Reuse · Crystal MineScience for kids

Why do we sort rubbish for recycling?

In short: When old bottles, cans and boxes are sorted, cleaned and processed, they become materials for new things. That means less mining, fewer trees cut down, less energy used and less rubbish sent to landfill.

How it works

Sorting comes first, because each material is handled differently. Aluminium cans are melted into new cans, glass is melted into new bottles, and paper is soaked into pulp for new paper. Food scraps or plastic bags mixed in can spoil a whole load, which then ends up in landfill.

Using old materials often saves resources. Making a can from recycled aluminium uses far less energy than digging up and processing new ore, and recycling paper means fewer trees need to be cut down. Paper fibres get shorter each time, though, so paper can only be recycled a limited number of times.

Recycling is good, but it is not the only answer. People often say 'reduce, reuse, recycle', and the order matters: first use fewer throwaway things, then repair or find new uses for what you already have, and only then recycle what is left.

Where to see it in New Zealand

Most kerbside recycling in New Zealand accepts the same main items: glass bottles and jars, paper and cardboard, plastic bottles and containers numbered 1, 2 and 5, and aluminium and steel cans. A quick rinse keeps the load clean. Check your local council's website for the details.

Try it together

Be a rubbish detective for one day. With your family, sort the household rubbish into four piles: reuse, recycle, compost and landfill. Which pile is biggest? Check the numbers on plastic containers, let an adult handle broken glass or sharp tins, and wash your hands afterwards.

Kids also ask

What do the numbers on plastic mean?

The number inside the little triangle tells you what type of plastic it is. Different plastics need different treatment, and some are hard to recycle, so not every plastic belongs in the recycling bin.

Where does recycling go?

It travels to a sorting centre, where machines and people separate paper, glass, metal and plastic. The sorted materials are pressed into bales and sent to factories to become new bottles, cans, boxes and other products.

In the game, “Reuse” is a nature card on Crystal Mine.

Your child finds this card by reaching the right place or meeting the right weather on the island, and lights it up by answering the question on the back. Tap the button below and the game shows your child which island it is on and how to find it. Mochi Isle is a browser learning game for ages 5 to 18; the main island and the daily lesson are free.

Find “Reuse” on the island ↗ All cards from Crystal Mine