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Every week, Truthout posts a short video for middle school aged kids – and everyone else – about climate change and its effects. “The Green Ninja,” a character created by a climate scientist and his team, provides an entertaining and educational way to help children grasp the intricacies of climate change and learn what they can personally do to become involved in fighting it. See additional details about the series or head straight to this week’s episode “Dumpster Diver.”
In this episode, outback explorer Mick “Dumpsta-Diva” Bliss takes us on a journey inside of a dumpster to look at some of the “critters” that live there. Some of these creatures do not belong in a dump. Plant/produce waste, for example, should be composted rather than thrown away. Composting is an amazing thing that not many people know about. By putting a banana peel into a compost bin, it allows the banana peel to rot, which will release all of the contained nutrients into the compost.
Some critters that are not so easily disposed of end up in the dump, too. Reusable materials such as metals (which make up many household objects such as batteries) cannot be used effectively if they are thrown in a dump. Metal does not decompose. Therefore, throwing it in a dump means it will be there for a very long time. This is why we recycle reusable materials such as metal, plastics, and paper products. Recycling these things can reduce the use of our limited resources on Earth, reduce carbon footprint, and save you money!
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