What is waste?
Waste is anything we throw away, such as paper, plastic bottles, food scraps and tins. Too much waste fills up landfills, pollutes rivers and harms animals. Managing waste well keeps our home and Earth clean and healthy.
The 3Rs
- Reduce — use less so we make less waste. For example, use a cloth bag instead of many plastic bags.
- Reuse — use things again instead of throwing them away. For example, refill a glass bottle with water.
- Recycle — make old materials into new things. For example, old paper is made into new paper.
Key idea
The 3Rs are Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. They help us make less waste and save materials and energy.
Why it matters
When we reduce, reuse and recycle, we throw less rubbish into landfills and use fewer new materials. This saves trees, water and energy, and keeps the environment clean for plants, animals and people.
Remember
- Sort waste into paper, plastic, glass and metal for recycling.
- Never throw rubbish into rivers or drains.