Waste reduction and waste prevention

The EU generates 1.3 billion tonnes of waste every year. That equates to 3.5 tonnes per inhabitant per year. Plastic waste is particularly problematic. It accounts for around 70 per cent of the waste floating in the world's oceans. However, the problem lies not only with plastic items, but rather with the wasteful way in which our ‘throwaway society’ treats raw materials. As children and young people are often unaware of the consequences of their careless consumption, it is the responsibility of teachers to make them aware of this.