Zero Waste Kids

Climate Problem:

The build-up of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere is causing climate change. Greenhouse gases are gasses such as carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, nitrous oxide, and others that are trapped in our atmosphere. These trapped gases act like a blanket, shutting in the sun’s warmth near the earth’s surface, and affecting the planet’s climate. We also produce a lot of trash and waste which pollutes our earth. The trash that we make adds more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and harms our planet. Our waste builds up and is either burned or dumped into the ocean which harms animals and destroys our resources. Going toward zero waste can help solve this problem.

We use a lot of single-use plastics in our everyday life.  These plastics cause lots of waste and pollute our oceans. If we cut down our usage of single-use plastics we can cut down a big portion of our waste as well as keep our oceans cleaner.

TIPS FOR HOME

Local Produce: Try buying local produce either from farmers markets or farms themselves. There may be many cool farms around your area such as Ninja Cow Farms.

Composting: Is a great way to limit waste and can help your plants grow. Click here to get tips and learn more about composting.

Consider Your Materials: Try to buy materials you can reuse instead of ones that are disposal. Such as cloth towels instead of paper. Talk to your parents about the benefits of reusable materials and why they are important.

Presents: Ask for gifts that produce little waste. Say no to party favors and only ask for things that are necessary. This can help you reduce plastic waste

Natural Remedies: Ask/help your parents to make natural remedies instead of purchasing items such as soap, lip balm, etc. You can also try to contact companies and ask them to change their packaging

Plastic Rule: Try to have a no-plastic rule at home in order to be mindful of product packaging and to cut down on plastic waste

TIPS FOR SCHOOL

Lunches: Ask your parents to pack your lunch in reusable packaging and try to limit the trash you throw away. If needed have a place to put your trash to bring home to compost. Fruits are  good snacks that are healthy and do not produce much waste.

Every Tray Counts: This is a program where compost bins are implemented at school so kids can separate their waste into trash, compost, and recycling. Here is the link for more information. With permission from parents, you can talk to your principal or teacher and try to implement this program in your school. The school kit part provides resources your school can use.

Paper Assignments: Ask your teachers for digital assignments instead of worksheets to reduce paper waste. If this is not possible recycle or compost your worksheets at the end of the school year when you are finished using them.

Books: Instead of buying books, borrow them from the library or read them on a kindle or online. Books use up a lot of paper and cutting back can reduce paper waste. Swapping books with friends or contributing to a little free library is a fun way to reduce waste!

Spread Awareness: Tell your friends, classmates, and teachers about moving toward zero waste and encourage them to give it a try. The more people working towards zero waste the healthier our planet will be. You can even start a club to educate your friends about the environment and share helpful tips.

School Supplies: Try to but materials such as notebooks that are made from recycled materials. Try to use the same supplies such as backpacks and pencils for as many years as you can. When writing on paper use both sides of the paper to make the most use out of the paper.

TIPS FOR OUTINGS

Cloth Bags: Bring your own cloth bags to grocery stores instead of using the plastic or paper bags. Encourage your parents to keep one in their car at all times.

Utensils: If a restaurant uses plastic utensils bring your own reusable ones. You can also bring the plastic utensils home and reuse them instead of putting them in the trash. Use a reusable straw instead of a plastic one.

Second Hand: Buy/sell/use second-hand items. This prevents you from throwing away your clothes and can reduce the waste made by the production of clothes. Second-hand clothes can also be cheaper which is beneficial.

Multipurpose: Instead of buying something new each year, buy/ask for/accept things you can use now and in the future. This can include clothes that are a little big or jewelry that lasts a long time.

No Freebies: Do not accept unecessary free things that are offered as they can end up becoming waste. For example, do not accept free things from the dentist or doctors that you do not need.

Apps: With your parent’s permission, you can download apps to help the environment. Some useful apps are Litterati and Plastic Score. You can also visit the Green Business Directory

TIPS FOR ADVOCACY

Town Council Meetings: Your town probably has committees such as the Environmental Action committee that you can attend. This information should be on your town’s website. Through these meetings, you can learn what your town is doing and how you can help.

Organizations: You can research, learn, and join many organizations relating to the environment. Through these organizations you can volunteer or spread awareness. A few examples are the Sunrise Movement and the Sierra Club.

Write: You have power through your words and opinions. If you want to change certain things in your community, you can write to your town council or house representative. With your parents’ permission go here to learn who your house representative is.

Host: You can host different activities such as litter sweeps, book clubs, discussions, etc. with your community. Spreading awareness and cleaning up your community can help reduce waste.

Social Media: Social Media can help spread awareness either throughout the world or just in your community. If you have permission to use it, spread credible information through platforms letting people know about the problem and what they can do to help.

Reach Out: Sometimes our favorite brands and products use materials that create lots of waste. With your parents’ permission reach out to these companies and ask them to rethink their packaging. This way you can enjoy your favorite products without causing lots of waste.

HOW TO TALK TO YOUR PARENTS

Composting Steps

Materials:

• You can choose your composting style below:
  • Compost Pile: Fencing like chicken wire and wood
  • Compost Bin: A container with a lid and a drill
  • Or you can buy your own outside compost bin
• Dead plant material such as twigs, newspapers, and dry leaves (These are called Brown Materials)
• Household waste such as vegetable scraps, grass clippings, eggshells, tea bags, and coffee grounds but no meat or dairy (These are called Green Materials)
• A layer of soil (better if it has earthworms)
• Hose

Instructions:

• If you are making your own compost bin: drill holes at the bottom of your container as well as few on the lid
• If you are making a compost pile: make a pile on the ground and surround it with fencing
• If you bought a compost bin: Put your compost bin in an area of sunlight that is easily accessible from your house.
• *Add water between each of the steps below*
• First add your dead plant material.
• Second add your household waste.
• After that add your soil
• Keep adding each layer in order until you fill the top of the bucket or reach a nice height for your pile
• Add water and Flip/stir the compost every couple of days.

Helpful Tips

• Keep a bin with a lid in your kitchen or bathroom so you can collect your waste and put it in a compost bin when it fills.
• For the best results try to create a ratio of 4:1 with 4 times more brown materials than green materials
• If your compost is smelling try to stir the compost more often and try to reach the ratio of brown materials to green materials. 
• If your compost is becoming slimy or starts smelling like rotten eggs try adding more brown materials.

Can’t Compost at Home? Here are a few other options:

Sharewaste: If you live in an apartment it can be hard to compost. You may also be struggling to start your compost or feel overwhelmed by the idea. If so there is a website and app called share waste that you can use. With your parents, you can find people and places near you that are composting. They will list items that they are accepting for their compost and you can drop off your compost scraps there. If you have a successful compost you can also list your own and accept scraps from other people. Make sure to go on this website/app with a parent so they can approve it and participate with you.

Compost drop-off: Check your local county or city for a place to drop off your food waste. Here you can find where to compost in Wake County.

Compost Services: Check out compost pick up services in your area with a parent. These services can pick up compost from your front door but usually cost a certain monthly fee. Make sure to discuss with your parents to see what are the best options for your family.

If you would like to add your own experiences, stories, or tips to the website, feel free to fill in this google form with your parent’s permission.