Taking care of our planet is one of the most important things we can do. Riddles are a fun way to get people thinking about how their actions impact the earth. Below are 71 riddles about saving the planet, along with their answers. Test your knowledge and see how many you can get right!
Environmental Riddles
These riddles focus on general environmental topics like pollution, conservation, and sustainability.
Riddle 1
What gets whiter as it gets dirtier?
Answer: A filter.
Riddle 2
What kind of bag can you never throw away?
Answer: A garbage bag.
Riddle 3
I’m tall when I’m young and short when I’m old. What am I?
Answer: A candle.
Riddle 4
What do you fill with empty hands?
Answer: Gloves.
Riddle 5
What gets wetter the more it dries?
Answer: A towel.
Riddle 6
When I’m clean I’m useful, people want me. When I’m dirty, I’m worthless, people replace me. What am I?
Answer: Water.
Riddle 7
What kind of room has no doors, no windows, no floors, and no roof?
Answer: A mushroom.
Riddle 8
What did the ocean say to the sailboat?
Answer: Nothing, it just waved!
Riddle 9
What falls but never breaks?
Answer: Nightfall.
Riddle 10
What building has the most stories?
Answer: The library.
Pollution Riddles
These riddles focus specifically on pollution and ways to reduce it.
Riddle 11
What type of litter is acceptable to leave behind?
Answer: Zero, there is no acceptable litter.
Riddle 12
When is the best time to stop water pollution?
Answer: At the source.
Riddle 13
I can be found in tuna or salmon, but I’m dangerous in high amounts. What am I?
Answer: Mercury.
Riddle 14
What kind of pollution lasts the shortest time in the atmosphere?
Answer: Light pollution.
Riddle 15
What is invisible but becomes visible when its too much?
Answer: Air pollution.
Riddle 16
I’m very small and many don’t notice me, but in large groups I make big problems for all to see. What am I?
Answer: Plastic microbeads.
Riddle 17
What type of pollution causes acid rain?
Answer: Air pollution.
Riddle 18
Reusing and recycling help stop me from growing larger every day. What am I?
Answer: Landfills.
Riddle 19
What is the best way to deal with pollution?
Answer: Stop it at the source.
Riddle 20
I linger in water and soil, poisoning animals that ingest me. What am I?
Answer: Pesticides.
Water Conservation Riddles
These riddles focus on the importance of water and how to use it wisely.
Riddle 21
What is the healthiest way to water your lawn?
Answer: Rainwater.
Riddle 22
I’m liquid gold to a thirsty mouth. What am I?
Answer: Clean drinking water.
Riddle 23
What can run all day without getting tired?
Answer: A faucet or hose.
Riddle 24
I’m precious in the desert but take me for granted at home. What am I?
Answer: Water.
Riddle 25
What has a bed but never sleeps and runs but has no legs?
Answer: A river.
Riddle 26
I come from clouds, but don’t weigh an ounce. I water plants and fill up your faucet. What am I?
Answer: Rain.
Riddle 27
What gets larger the more you take away?
Answer: A hole in the water bucket.
Riddle 28
What should you do with a leaky faucet?
Answer: Fix it right away.
Riddle 29
You can live for weeks without me, but only days without my cousin. Who am I?
Answer: Water. The cousin is food.
Riddle 30
I’m not a lake or ocean, but swimsuits are required on me. What am I?
Answer: A swimming pool.
Recycling Riddles
These riddles focus on recycling and reusing items to reduce waste.
Riddle 31
What object gets recycled the most?
Answer: Aluminum cans.
Riddle 32
I once was lost but now am found, what does that make me?
Answer: Recycled materials.
Riddle 33
What food container should you not throw away?
Answer: Glass jars because they can be reused.
Riddle 34
Recycling me saves over 70% energy compared to making me from brand new. What am I?
Answer: Aluminum.
Riddle 35
What has a neck but no head and is made of broken glass?
Answer: A recycled bottle.
Riddle 36
Paper, plastic, glass or tin, into what colored bin?
Answer: Recycling bins are often blue.
Riddle 37
I can be a bottle, a can, or a jar. Collect and recycle me – don’t throw me in your car! What am I?
