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TOP TIPS TO SAVE OUR PLANET

Everybody is talking about climate change these days. But do we really know what it’s all about… and more importantly what can we do about it?

Here are some facts about climate change:

Fact 1:

Fossil fuels like coal, gas and oil make a gas called carbon dioxide when burnt. Carbon dioxide is very harmful to the planet and makes it warmer and warmer so the ice at the North and South Poles melt. This means that the world becomes hotter, causing the sea levels to rise and making it difficult for animals to live.

Fact 2:

Every year, people throw away seven times their body weight in rubbish! This rubbish often ends up in a landfill site, which is a huge hole in the ground. When the rubbish begins to rot and mixes with the ground water, it produces a chemical called methane which is even more harmful to the planet than carbon dioxide.

Fact 3:

In some countries, people burn the rubbish in a landfill. This creates pollutants, including the gases that cause acid rain which damages the environment. Recycling waste instead of throwing it away helps to avoid these problems. Some waste that can easily be recycled, like glass, takes over 3,000 years to break down when thrown away!

Here are some ideas so you too can help the planet:

1. Reduce the amount of rubbish you throw away!
   Why not use a plastic lunch box instead of foil or cling film? You don’t have to throw your lunch box away, but you do throw away wrappers. If you reduce the amount of things that you use, you will reduce the amount of rubbish that you throw away. This is very good news for the environment!
2. Reuse!
   Instead of using a fresh piece of paper, why not turn over the one you already have, and use the other side? By reusing materials like paper, plastic, glass and cardboard you are looking after the environment because you throw away less. This means less rubbish will be put in a landfill and fewer harmful gases will be released into the environment from rubbish tips.
3. Recycle you paper!
   Don’t put your paper in the normal bin, put it in the recycling bin! If there isn’t a recycling bin in your classroom or at home, you could make one out of an old cardboard box. You can recycle all sorts of things like glass, aluminium cans, plastic bottles and many, many more! Do you know that recycled plastic bottles can be made in to fleeces? If we all recycle more, there will be much less rubbish in landfill sites, rotting and letting off methane and carbon dioxide. This means a much happier environment!
4. Recycle your cartridges!
   When you print out pictures and documents from your computer, and your printer cartridges run out, don’t throw them away! If you send your cartridges away somewhere, they can be recycled. One company that does this is Cartridge SAVE. All you need to do is log on to their website and fill in a form, and they will send you a bag to put your cartridge in and post it back to them. They will do the rest! And the best thing about recycling with them is that they donate money to a charity called The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, which looks after orphaned baby elephants and rhinos, so you’re helping wildlife conservation too!
5. Turn it off!
   One of the easiest ways that you can save the planet is by turning everything off! When you leave a room, turn the off lights to save energy. You can do this at school too. Turn off the television at the main switch, not just on the remote control. And don’t leave the tap running while you brush your teeth: turn it off! All these little things add up to make a BIG difference, especially if everyone joins in.