South Carolina
green step schools

Recycling Saves Energy Game

1. Place aluminum, glass , plastic, paper and steel into compartments of a cardboard cup caddie as shown in the        photo

2. Mark the correct estimated energy saving percentage on the bottom of each item

ANSWERS

Aluminum Can: 95%
Steel Can: 60-74%
Plastic Bottle: 66% (depending on the type of resin)
Paper: 60%
Glass Bottle: 30%

3. Before telling the students the correct percentages, have them try to match the five

    items with the correct percentages (this can be done individually or by taking a group

    vote).

4. Next, let students remove items, check their guesses and discuss how energy savings

    take place.

Much less energy is required to:

• Re-melt a metal can than to mine and smelt ore
• Re-melt a plastic bottle than to pump and refine oil
• Re-pulp paper than to log trees and “cook” wood chips
• Re-melt a glass bottle than to mine and process silica sand, limestone, soda ash, etc.

Discuss why saving energy matters:

• Energy is expensive
• Energy sources are often dangerous (think oil spills and nuclear radiation)
• Many commonly used energy sources are nonrenewable (coal, oil)
• Burning coal and oil contribute to air pollution and climate change