New York Recycles Poster Contest Theme Background & Ideas

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 examinination, 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.

Theme: Reduce Your Single Use

Choosing reusable items instead of single use items is one way to reduce your waste. Choosing reusable items instead of single use items helps the environment because it not only reduces waste but also conserves natural resources and can also help reduce litter.

Suggestions for posters: Whether you're at home, at school, at sports practice, on the go or somewhere else, show us which reusable items you choose to use instead of single use items! Examples include using reusable shopping bags, using reusable water bottles, choosing reusable utensils instead of disposable ones, packing your lunch in reusable containers instead of throw-away plastic lunch and snack bags and reusable straws instead of plastic straws.