Interactive Activity: Garbage!

Name______#______Date______Hour______

Directions: This is an online research activity. Follow the step-by-step directions below to learn more about pollution and the environment. Go to http://www.learner.org/interactives/garbage/intro.html

1. On average, about how much solid trash do Americans generate daily? ______

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2. Explain the difference between sustainable and non-sustainable practices: ______

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3. Click on facts about solid waste. How much trash does the United States generate every year?

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4. How much of American trash is recycled every year? ______

5. Explain the two reasons that landfills have been closed: ______

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6. Can we burn garbage? Explain: ______

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7. Can we pay someone to take our garbage? Explain: ______

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8. Click on Find out about Possible Solutions. List two possible solutions for solid waste reduction:

1. ______2. ______

9. Explain the benefits of recycling: ______

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10. Explain the downside to recycling: ______

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11. Click on Back to Solid Waste. On the left of the screen, click on “Hazardous Waste”. List three facts about hazardous waste:

1.______2.______3.______

12. Who is responsible for hazardous waste? Explain: ______

______13. Click on Find out about Possible Solutions. What are the two approaches to addressing the challenges of hazardous waste?

1. ______2. ______

14. According to the National Academy of Sciences, the waste-prevention approach should have a hierarchy of goals. List those 5 goals:

1. ______4. ______

2. ______5.______

3. ______

15. Click on Back to Hazardous Waste. On the left of the screen, click on “Sewage”. What is sewage?

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16. Why is it costly to treat sewage? ______

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17. Click on Find out about Possible Solutions. Describe what the city of Arcata, California has implemented as an effective low-tech alternative to treating sewage:

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18. Click on Back to Sewage. On the left of the screen, click on “Global Efforts”. Copenhagen, Denmark has developed a comprehensive program for managing urban waste. List the goals of the program:

1.______2.______3.______

19. Explain why the programs in Copenhagen, Denmark and Arcata, California are good possible solutions for waste disposal:

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20. Click on Find out about Possible Solutions. List three other places that are making global efforts in waste management:

1.______2.______3.______

21. Click on Back to Global Efforts. On the left of the screen, click on “The Future”.

22. People worldwide are beginning to recognize that a healthy, functioning community relies on a healthy ______.

23. ______and overuse of ______can affect everything from the health of children to the availability of raw materials.

24. Increasingly, we are realizing the importance of not only meeting ______regulations but also taking extra steps to reduce ______, prevent ______, and conserve ______.