It is hard to imagine a world where there is no trash. It is everywhere, from plastic and paper packaging to kitchen trash, unwanted clothing, and broken cell phones.
There are many recycling options, but not all of them are globally available. Only 14% annually is recycled from plastic packaging. There are many types of plastic that cannot be recycled. This is part of the problem. It is also expensive and requires a lot of water and energy. So, there are other ideas. But what?
Experts are calling for the introduction and replacement of our current economic and production systems with circular economies. As in nature, where the remains of plants slowly become compost, every product, plastic bottles or cell phones, would be made so that they could be separated into their individual parts. This process allows for reuse of all the raw materials that are reclaimed to make new products.
Others call for us to use existing trash for building homes and other purposes. Scientists have found that certain species can eat plastic. Could this be one solution?
Learning pack #10 What’s old but not new: Solutions to the global problem of waste. How can we stop the waste stream? Why is recycling not an option? How can people generate less trash? Participants have the chance to be creative and transform hard-to-recycled drink cartons into invitations, flower pots, and plastic bottles into mobiles, zips, and mobile cases.
For children and teens aged 12 and above
The materials are appropriate for children and young adults from the age 12 and allow teachers to tackle waste in a playful, interactive way. The material can be used at no cost for non-commercial uses.
The learning package includes:
> 1 booklet for teachers (for classroom teaching)
> 1 interactive workbook for participants (for distance learning)
> 1 role play game with 7 cards
> 8 films:
- Trash A problem that should be avoided
- Find creative solutions for India’s waste problem
- The tiny startup that brings recycling in Cape Town
- Walls made of waste
- Fast fashion and the flood in used clothes
- What does circular economy actually mean?
- Circular economy: Sustainable, profitable and sustainable
- Plastic recycling with mealworms
> 1 article:
- Circular economy: Could rethinking design help transform the world?
> 1 feature project:
For in-person lessons:
Start by downloading the “booklet to teachers” before you start preparing your lessons. You will find all worksheets, as well as explanation handouts and solutions, in the “booklet for teachers”. The PDF version of the booklet can be downloaded under “Downloads.”
Distance learning
You can also download the interactive “workbook” and “booklet” for online lessons. Both can be found under “Downloads.” You can then email the PDF file of the workbook to participants as an attachment. The workbook does not contain the solutions, but the worksheets. Participants can complete their work independently on their computers. You can then save it and mail it to you. Acrobat Reader will be required by participants to complete the booklet. It is available HereDownload for free
Send us a message
Contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions about our Global Ideas Learning Packs or if you require a printed version of the material.