The Consumption Presumption

The Consumption Presumption

2009 TEEA Conference

Consumption Presumption?

Consumption = the selection, adoption, use, disposal and

recycling of goods and services

Consumption practices creating strains on environment

Consumption practices creating strains on environment

Fundamental change needed!

Change attitudes on waste!

Solid Waste Education

• What is SWE?Educating about …consumption…buying practices…natural resources and resource mining…the 3R’s: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle …current solid waste management practices…sustainable consumption and disposal

Why teach SWE in classrooms1. Educators lead the way

Why teach SWE in classrooms1. Educators lead the way2. Students are the business owners, manufacturers

and government officials of the future!!

Why teach SWE in classrooms1. Educators lead the way2. Students are the business owners, manufacturers

and government officials of the future!!3. Schools are large segment of waste production in

a community

Why teach SWE in classrooms1. Educators lead the way2. Students are the business owners, manufacturers

and government officials of the future!!3. Schools are large segment of waste production in

a community4. Saves money in budgeting

Why teach SWE in classrooms1. Educators lead the way2. Students are the business owners, manufacturers

and government officials of the future!!3. Schools are large segment of waste production in

a community4. Saves money in budgeting 5. Teach students practices that will last a lifetime

• Life lessons across disciplines of science, social studies, math, health, etc. reinforce behavior and change attitudes

• Children bring home ideas learned in class and affect home behavior as well!

What’s really in our trash?

Activity: 21st Century Pyramids

What can be done?

What can be done?

Current practices more like this

What’s the formula for success?

Did you know?

• Earth911.com Recycling steel saves 75 percent of the energy that would be used to create steel from raw materials, enough to power 18 million homes.

• The Recycle Challenge Recycling 1 aluminum can saves enough energy to run your TV for 3 hours.

• Dosomething.org Americans use 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour.

Did you know?

• Every month Americans throw out enough glass bottles and jars to fill up a giant skyscraper but all of these jars are recyclable!

• National Recycling Coalition If every American home replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year

Reduce• Single most important action to be taken …

Source Reduction!!

Reduce• Single most important action to be taken …Source

Reduction!!

How?• Examine environmental impacts for decisions made

or products purchased

Reduce

Buy in Bulk…

…with a reusable bag/basket!!!

Reduce

Buy and sell second hand (less demand…less supply)

Reduce

Less packaging please!

Reduce

Cut down on fast food waste

Reduce

• Buy environmental sound products• Buy products that are less toxic

ReduceBuy Recycled Products!!!

Reduce

Print on both sides of paper!

ReduceDon’t trash it!

Reduce

Avoid Disposables!!! Disposables contribute to throw-away lifestyle

Reduce

Compost!!!

Reuse

Reuse is creating a new use for an item that might otherwise be sent to the landfill or recycled

• Trash to Treasure• Get creative!• Ex. Capri Sun purse,Firestarters from lint and egg cartons

Recycle

• Collection, sorting and remanufacturing of items into new products

• Find out options for recycling in your communities– Make it a research project for the students– Contact local solid waste organizations or

committees

Standards covered by Solid Waste Management Curriculum

• TNSWEP website– http://www-tnswep.ra.utk.edu/

• Projects WET, Learning Tree, WILD• Mobius Curriculum

– http://www.alliedwastedalycity.com/mobius/index.cfm

• EPA’s Quest for Less and Recycle City– http://www.epa.gov/

Please visit our website at www.harvestingpeace.org for more ideas and volunteer opportunities.

The following url will lead you to a collection of solid waste education links and materials for use in your classroom. Please feel free to use this presentation in your schools and classrooms, it can be downloaded there as well.

http://sites.harvestingpeace.org/educator-resources/