenty of online
videos, books and other resources which are targeted specifically at
youngsters, so put some time aside and talk them through it before you get
started.
<h2 Bin labels
This simple recycling trick can go a long way — if you simply add labels
to your bins, then you are instantly showing your children that there is a
difference between ordinary household waste and recyclable products. Have a bit
of fun with it by letting them design the labels or have them assign certain
colours to the recycling bin. This will encourage your kids to distinguish
between their rubbish, choosing what can and cannot be recycled based from the
label recognition. Once they’ve designed the labels, quiz them about what each
material is that they’re throwing away and have them decide which bin it should
go in.
<h2 Visit a recycling facility
Whether you are simply visiting the bigger industrial bins usually
located at supermarkets, or an actual recycling centre, by giving your kids a
visual experience you can enhance their understanding of the process. The
benefits of visiting an actual recycling facility can really bring the whole
process to life, as your kids can apply their own curiosity and ask questions
about the machinery, learning how the items that they recycle begin their
journey through the facility. Most facilities will welcome visitors, sharing
industry knowledge and explaining more about the benefits of recycling waste.
<h2 Bring your rubbish to life
Part of recycling is reusing or giving products a new purpose when you
are finished with them. Why not gather up items such as milk bottles, yoghurt
pots, and cardboard boxes and challenge your children to get creative? Make a
DIY toy or even a bird feeder, and it could really help to engrain the value of
abandoning throwaway culture in favour of a more environmentally friendly
lifestyle. These recycling projects give your children a first–hand experience
of understanding that not all rubbish is only fit for the waste bin. Another
great idea is composting, as it puts recycling and reusing into practice while
also getting your kids outdoors for fresh air. Use banana and orange peel and
explain to your children that these materials can become the soil to help other
plants grow.
<h2 Recycling stars
Acknowledge your child’s recycling efforts by putting a reward system in
place. For example, introduce a star chart and add to it each time your kids
choose to recycle an item. By recognising their efforts, you are encouraging
them to recycle more, which is the aim. Add a treat into the equation so that
for when they have got a certain number of stars, they get a reward. Place the
star chart in your kitchen, so that they can see how they’re doing and meet
their recycling goals!
People of all ages should be recycling household products where
possible. Parents should lead by example for their youngsters, establishing
good recycling habits for greener homes.
