Tell Recycle Now how you encourage your DCs to recycle for a chance to win an iPad mini! NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

We are all aware of the importance of recycling, but it can be easy to forget when we’re all so busy browsing MN threads. Recycle Now has teamed up with Wastebuster to launch a campaign to encourage more families to recycle more items, more often. They would like to hear how you encourage your DCs to recycle and for you to take part in their Home Recycling Challenge.

Here’s what Recycle Now has to say: “To help kids recycle more at home, we’ve created the Home Recycling Challenge, which includes the chance to win great prizes. Here’s how you and your family can take part:

Step 1 – visit wastebuster.co.uk/homerecyclingchallenge and download the competition sheet/ recycling poster template

Step 2 – use the recycling locator with your kids to find out what can and can’t be recycled in your area and use this information to fill in the blanks and decorate on your poster

Step 3 – stick the poster up in your home and take a family selfie

Step 4 – upload your photo to the Recycling Hero Hall of Fame to be in with a shot of winning some great prizes!

Every family has a different routine, and we want to hear about how you teach your kids good recycling habits that they can take forward into later life. Did you know that you can recycle bleach bottles, shampoo bottles, kitchen cleaner bottles, baby food jars, aerosol deodorants, face cream pots and dishwasher tablet boxes?”

Have a look at their video here

So how do you get your DC to recycle at home? Maybe you make a game of it by seeing who can recycle the most? Perhaps you make it easier to sort by having stickered bins? Do you take it in turns or is it one person’s job? Or do you give your DC rewards for recycling?

Please share on this thread how you encourage your DCs to recycle below and you will be entered into the prize draw to where one winner will win an iPad mini.

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

Standard Insight T and Cs Apply

just make it a way of life.no need for games or giving them treats when they do good.we recycle end of.point out when something they recycle or don't should or shouldn't be done but apart from that from the get go just recycle.
mine didn't need teaching because it is our life we recycle and they no to do that.they would think it weird if they went somewhere that didn't.
so make it a part of everyday. don't make it a chore,this si then another thing to turn agasint.not do.

The best way to learn is to follow good example. Always put rubbish in the bin, don't throw on the floor, and put things that can be re-cycled aside so they can be put in the re-cycling bin.

Toys and books that are no longer played with or wanted can be donated to a charity shop or passed on. That favourite dress thats too small - its nice to see your little cousin wearing it.

My daughter is only 4, so I'm working on getting her in the habit of placing items in the recycling bin for me. She loves finding our bin after collection.

We used to make a bit of a game of the recycling but, as they have gotten older, they have become much more aware of environmental issues and it is now more a conscientious effort- really its done without thinking about it so to speak, so it's not really an effort at all but normal behaviour.

We don't have any rewards or anything like that in place, we learn from life and she's very conscious of what affects our planet earth so getting her to recycle has never been an issue!

We have a waste paper bin in the living room which is for recycling only while the one in the kitchen is for food waste and non recyclables.

We did a project last year on recycling and she really enjoyed learning about what happens to things like plastic, paper etc after it leaves us.

My lot have always been taught to recycle, and I love they have a feeling of pride when they do. My younger two have a recycling box in their room too, so when they have finished making things, they sort through what goes where.
The only places I actually enjoy shopping is at Charity shops, and car boot sales, I love a bargain, knowing that elsewhere others will have paid top dollar for it...and the kids are part of a toy swap group, where we all bring our old toys once every few months, and swap them for new! x

Recycling is a favourite job for my 2 year old I think because it's his special job, he goes round upstairs and collects all of the recycling. He then washes out all the bottles and things which is a bit of water play for them. We then have a little game outside where we are how far away we can stand and he can still throw them in the bin. My eldest 2 children love having a good rummage through to find things for creating with. We also take a lot of things like toilet paper tubes and boxes into school for art/craft projects

We have bins in the kitchen for different types of waste and my sons have always helped put things in the right bin. We compost our kitchen waste and have always talked to them about the importance of recycling. They used to get stickers for helping recycle but now they are older they just do it automatically

We have three bins - waste, recycling, food. The children are aged 9 and 10 and have been using them for four years correctly. They also take the recycling wheelie bin out fortnightly, and the food bin weekly. It's a shared thing.

Their favourite thing is the glass smashing recycling. Thankfully I drink enough to keep this entertainment going.

My 9 year old daughter always asks if she,s not sure which bin something goes into.She has been on the eco team at school,so understands how important recycling is for her & future generations futures.

We make it a game separating recycling from normal rubbish.

We have coloured recycling bags (from aldi) for each type of recycling and DD knows which item goes in which bag. They've learnt a lot about materials at school this year which has really helped.

I tell them how important it is for the planet to recycle and less going to landfill makes our world better

This is just something that is a part of our family life. We have a red bin for rubbish, outside areas for "cycling" and a box for paper (except precious pictures. We have an outside composter which we put all the vegetable peelings, stale bread and tea and coffee bags. My DD's love to see the colourful recycling van which comes around weekly take out our tins, plastics and paper, and our compost goes on daddy's allotment.

I don't really think about it because it is automatic! We have different tubs and bins for all the different items and that is just the way it is! Apart from explaining what goes where, it just happens! It used to be quite good posting all the different rubbish at the recycling bins at the supermarket, especially the glass bottles! However our town supermarkets don't have recycling any more so it is all bin collections!

Well we live in 'Wombles' territory so recycling flows through our DCs veins!

I guess just leading/teaching by example from a young age. They empty their own bedroom bins and have to 'process' into 'bin' and recyclables' waste. We give all outgrown (but still in good condition) clothes to charity or friends/family. We use flip side of printed letters etc...as rough paper. We compost all fruit/veggie food waste. Don't over-buy. We try to mend household items rather than throw out and buy new...

It's not difficult to do and becomes second nature very quickly.

We use the recycling bins but check first to see if we can use any of the items again such as paper for drawing or notes, re use the milk bottles as watering/storage containers, tin cans the children paint and decorate we use them for plant pots its always fun to see if you can re use any of the recycling

It is easy for our household as we have three places to put things- ordinary waste in the kitchen bin, recyclable glass/plastic/paper/card/metal into a large bag on a hook by the kitchen door and food waste into the kitchen caddy. Then one of us (okay it's always me) empties each into the respective bins outside when they are full.

I demonstrate to my DC how to recycle and reward her by giving coloured stars when she gets it right

First DD was great growing up with recycling always joining in and saying something when someone didn't recycle, however as she grew into a teenager I must say her whole bedroom was a dumping ground for everything :) but when she is out of the house she still recycles... Tennagers!

Ever since the Peppa Pig recycling episode all we have to do is sing the 'Recycle, Recycle, We're Going To Recycle' song and my daughter gets into it. She loves the idea of her left over dinner turning into compost!

Recycling is second nature to my daughter now she started at a young age and they had recycling bins at school as well. We used to make a game of it and she used to really enjoy it.

I've always had my little girl recycle since she was walking. I have seperate bins/bags for cardboard, bottles, plastic and paper and have always made sure she put the correct things in each bag. Never had an issue :)

The recycling of plastics is very confusing for me and for children. It seems to vary depending on where you live - e.g. you mentioned being able to recycle bleach bottles but can you also recycle the lids as they are made from a different harder plastic.

In this day and age it is such a normal part of everyday life I haven't had to do anything special to get them to recycle. They see me do it and follow my lead