Generally I try my best to recycle things but even then not all things will be used to be turned into something new. Typically I am pretty good about the plastic bottle and tin can situation. I do not drink sodas very often or any other things that come out of a can and I almost always will bring a reusable water bottle wherever I go but my biggest downfall is with styrofoam cups and other cups you get at restaurants and places like Dunkin Donuts. I always try to recycle when it is available however I think it would be good to try and reuse some cups. In the future I will try to clean out the plastic cups and use them a few times before recycling them. Another thing I will think about doing is to invest into a reusable cup for places I typically go so I can reduce the amount of cups they use and I use.

Avery, 15
North Carolina

I also try my best to recycle material than can be recycled when it is available. I like how you put the fact that not all the recyclables get turned into new items. Reusing is a good idea as it doesn't require any extra energy for transportation and processing, all you need is a quick rinse and you're set to use it again. Getting reusable cups from those stores is also a great idea because you can use it as many times as you want and don't have to recycle it. Controlling and managing our waste is really important because we can't have more trash going into our waterways and polluting earth's aquatic ecosystems. Our trash is harming other animals who mistake it for food and die of poisoning, scientist cut open the stomach of dead birds to find that there are multiple pieces of plastic inside of them. We need to control our uses now so that our trash doesn't has even worsening effects.