New York Recycles Poster Contest Theme Background & Ideas

Theme: Climate Change Affects Us All

Climate change and the use of resources are closely tied together. How products are made, transported and disposed of have real impacts to the environment and greenhouse gas emissions. Choosing to buy items with less packaging or opting to buy local can reduce unnecessary waste and emissions. These actions can conserve valuable natural resources, reduce pollution and make a healthier environment for all.

Suggestions for posters: Keep track of what you are buying at the grocery store and see if this was made locally or traveled from farther away. What resources were needed to make that item and what happens to it after you are done with it? Does it end up in the environment? After examination, come up with some ideas on how to reduce waste. Examples of waste types that could be addressed are litter, pollution, packaging or transportation emissions and how these can affect different habitats such as pollinators and our own human habitat!

Additional Resource Links: 

• NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s Introduction to Climate Change
• US Environmental Protection Agency’s Resources, Waste and Climate Change
• NASA Climate Kids

Theme: The First R - Reduction

Waste reduction is so important that it's the first of the three R's (reduce, reuse, recycle). Waste reduction means decreasing how much waste (garbage) you create. Waste isn't just what you throw in the garbage can. For example, water can be wasted if left on for a long time.  

Suggestions for posters: Keep track of how much waste you and your family create in a day.  After examination, come up with some ideas on how to reduce or completely get rid of part of that waste. Examples of waste types that could be addressed are food waste, plastic packaging, or water waste.