Answer: Recyclable containers.
Riddle 38
What material might have a future life as carpet or clothing fiber?
Answer: Recycled plastic bottles.
Riddle 39
What food scraps can be composted rather than thrown away?
Answer: Fruit and vegetable peels.
Riddle 40
Reuse it, repurpose it – this is the way. What’s the word I’m trying to say?
Answer: Recycling.
Energy Conservation Riddles
These riddles focus on saving energy and using it efficiently.
Riddle 41
What keeps you warm in winter and cool in summer but uses no energy?
Answer: A sweater or good insulation.
Riddle 42
I heat food but use less energy than my bigger cousins. Who am I?
Answer: A microwave oven.
Riddle 43
What lightbulb needs changing least often?
Answer: LED bulbs.
Riddle 44
I can take you places without using any fuel. Who am I?
Answer: A bicycle.
Riddle 45
What appliance uses the most electricity in homes?
Answer: Refrigerators.
Riddle 46
What system helps heat and cool homes with less energy than conventional ones?
Answer: Geothermal HVAC.
Riddle 47
I rise in the east and set in the west, and conserve energy when used best. What am I?
Answer: Solar power.
Riddle 48
Whats the best way to save energy in the kitchen?
Answer: Only run appliances when needed and turn off when done.
Riddle 49
What household appliance uses the most water?
Answer: Washing machine.
Riddle 50
Which uses less water – a bath or a shower?
Answer: A shower.
Green Living Riddles
These focus on environmentally friendly choices in everyday life.
Riddle 51
What is the greenest way to get around town?
Answer: Walking, biking or public transportation.
Riddle 52
What packaging is the most earth-friendly choice at the store?
Answer: No packaging or recyclable packaging.
Riddle 53
What is the most eco-friendly clothing material?
Answer: Organic cotton or wool.
Riddle 54
I’m not contained in plastic or tin, what type of food packaging am I in?
Answer: Cardboard or paper.
Riddle 55
What household cleaner is safest for the planet?
Answer: Vinegar and water solution.
Riddle 56
I’m better for the earth than a disposable version of me. What am I?
Answer: A reusable water bottle or shopping bag.
Riddle 57
What food didn’t need artificial fertilizers to grow?
Answer: Organic fruits and vegetables.
Riddle 58
What eats CO2 and gives off oxygen each day?
Answer: Trees and plants.
Riddle 59
I shine during the day but cause no pollution. Who am I?
Answer: Solar panels.
Riddle 60
What has roots that stretch deep below, captures carbon as it helps you grow?
Answer: A tree.
Wildlife Conservation Riddles
These riddles focus on preserving habitats and protecting endangered species.
Riddle 61
What puts animals most at risk of extinction?
Answer: Habitat destruction.
Riddle 62
What bird nearly went extinct from DDT pesticide poisoning?
Answer: The bald eagle.
Riddle 63
What endangered whale is highly intelligent and vocalizes in very low frequencies?
Answer: The blue whale.
Riddle 64
I’m hard on the outside to protect the vulnerable animal within. What am I?
Answer: A sea turtle’s shell.
Riddle 65
What primate species is threatened by poaching and logging of tropical forests?
Answer: Orangutans.
Riddle 66
What African animal is vulnerable due to illegal poaching?
Answer: Elephants for their ivory tusks.
Riddle 67
What tree do koalas rely on that is threatened by climate change?
Answer: Eucalyptus.
Riddle 68
What fish is often caught unintentionally by fisheries leading to declining populations?
Answer: Sea turtles.
Riddle 69
What species has been brought back from the edge of extinction by conservation efforts?
Answer: The California condor.
Riddle 70
What is the most effective way to protect endangered animals?
Answer: Habitat conservation.
Conclusion
Riddle 71
I’m fragile and precious, the source of life here on earth. If you care for me, I’ll care for you. Renew me, reuse me, what must I be?
Answer: Our planet.
Caring for the earth and its creatures is so important. Riddles engage our minds and get us thinking creatively about the natural world. How we treat the planet and its resources will determine the future for generations to come. What can you do today to be a little greener?
