Where Trash Goes
What is a landfill?
A. A place where we bury trash in the ground
B. A park where people play
C. A school for learning about trash
D. A place where recycling is not allowed
A. A place where we bury trash in the ground
What does “reuse” mean?
A. Throw something away after one use
B. Use something again instead of throwing it away
C. Break something into small pieces
B. Use something again instead of throwing it away
About how long does it take a plastic water bottle to break down in the environment?
A. 1 year
B. 10 years
C. About 450 years
D. It never breaks down
C. About 450 years
How long does it take a paper towel to break down?
A. A few weeks
B. 1 year
C. 10 years
D. 100 years
A. A few weeks
What is one way you can help reduce waste at home?
A. Throw everything away
B. Use items only one time
C. Reuse items when you can
D. Leave trash on the ground
C. Reuse items when you can
Where does most of our trash go when we throw it away?
A. The ocean
B. The landfill
C. The sun
D. The neighbors house
B. The landfill
What does it mean to recycle?
A. Throw things away in any bin
B. Make new things from old things
C. Keep things exactly the same forever
B. Make new things from old things
How long does it take a paper fast food wrapper (like a burger wrapper) to break down?
A. A few weeks
B. 5 years
C. 100 years
D. It never breaks down
C. 100 years
About how long does it take an aluminum can to break down?
A. 5 years
B. 80–100 years
C. 200 years
D. 500 years
B. 80–100 years
What should you do with a plastic bottle when you are done with it?
A. Throw it in the trash can
B. Put it in the recycling bin
C. Hide it in your backpack
D. Drop it in the street
B. Put it in the recycling bin
Why do we put trash in a landfill?
A. To make a giant hill
B. To keep trash in one safe place
C. To feed wild animals
D. To make new toys
B. To keep trash in one safe place
How can we reduce paper waste at school?
A. Use a new sheet of paper for each activity
B. Use both sides of the paper when possible
C. Throw away paper after one use
D. Use extra paper just in case
B. Use both sides of the paper when possible
How long might it take a glass bottle to break down in the environment?
A. 50 years
B. 100 years
C. 1,000 years or more
D. It melts instantly
C. 1,000 years or more
Which material takes the longest to break down?
A. Plastic bag
B. Banana peel
C. Aluminum can
D. Glass bottle
D. Glass bottle
What is a good way to help the Earth at school?
A. Use only new paper for every assignment
B. Turn off lights and electronics when not in use
C. Throw away items instead of reusing them
D. Use extra supplies just in case
B. Turn off lights and electronics when not in use
Besides new bottles, what else can plastic be made into?
A. Clothing
B. Playground equipment
C. Toothbrushes
D. All of the above
D. All of the above
What is the main reason recycling is important?
A. It makes trash disappear
B. It helps reduce the use of new natural resources
C. It turns all waste into energy
D. It eliminates the need for landfills
B. It helps reduce the use of new natural resources
How long does it take a plastic bag (like from a store) to break down?
A. 1 week
B. 10 years
C. 100 years
D. 500–1,000 years
D. 500–1,000 years
How long does it take a banana peel to break down in the environment?
A. A few days
B. About 2 to 5 weeks
C. 10 years
D. 100 years
B. About 2 to 5 weeks
Why is it important to take care of the Earth?
A. So we can have clean air, water, and a healthy place to live
B. So we can use all resources as quickly as possible
C. So we don’t have to worry about the environment later
D. So nature can take care of itself without help
A. So we can have clean air, water, and a healthy place to live
What is composting?
A. Throwing all your trash in one bin
B. Mixing food to make a snack
C. Letting food scraps and yard waste turn into something good for plants
D. Burning leaves and sticks
C. Letting food scraps and yard waste turn into something good for plants
What does it mean to be environmentally responsible?
A. Using natural resources wisely and helping protect the Earth
B. Throwing trash into nature if no one is watching
C. Only caring about the environment on Earth Day
D. Using paper instead of plastic for everything
A. Using natural resources wisely and helping protect the Earth
About how long can a plastic straw last in the environment?
A. 1 year
B. 5 years
C. About 200 years
D. 10 days
C. About 200 years
How long does it take a plastic bag to break down?
A. 1 week
B. 10 years
C. 100 years
D. 500–1,000 years
D. 500–1,000 years
What can you do if you see trash on the ground?
A. Wait for someone else to clean it up
B. Pick it up and throw it away in the proper bin
C. Move it to a different spot
D. Leave it if it’s not yours
B. Pick it up and throw it away in the proper bin