Waste & Recycling
what do the three "Rs" stand for
reduce, reuse, recycle
what diet generally have the lowest environmental impact
plant based diet
what gas is the biggest contributor to climate change
CO2
what is fast fashion
cheap, trendy clothing produced quickly
recycling always reduces waste
False --> recycling helps but its not always perfect. a lot of items placed in recycling bins are actually contaminated or not fully recyclable, which means they still end up in landfills. also, recycling still uses energy, so reducing and reusing is a much better option
composting
how much water does it roughly take to produce one hamburger (50 gallons, 200, 650 or 2000 gallons)
660 gallons
which energy source is renewable
solar
how many times is an avg clothing item worn before being thrown away
5-7 times
paper bags are always better than plastic bags
false --> paper bags break down easier but require more energy, water, and resources to produce. the best option is reusable bag
what type of waste breaks down naturally and can be composted
organic waste (food scraps, yard waste, etc)
what percentage of food is wasted globally?
~30-40%
what is phatom energy
what is the most sustainable clothing option
secondhand/thrifted clothing
electric cars have zero environmental impact
false --> electric cars reduce emissions during use, but they still have an impact from battery production, mining materials, and electricity sources. better than gas cars but not completely impact free
what is "wishcycling?"
putting non-recyclables in recycling hoping they'll be recycled
which has a lower carbon footprint? 1. local beef 2. imported vegetables
imported vegetables
which sector contributes the most to global greenhouse gas emissions? (transportation, industry, energy production or agriculture)
energy production
what fabric has HIGH environmental impact
polyester (plastic based)
turning off lights saves energy
true
what is the term for tiny pieces of plastic less than 5 millimeters long that are commonly found in oceans, food, and even drinking water?
microplastics
what is food desert
area with limited access to affordable, nutritious food
what does "net zero" mean
emitting no more greenhouse gasses than are removed
what is "greenwashing"
companies misleading consumers abt sustainability
individual actions alone can solve climate change
false --> individual choices matter but climate change is largely driven by system-level issues