1.4+Environmental+Issue

We produce enormous amounts of solid waste a year. This is a big issue for our environment as it hard to know what to do with this large amount of rubbish produced. Throwing away materials wastes earths precious resources. This is a big issue as some resources will run out if we continue to throw these precious resources away. Disposing of waste is also a environmental issue as burying and burning rubbish can cause harm to human health and the environment. Many landfills around the country are also polluting gas and liquid to threaten to contaminate drinking water supplies. We are also running out of places waste can be stored, particularly close to cities where most waste is produced.

The three main solutions or themes expressed within this unit and for this issue are reducing, reusing and recycling this rubbish.

Ø Reducing involves cutting down on the amount of rubbish we use in everyday life. This could involve buying things that produce less pollution, rubbish, and last longer, or can easily be reused. This could also involve reducing packaging used e.g. buying in bulk, or reusing containers for school lunches. We should only use rubbish when it is absolutely necessary, reducing or recycling whenever possible. Ø Reusing involves reusing items rather than throwing them away. This takes less energy and creates less pollution than creating a whole new product. Many items get simply thrown away when there are many great uses for them. This unit expresses this idea as many lessons focus on reusing recycled goods to create ‘new’ objects of use. Ø When waste cannot be reduced or reused, it should be recycled to lessen the amount of rubbish we use. Rubbish such as glass, metal or plastic can be melted and reshaped where as paper can be pulped and made into new paper, Organic waste can be composted. If more people or all people recycle this takes a huge percentage out of our quantity of rubbish being thrown away or being dealt with.

These themes are impeded throughout this unit and are the main ideas we want children to grasp. To develop a society where people understand this issue and the importance of recycling children need to be educated from a young age the vast importance of recycling and what this means for our environment.