Exploring Circular Economy Concepts

What is a circular economy?

• An economic model that promotes unlimited consumption of resources.

• A circular economy is an economic system focused on sustainability by reusing and recycling resources to minimize waste.

• A system that focuses solely on profit maximization without regard for sustainability.

• A linear economy that emphasizes production and disposal of goods.

Can you name one way to recycle?

• Separate plastic bottles for recycling

• Dump items in a landfill

• Burn all waste materials

• Throw everything in the trash

Why is recycling important?

• Recycling increases the amount of waste in landfills.

• Recycling has no impact on energy consumption.

• Recycling is only beneficial for businesses.

• Recycling is important because it conserves resources, reduces waste, saves energy, and decreases pollution.

What does it mean to reduce waste?

• To recycle materials without reducing their use.

• To reduce waste means to minimize the amount of discarded materials and improve resource efficiency.

• To increase the amount of waste produced.

• To throw away items without considering their impact.

How can we reuse items instead of throwing them away?

• Burn them

• Throw them away

• Bury them in the backyard

• Repurpose, donate, upcycle, repair, and use for storage.

What is composting?

• Composting is a method of burning waste materials.

• Composting involves burying organic waste underground.

• Composting is the natural process of recycling organic matter, such as food and yard waste, into a valuable fertilizer.

• Composting is the process of creating synthetic fertilizers.

Can you think of something that can be made from recycled materials?

• Aluminum cans

• Glass bottles

• Plastic bags

• Furniture

What is a landfill?

• A landfill is a storage site for hazardous chemicals.

• A landfill is a site for the disposal of waste materials by burying them.

• A landfill is a facility for composting organic waste.

• A landfill is a recycling center for reusable materials.

Why should we try to use less plastic?

• To increase plastic production for economic growth.

• We should try to use less plastic to reduce pollution and protect the environment.

• To make recycling more difficult and costly.

• To promote the use of single-use plastics for convenience.

What does it mean to be sustainable?

• To be sustainable means to consume resources without any limits.

• To be sustainable means to prioritize economic growth over environmental health.

• To be sustainable means to ignore the needs of future generations.

• To be sustainable means to maintain ecological balance and ensure resources are available for future generations.