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Reduce, reuse & recycle at school this spring

From planting organic vegetable gardens in the playground to campaigning for litter-less lunches in the cafeteria, young students across Canada are embracing the crusade to protect Mother Earth.

From planting organic vegetable gardens in the playground to campaigning for litter-less lunches in the cafeteria, young students across Canada are embracing the crusade to protect Mother Earth.

Waste reduction in schools is an important part of creating a greener community, and many children and teachers are implementing creative initiatives to reduce their school's carbon footprint.

Charities like TD Friends of the Environment Foundation are helping to support these projects.

"Spring is about new beginnings, so why not reduce your impact by organizing a walking school bus in your neighbourhood or encouraging your children to decorate old school folders instead of buying new ones," says Mary Desjardins, executive director of the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation.

The foundation has compiled its top tips on how kids can reduce, reuse and recycle at school this spring:

- Walk, ride your bike or take the bus to school.

- Carpool to sports games and other activities.

- Reuse old school supplies and buy recycled paper, notebooks and folders.

- Use a lunch box instead of paper bags, reusable water bottles and avoid prepackaged snacks.

- Ask your child's teacher if they could email homework and notes home instead of wasting paper.

- Encourage your children to join or start an environmental club at school.

- Ask your child to turn off their computer and monitor when they finish their homework.

- Use the foundation's One Minute Carbon Calculator to teach your kids about their environmental footprint.

In the last 20 years, the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation has provided funding for nearly 4,000 environment and wildlife initiatives carried out by schools across Canada. Schools interested in submitting a request for financial support can visit www.tdfef.com for more information.