Reduce what’s tossed into the landfill, don’t use disposable items and reduce the amount of nonrenewable natural resources (water and electricity) consumed.
Reuse items as the same thing (dishes and clothes) or find a new use (wrap gifts in comics or towels).
Recycle what you can.
The three Rs were the focus of Bernie Bryant’s recent talk with members of Girl Scout Troop 1239 during their meeting at Emerson Elementary School in Seymour.
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Bryant, the environmental educator for the Seymour Department of Public Works, was asked by Troop Leader Missy Casner to speak during the meeting.
The three groups of Girl Scouts — Daisies, Juniors and Cadettes — had different requirements to earn badges, so Bryant wrapped those into one presentation.
That included learning what an environmental educator does, exploring and learning how to keep the Earth healthy, exploring how people can get moving and use resources wisely and planting reusable items to help with the environment and help clean the air.
To earn their badges, Daisies (kindergartners and first-graders) had to learn about using resources wisely and making the world a better place.
The Juniors (fourth- and fifth-graders) learned ways to get moving and get started with recycling, while the Cadettes (sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders) learned about things that cause air and breathing issues by waste.
Bryant also helped the girls with a cleaning the air project.
"We briefly discussed air pollution and ways to avoid creating it (plant trees, walk or use public transportation, use less electricity) and inside, make sure appliances work properly, ventilation," Bryant said.
"Just as those things are mostly out of the hands of younger people, the takeaway was SWYK — Share What You Know," she said. "Not everyone has the knowledge you have, so once you know it, share it."
One of the last things the Girl Scouts will be doing is a take action project. Casner purchased the graphics to make posters for Bryant. They feature "Rethink your choices, refuse single use, reduce consumption, reuse everything, refurbish old stuff, repair before you replace, repurpose (be creative, reinvent) and recycle last option."
"We are going to put these onto new posters with subtitles and ideas from magazines," Casner said.