RECYCLING AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Click here!
 VOCABULARY
Waste
Natural Recourses
Air Pollution
Emissions
Overpopulation
Recycling
Off the Grid
Earth House
PROBLEMS WITH THE ENVIRONMENT

WHEN DID IT START?

THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
1760-1840
 HOW THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION EFFECTED THE ENVIRONMENT

• Major increase in the population of cities which produced more

waste

• Depletion of natural recourses (water, land, minerals, vegetation)

• The use of chemicals and fuel created air pollution

• Polluted water and streams

 LIFE AFTER THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION

Overpopulation Emissions/air pollution

LANDFILLS
HOW A LANDFILL WORKS
POLLUTING THE OCEANS

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

SHIPPING OUR WASTE TO CHINA!
WHAT CAN WE DO?
RECYCLING! IT’S NOT A NEW CONCEPT!
RECYCLING DATES BACK TO THE BRONZE AGE
(3000-1000 BC)
 RECYCLING IN THE UNITED STATES
(VERY SIMILAR TO SPAIN)
The blue bin is for recycled materials and the The waste management company will send a
brown bin is for regular trash truck to pick up the recycling and trash
PEOPLE CAN TAKE THEIR RECYCLING TO
RECYCLING CENTERS FOR MONEY!!!!
POPULAR METHODS TO HELP THE
ENVIRONMENT
TINY HOUSE MOVEMENT
TINY HOUSES ARE BUILT ON A TRAILER FOR
EASY TRANSPORT
INSIDE A TINY HOUSE!
PRO’S AND CON’S OF LIVING IN A TINY HOUSE
Pro’s
• It is much cheaper than building or
buying a house.
• FINANCIAL FREEDOM!
• Some Tiny Houses are OFF THE
GRID
• Not reliant on public utilities:
water, electricity, sewage.
• It teaches you to live with less
things
Con’s
• You’re living in a very small space
• Some people find that living in a
tiny house with a partner or family
not enough space
• Living off the grid
• It is a lot of work sometimes and
can be inconvenient
• You have to deal with stupid building
regulations and laws set by your
region or state
EARTH HOUSE
 WHAT IS AN EARTH HOUSE?
• It is a house that uses the surrounding terrain and other natural
elements such as dirt, bamboo, clay to have less of an environmental
impact.
• The homes are very well insulated (cooler in the summer and warmer
in the winter) because of its very thick earth walls.
• In addition to the natural elements being used for building, some earth
houses also will use concrete and other types of recycled materials
such as tires and bottles
• Like the Tiny Houses, Earth Houses can be off the grid and are
cheaper to build
TIRES USED FOR EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR
RECYCLED BOTTLES
QUESTION AND ANSWER
1. WHAT ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEM ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT?
• Overpopulation
• On average, people produce 4 pounds of waste everyday!
• 365 days a year X 4 pounds of waste per person = 1,460 pounds of waste each
year produced by one person
• Average age in the United States is 78 and there are 365 days in a year.
• 365 X 78 = 28, 470 days of life for an average American
• 28,470 (days) X 4 pounds of waste everyday = 113,880 pounds of waste
generated in ONE persons lifetime in the United States.

• Deadly Virus’s like the Coronavirus

A.I. (ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE)
 2. WHAT DO YOU DO TO SAVE ENERGY?
• I keep our thermostat down very low between
18-20 Celsius (even in the winter!)
• Take cold showers
• Do not use a dishwasher
• Use lights only at night
3. HOW FAR DO YOU HAVE TO GO FOR RECYCLING BINS?
• I have three separate bags and/or bins for recycling in my flat:
One for plastic and tin, one for paper and one for glass

• I only have to walk to the end of my street to dispose of my

recycling. I typically take my recycling to the bins on my way to
the supermarket.
4. WHEN YOU GO SHOPPING, DO YOU LOOK FOR GREEN PRODUCTS?
• Green product is a popular name for environmentally friendly
product

• To be honest, I rarely look for green products because I have

found that a lot of companies make a lot of claims about their
products that are not always true. So I usually ignore fad items
and movements.
5. WHAT KIND OF THINGS DO YOU RECYCLE?
• Paper/cardboard
• Plastic
• Tin cans
• Glass
• Composting – I keep my food
scraps in a bag in the freezer
of my refrigerator and them
take them out to the
composting bins when I take
out the recycling
6. ARE YOU WILLING TO PAY MORE FOR GREEN PRODUCTS?
• See question 4

• However, if there is a product that has been proven to be 100%

green, then I might buy it.
8. COULD YOU DO MORE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT?
• Sure, we all could do more for the environment. But I believe that to truly do it right we would have to give
up some of our inconveniences and live OFF THE GRID.

• Shop locally
• I try to support small, local business’s and try to buy most of my food from them, when possible.
• Buy organic foods

• Ways to live off the grid:

• Solar Energy
• Cities become more reliant on wind power
• Composting Toilets
• Use rain (rain barrels) water for everyday use
• Live a more minimalistic life
9. COULD THE GOVERNMENT DO MORE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT?
• Of course! Unfortunately every country and government is different. Some
countries do more for the environment than others
• The sad truth of it all is that most countries/governments (especially the
United States) will not implement environmental changes because of two
reasons:
• The opposing political party wants it
• There’s a risk of financial loss for special interest groups (oil industry)
and political contributors
 LINKS
• Tiny Houses: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddLxMSpBUzw

• Earth Houses: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZ3ZykeQGHg

• The Great Pacific Garbage Patch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHK2Zg5OibI