Managing Waste: 3Rs

Review: what do the 3Rs represent?

• 3Rs represent the ideas of:– Recycling– Reducing– Reusing

• We can use these ideas to minimize our impact on the environment

3Rs: Recycling

• Recyclable: If an object is recyclable, it means it may be processed and used again– E.g. aluminum cans for parts of cars

• Reuse: to use something again, for the same or new purpose– E.g. using the other side of paper, using water bottles

to create a building material

• Reduce: to minimize or lessen our use of resources and products– E.g. instead of printing a page to read from the internet, save

paper by reading it online, ride your bicycle instead of taking a car

Required Recycling• Should it be mandatory?

• Many countries in the world (U.S., Japan) have mandatory recycling programs– In the law that people MUST recycle– There are advantages and disadvantages

• In some places, you may receive a deposit (money) when you return drink containers– E.g.: Colombia

Advantages/Disadvantages

• What are some advantages to recycling?– Saves energy– Saves resources

• Reduces land needed for manufacturing (factories) and cutting trees (deforestation)

– Saves land used for landfills– Jobs for people to reuse these products

• What are some disadvantages to recycling?– Recycling can cost a lot of money: for collection, workers,

machines – People that work in mining and manufacturing may lose

their jobs

Who can make decisions about what to recycle and protect?

• Governments• Nature organizations• The people!