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My Environmental Science students are eager to apply what they have learned in their class especially about Zero Waste Management. By using 7R's (reuse, repurpose, rot, repair, return, refill and refuse), they can practice their skills of helping make the environment clean. By using the recyclable bins in each Environmental Science classrooms and other appropriate school places, students at school can throw their garbage at the appropriate bags so other wastes can be REUSED such as water bottles, papers, etc. REPURPOSE takes reuse to a new level by adding do-it-yourself skills to the mix. The same plastic water bottle that can be refilled with tap water can be crafted into a music shaker, bird feeder or other useful items. An old vintage school desk could be repainted and used as a child鈥檚 home study desk, while a rusty rake head can be hung upside down to display wine glasses. Repurposing is sometimes called 鈥渦pcycling鈥 since the materials are not broken down to be recycled but rather are being added to for a better use so those water bottles thrown in the recycled bag can be used again. ROT takes advantage of nature鈥檚 natural decomposition process to manage organic resources like food scraps, dead leaves, tree limbs and grass clippings. By using the requested material such as the garbage clippers, students can help pick up food scraps, dead leaves, tree limbs and other waste that can be rot. As these materials decompose in a controlled environment they create compost, a beneficial soil amendment that can improve gardens and the quality of soil in general. Agricultural Science teacher as also teaching environmental science can make compost 鈥渂lack gold鈥 since it helps plants retain moisture and gives them beneficial nutrients. REFILL is similar to reuse because we鈥檙e encouraged to use containers again.
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