How talking trash with your kids can change the future

Illustrations of children doing various activities with speech bubbles that read Rethink, Reduce, Recover, Reuse and Recycle and kids in the middle sorting recyclable and compost items.

As the holidays approach, we know many children will be out of school enjoying their winter break – but that doesn’t mean their education (or the fun) has to stop. If you’re a parent or caretaker looking to find new ways to engage your kids, now might be the perfect time to help them learn more about waste education.

“Teaching kids about waste reduction from a young age helps them develop sustainable and environmentally friendly habits that can last a lifetime,” says Dani, a Waste Operations Technician with the Region of Durham’s Works Department. “It gives them the power to make informed choices and spark change in their communities. As the decision-makers of tomorrow, their dedication to the environment can lead to positive changes in society.”

Not sure where to start? Not to worry – Durham Region already offers an abundance of free online education programs and resources for students from kindergarten to Grade 12 that focus on the five Rs of waste management: Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (including compost) and Recover. These resources, which have been designed to align with the Ontario Elementary School Curriculum, include activity books and colouring sheets, interactive sorting games, videos, background modules, lesson plans and more! Not only are these resources free, but the Region even received a gold award for the Know Before You Throw – Five Rs Activity Book and Colouring Pages from the Municipal Waste Association’s Promotion and Education Awards category. Plus, you don’t need to register or login to access the resources at durham.ca/WasteEducation.

“When developing our education programs, from kids to adults, we aim to keep the material fun and engaging.” Dani says. “Kids thrive when we make learning fun. This means tapping into their natural curiosity and imagination, breaking down information into easy-to-understand sections and using real-life examples to make it relatable. Visuals, hands-on activities and storytelling can help grab their attention and make the material easier for them to understand. Also, building an emotional connection and encouraging action gives them a sense of responsibility, making learning effective and fun.”

A screenshot of the Know Before Your Throw game showing a newspaper with arrows pointing to a Waste Facility, Garbage, Containers Blue Box, Papers Blue Box, Yard Waste, Green Bin and Reuse.

Parents and guardians play an important role in promoting waste reduction and practicing these efforts at home. By including waste reduction in daily routines, they set positive examples that help children develop sustainable habits from a young age. Here are some ideas to help make this process fun for kids:

Create art projects using recyclable materials, like paper chains out of newspaper or mosaics with bottle caps.
Have kids help make and pack waste-free lunches using reusable containers.
Work together to repair items, such as sewing buttons back onto clothes or repainting toys.
Get kids involved in sorting recyclable materials into the correct bin.
Teach children about the benefits of donating and thrifting items.
Read books and play games that focus on the environment and sustainability.

Durham Region also offers options throughout the school year to continue the learning with both virtual and in-person sessions:

Real-time Virtual Presentation

We offer free real-time virtual presentations for students from kindergarten to Grade 12. These interactive sessions, which are typically 45-minutes long, can be tailored to suit multiple classes or grades with shared themes.

In-person and Real-time Virtual Presentations/Tours of the Durham-York Energy Centre (DYEC)

Both real-time virtual presentations and in-person tours of the DYEC are available for high school and post-secondary students. We can accommodate groups of approximately 35 guests, accompanied by a teacher, for in-person presentations and tours. Note that visitor agreement forms must be completed in advance and that the school is responsible for organizing and funding transportation costs.

In-person Kinder Workshops

In-person presentations for kindergarten-aged students are considered if multiple kindergarten classes will be attending. Each class rotates through the presentation for a pre-scheduled 30-minute timeslot. Schools can request one day of in-person kindergarten presentations per school year. Staff will accommodate up to one in-person kindergarten presentation per week across all school boards when possible.

Family-Friendly Workshops

In addition to school presentations, a variety of family-friendly workshops are available by request. Held during regular work hours, these sessions aim to engage young minds with creative and educational experiences, making them perfect for family participation.

When it comes to educating kids about waste reduction and sustainability, our employees are passionate about providing enriching experiences to help them understand the importance of these topics. “Working with kids is such a rewarding experience for me, mainly because of their curiosity and enthusiasm,” says Dani. “Their eagerness to explore and ask questions keeps our sessions fun and filled with new ideas and discoveries. It also serves as reminder of the important role of keeping education engaging, so they can learn and thrive.”

We hope you’ll have the opportunity to connect with your children to help share the importance of waste reduction and sustainability. To learn more, visit durham.ca/Waste.