Question

A great way to promote re-use is to donate unwanted items instead of throwing them out. The old saying, "One person's trash is another person's treasure," is proven true by thrift stores and community centers. Goodwill, the Salvation Army and many local nonprofit organizations accept donated items like clothing, books, electronics and furniture. Plus, thrift stores and used bookstores are great places to shop.

Another way to save resources while you shop is to use paper shopping bags instead of plastic or bring a reusable bag. While food items like a banana peel take a few days to breakdown, and paper products like a newspaper take a few months, plastic takes much longer. Microorganisms break down bananas and newspapers by eating them, but they don't eat plastic. Instead, the sun's UV rays eventually break down plastic, but it takes a very, very long time. Scientists estimate that it takes between 500 and 1,000 years.


Which of the following is an example of re-use?

A
buying a brand new outfit at the department store

B
microorganisms breaking down an orange peel

C
wearing a coat that belonged to your older siblings

D
asking for paper bags at the grocery store

Answer 1

C
wearing a coat that belonged to your older siblings