Back to school means not only Reading, wRiting and aRithmetic, but also these three modern Rs: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Below are tips to help accomplish the 3 Enviro Rs for families with kids heading to school.
REDUCE emissions from your vehicles around schools and after-school sports and clubs. Your kids are breathing those invisible tailpipe emissions and their lungs are very sensitive. Air pollution is linked with lower IQs, so please consider these options:
• Let the school bus take your kids to school if available;
• Start or join a Walking School Bus;
• Carpool with students in your neighborhood; and/or
• Bike with your kids.
• To further reduce emissions avoid idling your vehicle if you pick your child up from school.
REUSE last year’s tools and supplies and today’s packaging that you might otherwise recycle or throw away. You will save money, protect natural resources and can provide teachers with a great value.
• Reuse last year’s backpack, lunchbox, notebooks, binders, pencils and other supplies as able.
• Save and reuse simple packaging materials for “upcycled” crafts and projects to make them into something new.
If your school is not in need of items such as these, save and donate them to organizations like Treasures 4 Teachers or World Care who provide low-cost or free supplies to teachers throughout our community.
RECYCLE and buy items made from recycled content to save natural resources, reduce energy consumption and reduce pollution.
• When shopping for school supplies, look for recycled content labels on everything from loose leaf paper to tennis shoes.
• Encourage your kids to actively recycle and avoid waste at school, like they do at home.
• Collect items (like aluminum cans) and sell the raw materials to raise money for school projects or field trips.
The acts of REDUCING, REUSING and RECYCLING throughout the school year will protect your students from harmful pollutants, and provide kids with lessons for now and in the future.