In the News: Children ‘Telling Off’ Parents

Children ‘Tell Off’ Parents for Not Making an Effort with Recycling

Today’s children are growing up in a world where climate change, recycling, and plastic pollution are never far from the headlines and where environmental awareness is taught in schools, and it’s having a big impact on them, according to a survey carried out by the Metal Packaging Manufacturers Association (MPMA).

The survey found that children are the ones pushing for more recycling and sustainable living at home, rather than parents.

In fact, the survey found that 43% of parents had been ‘told off’ by their children for not making an effort when it comes to recycling. Their main ‘crimes’ were throwing items like cans in the bin rather than recycling them, and buying products with non-recyclable packaging.

Of 2000 parents surveyed:

• 35% admitted that their children care about recycling more than they do.
• 35% have been told off by their kids for not washing out recyclables before putting them in the bin.
• 10% admitted it was more likely that they’d throw a can in the bin rather than recycling it.
• 46% have put a can in the bin because they ‘couldn’t be bothered’ to wash it out.

The chief executive of the MPMA said that children are learning about the environment and recycling at school and they are seeing people like Greta Thunberg in the public eye, so many know more about recycling and the environment than their parents. He added that there is still a lot of confusion about what can and can’t be recycled, and that’s why it’s important that the younger generation are becoming more interested in how they can help the environment, starting at home.

Recycling as a family

Are you a parent who needs to clean up your act when it comes to recycling? One of the best ways to make recycling easier and more fun is to do it as a family.

Many families are spending more time together at home at the moment so it’s the perfect time to get started. Here’s how:

Start leading by example

Even if your child is running rings around you when it comes to recycling and sustainable living, it’s no excuse not to try. Start with small steps; separate your cardboard, glass, and plastic, turn off appliances rather than leaving them on standby, and turn off the tap when you’re brushing your teeth. These might seem like small habits but they make a difference, especially when everyone in the family is doing the same.

Learn about recycling together

Watch some programmes about the environment, or read some books or online articles about recycling together. You and your children will learn something, and hopefully you’ll be motivated to do better with your recycling. We challenge you to watch Blue Planet II and not instantly feel like you never want to buy anything made from plastic again!

Make it fun

Rather than seeing recycling as another thing on your never-ending list of chores, why not make fun?

• Play a game of ‘recyclable or not?’ Collect several different items and ask your child whether each one is recyclable or not.
• Find a recycling quiz online and do it as a family. Give a prize to the winner like a chocolate bar or the chance to pick the film on your family movie night.
• Use some recyclables to do arts and crafts together. You remember Blue Peter and all of the things you could make from a washing up liquid bottle, right? Well think along those lines; your imagination is your only limit! This is a great way to find value in things that might otherwise have ended up in the bin.

If the school report on recycling in your household would say ‘could do better’ why not make it a family affair? It’s a chance to bond and create good habits together that will help the planet for years to come.