by Growing Needs | Mar 18, 2024 | Lifestyle & Wellness, Lifestyle habits
Recycling confers many benefits to the environment and for the future generation. It is imperative we look at the process of recycling and we start to realise what benefits it can also bring to us as individuals.
We see the growing importance of engaging seniors as part of environmental conservation efforts. Recycling is a community effort and through recycling initiatives, it could be a good avenue to engage seniors and share knowledge at the same time. Here, we breakdown how seniors and their caregivers can get started on cultivating the habit of recycling!
The most important piece of the puzzle – education on recycling helps one understand the significance of recycling and the impact one can have, making it more likely for one to adopt sustainable habits. The older generation might not have the best understanding of recycling and might think it is just to save Mother Earth. Not wrong in that regard but how so?
By learning about our carbon footprint – the total emissions by everyone living on this planet, one can better understand and gauge how much carbon emissions they are generating in daily life and thus likely to become more invested in reducing carbon footprint, making a positive environmental change.
We like Zero Waste SG for their educational content on recycling which easily breaks down the different aspects on how to recycle. For seniors and their caregivers who live together, there are many opportunities starting from the home to start recycling, for example separating trash into recyclables and non-recyclables. This is a fun activity that can help both parties strengthen that social bond!
Partaking in recycling initiatives sends across an important message – one not only makes a direct impact to reducing carbon footprint but also serves as inspiration for others to create positive environmental impact! There are many green groups who have come up with brilliant initiatives to raise awareness on recycling or simply to get everyone recycling. There are even some catered towards the elderly.
Asia Pacific Breweries Singapore, Zero Waste SG, and Lions Befrienders join hands to empower seniors with recycling knowledge and enable them to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle. In this program, they aim to increase the recycling rate and driving the habit of recycling among seniors
If you’re feeling more adventurous, planning a recycling initiative together could be a meaningful activity for seniors and caregivers. First start off by setting the objective of the event – raising awareness? Get everyone together to recycle? Secondly, what are the logistics required? Could be recycling bags, tongs, gloves for a beach cleanup event. Lastly, invite fellow seniors and caregivers, the more the merrier!
Embrace a lifestyle that prioritises the minimisation of waste. Conscious efforts to choose products with minimal packaging, invest in reusable containers and bags are small wins and ways to start cultivating the habit of recycling.
A habit is not formed overnight, so if seniors and their caregivers can brainstorm ways to reduce waste, find creative ways to reuse items, one can significantly decrease the amount of waste generated.
Recycling – like all habits, is not something that can be cultivated overnight but is a meaningful act that can be part of our daily lives. Through making conscious choices, spreading the word of recycling and being equipped with knowledge about recycling, we all have a part to play in making the world a better place to live in!
Growing Needs grew out of our own encounters with caring for our aging parents and reflecting on the Growing Needs that we ourselves would face as we advance in years. We hope to build a community that will learn, share and contribute towards caring for the growing needs of our loved ones.
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