Did you do your part?

by Shelby Cummings
Southern Aroostook Community
Grade 9-10  2nd Place
    Did you do your part? What are you doing to change the world? Everyday people are helping change the world for the better. My family and I do things to change the world, too. Things that my family has done are reduce, reuse, and recycle. You may think you have heard of this before but its exactly what we do.
    First, my family reduces the amount of litter inside and out. lf we happen to be at the local schools, stores, and parks and see a piece of garbage we pick it up and put it in the trash. lf there happens to be no trashcan nearby, we put the garbage in our pocket until we come across a trash can. We do not throw our garbage on the ground. By throwing garbage on the ground you may receive a fine. lf an animal happens to pick it up, the animal could potentially choke on it and die.
    Also, my family and I reduce the amount of gas and chemicals we put into the air. We do this by riding our bikes and walking to the store in the summer time. In the winter time, we sometimes snowshoe. We reduce the chemicals being released into the air and have fun doing it. Next, my family goes “bottle picking” once or twice a year. We will go around our town and pick up the bottles and cans that people inconsiderably throw out. This makes it so there are less chances of a broken bottle or sharp can causing a flat tire or harming an animal.
    Another, my family and I reuse things such as bark that falls off the wood when it starts to dry out, the back of a paper, that is also considered “no good”, and we also use towels more often then we do paper towels. With the bark that falls off the wood as it begins to dry out my family, rakes it up, and burns it. We have also put it into a compost pile we have out back of my house, so that the nutrients of the bark can decay back into the ground. Next, by using the back of paper, for things other then school work, we are saving money and saving a tree. Now, who doesn’t like to save money? Also, by using the back of already used paper we are learning how to conserve things in case there is ever a limited supply of that item. With the way people clear cut our forest and do not replant we are going to run out of sources to find paper sooner then expected. Landfills are growing bigger everyday. Garbage will be over flowing the streets if people do not switch to alternative sources. My family is helping reduce the amount of garbage by using towels that can be reused and washed. We use towels other then paper towels because paper towels can only be used once and then you have to throw them away. lt’s almost like throwing away money.
    Lastly, my family recycles soda cans, bottles, vegetable and fruit containers, and other thing that you can recycle. When you recycle these type of things you are reducing the amount of garbage being put in landfills or in your town. When my family and I do our annual “bottle picking” we put the bottles and cans in bags. We then take them to a redemption center and receive money! It’s hard to believe that someone will pay you money just for keeping our Earth a cleaner place.
    For every bottle we turn in we receive five cents. My family also recycles the decomposable items we use by putting them into our compost pile. All the things we do saves us money. We actually get money for doing very little.
    These are just some of the things my family and I do to help keep our county and Earth a happier, healthier place. We can help the world everyday one person at a time. Sometimes, we do not realize that we have began to make a difference in the world. More people need to help keep our county and Earth clean or sooner then later we are going to be out of space to build our homes and business due to garbage build up. Have you done your part? What’s going to be your next move?