Category: Reducing Waste through Reusing

• Key idea: There are better ways to deal with things that you no longer need – e.g. Involve the children in Recycling, Upcycling, Reuse, Repair, Giving and Sharing activities.
• Key idea: Sustainable waste practices aim to keep materials in use for as long as possible – e.g. Teach children to reuse things instead of always trying to buy new items.  Second-hand swop shops for books, coats, boots, toys.  Donating outgrown clothes to others or to charities. (UC6.7)

Emergent learning:

When an item is ‘Reused’ it often doesn’t change its original form or use – as is the case of items that are upcycled or recycled.  Reuse aims to extend an unwanted products life. Often this entails finding an alternative user for items such as scrap paper, packaging, furniture or clothing. 

Disposal is the opposite of reuse, and children can learn to recognise, and even campaign against the use of disposable products such as gift wrappings, plastic cups and cutlery, paper towels and dishcloths. Many of the alternatives such as Furoshiki Wrapping Cloths, the use of your own chop sticks or multi-use drink containers are recognised as increasingly fashionable, and they make a personal statement of good taste and values.

Activity recommendation:

Children can be involved in reusing kitchen cans and jars for storage, cutting up old fabrics for cleaning, or using coffee grounds as fertilizer. Another valuable activity is to involve them in surveying your waste. Randomly emptying and sorting out the contents of your waste bin to see what might be reduced, reused, and recycled.   An old toothbrush might, in the process, find a new life as a dolls hairbrush, for shoe cleaning or even as a paint brush.

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