Earth DayEarth DayBlount County Blount County StyleStyle

Sponsored by:

Education Committee – FLFR (Friends of the Locust Fork River)

Legacy, Partners in Environmental Partners

Earth Day – April 22 Earth Day – April 22

Earth Day was established to:Earth Day was established to:

Honor our earthHonor our earth Protect the environmentProtect the environment Take care of our planetTake care of our planet Encourage recyclingEncourage recycling

Vocabulary Terms you Vocabulary Terms you need to know:need to know:

EnvironmentEnvironment Reduce, Reuse, RecycleReduce, Reuse, Recycle SustainableSustainable Renewable resourceRenewable resource Going GreenGoing Green Carbon footprintCarbon footprint

Did you know?Did you know? The average American creates 4.5 pounds of The average American creates 4.5 pounds of

trash each day.trash each day.

Alabamians create 10 pounds of trash per day.Alabamians create 10 pounds of trash per day.

That’s a lot of waste going intoour landfills! Not very sustainable.

Plastic bottles add up!Plastic bottles add up!1 bottle, per student, per day = 7 bottles per week1 bottle, per student, per day = 7 bottles per week

x 52 wks/yearx 52 wks/year

364 bottles per year364 bottles per year

(12 years in school) (12 years in school) x 12 yearsx 12 years

4,368 empty bottles ea. 4,368 empty bottles ea. kidkid

(Avg. class size) (Avg. class size) x 30 kidsx 30 kids 131,040 empty 131,040 empty bottlesbottles

How much time does it take How much time does it take for 131,040 bottles to for 131,040 bottles to decompose? decompose?

1.1. 1 year?1 year?

2.2. 10 years?10 years?

3.3. 20 years?20 years?

4.4. 100 years?100 years?

5.5. 1,000 years?1,000 years?

HOW LONG?HOW LONG? It could take up to It could take up to 1,0001,000 years years

PER BOTTLE to decompose or PER BOTTLE to decompose or break down fully.break down fully.

Recycling – Recycling – it’s it’s an an important part in taking care important part in taking care of our environment. of our environment.

Have you seen Have you seen this symbol this symbol??

What does it mean?What does it mean?

The 3 R’s of the The 3 R’s of the Recycling Symbol:Recycling Symbol:

REduceREuseREcycle

Reduce:Reduce:

Do I need to buy it?Do I need to buy it? Do I need to print it?Do I need to print it? Can I buy it with less packaging? (buy Can I buy it with less packaging? (buy

in bulk?)in bulk?)

This is our First and most important step!

Reuse:Reuse:

Use a glass or reusable water bottle Use a glass or reusable water bottle instead of bottled water.instead of bottled water.

Donate and shop for usable items at thrift Donate and shop for usable items at thrift stores.stores.

Reuse grocery bags or better yet, take Reuse grocery bags or better yet, take reusable cloth bags.reusable cloth bags.

Use egg cartons for starting garden seeds.Use egg cartons for starting garden seeds.

Before we trash or recycle it, maybe we can use it again. Maybe in a different way.

Recycle:Recycle: if you can’t reuse it, then Recycle if you can’t reuse it, then Recycle !!

Aluminum CansAluminum Cans Plastics # 1 & # 2Plastics # 1 & # 2 GlassGlass Paper, mixed paper, & cardboardPaper, mixed paper, & cardboard

Keep it out of our Landfills!Waste is a precious raw material

The 3 R’s CAN make a difference!

You You CANCAN Make a Make a DifferenceDifference

Aluminum can be recycled over and Aluminum can be recycled over and over again..over again..

Aluminum can be turned into a new can Aluminum can be turned into a new can and back on store shelves in 60 days. and back on store shelves in 60 days.

Aluminum can recycling bins are usually Aluminum can recycling bins are usually available at locations nationwide.available at locations nationwide.

Aluminum Can recycling usually pays Aluminum Can recycling usually pays per pound.per pound.

Recycling Pays

Every Day is Earth Day Every Day is Earth Day

What can What can youyou do? do? How can How can youyou be involved? be involved? How can How can youyou make a difference? make a difference?

5 things YOU can do5 things YOU can do

1.1. Turn off lights and electronics when Turn off lights and electronics when not in use.not in use.

2.2. Turn off water while brushing your Turn off water while brushing your teeth.teeth.

3.3. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

4.4. Use tap water and refillable bottles.Use tap water and refillable bottles.

5.5. Do not litter!Do not litter!

Get InvolvedGet Involved

Encourage recycling at your home Encourage recycling at your home and school.and school.

Practice the 3 R’s every day and Practice the 3 R’s every day and with every purchase. with every purchase.

Learn about your Carbon FootPrint.Learn about your Carbon FootPrint. Join a group that cares about the Join a group that cares about the

environment like Friends of the environment like Friends of the Locust Fork River.Locust Fork River.

It’s our Earth – It’s our Earth – Don’t trash it. Don’t trash it.

ReduceReduce ReuseReuse RecycleRecycle

Make a difference!

For more information about environmental workshops for teachers or resources go to

www.legacyenved.org

Do your part to help our environment in Alabama and purchase a special license car tag. Proceeds go to

environmental education projects.

For more information on The Locust Fork For more information on The Locust Fork River and Environmental Issues in Blount River and Environmental Issues in Blount

County, Alabama, contact: County, Alabama, contact:

Friends of the Locust Fork RiverFriends of the Locust Fork River

www.FLFR.org

8th – 12th graders get involved! Join the YA! FLFRs (Youth Activists! Friends of the Locust Fork River)

Contact: Martha Hunter 205-429-4120 or martha.1645@greenirene.com

Resources Resources http://www.aeconline.org/recycling/center http://sustainability.und.edu/earthdayhttp://sustainability.und.edu/earthday http://earth911.com/recycling/metal/aluminum-can/http://earth911.com/recycling/metal/aluminum-can/ http://www.dnr.mo.gov/env/swmp/pubs-reports/threers.htmhttp://www.dnr.mo.gov/env/swmp/pubs-reports/threers.htm http://greenitudes.com/recyclinghttp://greenitudes.com/recycling http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/rrr/index.htmhttp://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/rrr/index.htm http://www.recycledproducts.com/http://www.recycledproducts.com/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se12y9hSOM0 The http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se12y9hSOM0 The

Story of Stuff – Bottled WaterStory of Stuff – Bottled Water http://kilowattours.org/http://kilowattours.org/ http://www.carbonfootprint.comhttp://www.carbonfootprint.com http://www.legacyenved.org/http://www.legacyenved.org/

Love our renewable Love our renewable resources – Go Green!resources – Go Green!

!!