Natural Resources & Recycling Sorter

The Earth gives us energy, water, and materials — but some run out and some can be renewed. Learn to sort resources, reduce waste, and make choices that protect our planet.

Explore Natural Resources

Click any card to learn more about a resource and its environmental impact.

Renewable: 6
Nonrenewable: 6
Renewable — replenishes naturally
Nonrenewable — limited supply

Resources Reference

Renewable vs Nonrenewable

Renewable: replenished naturally and will not run out on human timescales.

  • Solar, wind, water, geothermal, wood

Nonrenewable: formed over millions of years and will eventually run out.

  • Coal, oil, natural gas, minerals

The 4 Rs

  • Reduce: use less in the first place
  • Reuse: use the same item again instead of throwing away
  • Recycle: turn old materials into new products
  • Landfill: last resort — items that cannot be reduced, reused, or recycled

Reduce is best — it prevents waste from being created at all.