THE QUESTIONS

1. Single-use straws account for how much plastic pollution in the ocean?

A 0.025%

B 0.5%

C 2.3%

D 5%

E 6.2%

2. Which London borough has the highest level of air pollution?

A Westminster

B Ealing

C Kingston-upon-Thames

D Camden

E Southwark

3. Recycling one tin can saves the same amount of energy as it takes to…

A Power a TV for 3 hours

B Charge an iPhone battery

C Run the London Overground for 10 seconds

D Drive an electric vehicle for one mile

E Boil the kettle

4. How many people use a bicycle to travel in London each day?

A 90,540

B 110,900

C 273,000

D 300,200

E 520,000

5. How many years of harvests does the Earth’s soil have left?

A 60

B 100

C 300

D 700

E 1,000

6. How many tonnes of cardboard and paper are used in the UK each year?

A 1.75 million

B 2.5 million

C 12.5 million

D 30.2 million

E 1 billion

7. Which of the following can you most safely compost in your garden?

A Blackberry brambles

B Avocado pits

C Tea bags

D Cat droppings

E Animal bones

8. When in 2018 did McDonald’s start banning plastic straws in England?

A August

B September

C October

D November

E December

THE RESULTS

1-3: Give Green a Chance

You’re a keen recycler who always turns the lights off when you leave the room, but you could do more. Try using your own takeaway container and reusable cutlery at work to help cut down on takeaway Styrofoam and plastic use.

Zoë Lenkiewicz, Head of Programmes and Engagement with UK charity WasteAid, says… “There’s plenty of information online to help us all be more environmentally aware. Single-use plastic is made from fossil fuels, and much of it can’t be recycled. One environmental win is to have a reusable coffee cup. With lots of cafés offering a discount to bring your own, it’s good for your wallet, too”

4-6: Think Local, Stay Hopeful

You’re aware of the damage being caused to the environment, but maybe you also groan when you see “global warming” trending on Twitter. The world’s a big place, but think locally when it comes to being green. Brush up on key facts about conservation, know how polluted your borough is and bring a canvas bag to the farmer’s market. All these little changes add up.

Zoë Lenkiewicz says… “Check social media for environmental groups to meet like-minded people in your area. You could get involved in litter picks along rivers and beaches, go plogging (litter-picking while jogging), try out vegetarianism, or give eco-friendly cleaning products a go”

7-8: Force of Nature

Wow, you’ve probably got metal straws in your backpack and you’re ready to save the world. Now that you know what the problems are, pair up with a charity or local authority to help tackle problems in your area.

Zoë Lenkiewicz says…  “Big changes are needed, and the challenge can feel daunting. The biggest step we need to take is to drastically reduce carbon emissions. Do we really need a six-litre engine to pick the kids up from school? Or a mini-break to a far-flung resort? These are fairly easy decisions to make and can have a big impact on our personal carbon footprint”