Recycling in school teaches students good habits they can practice at home and use for a lifetime. Through reducing waste and recycling, students gain an understanding about their responsibility to the environment and learn that they can make a significant difference through their actions to keep our land, air and water clean.
Recycling also benefits schools. Diverting recyclable material from the waste stream can save schools money in collection costs. By combining waste reduction practices with recycling, schools can save on materials costs as well.
Generally, school waste is generated in the cafeteria, offices and classrooms. Cafeteria waste is comprised mainly of food scraps and food packaging waste. Offices generate mostly paper. Classroom waste includes teaching materials such as mixed paper and pencil shavings, as well as food scraps.
At the end of the school year, classroom waste can swell to four times its regular amount, and include materials such as used workbooks, papers, and leftover school supplies. Classroom parties also contribute significantly to the quantity of trash.
Involving students in the recycling process is the hallmark of many successful programs. Besides requiring students to recycle, many programs go a bagian further and develop pride and ownership in the school’s recycling efforts by having students help run the recycling operation.
Involve students in the promotion of the program as well. Students can create signs and posters to promote recycling and describe what materials can and cannot be recycled. Students can also check the recycling containers in each classroom to make sure they are labeled and that only recyclable materials were placed in the recycling bins.
Be sure to tell people who use the school building after school hours, community groups and the PTA, about the school’s recycling program, so they can participate as well, and not contaminate the school’s recycling.
Reduce Waste
Reducing the amount of waste generated in the first place is the preferred way of managing our waste stream. In fact, Montgomery County has a goal to reduce waste and recycle more, aiming for Zero Waste. Here are some ways students and staff can reduce waste at school:
Encourage students to use both sides of writing paper, whenever possible.
If more than one child attends a school, send home general information with only the oldest child, to avoid duplication.
Route or post internal staff communications. When practical, use half sheets of paper for memos. Utilize e-mail as much as possible.
Make double-sided copies. Provide scrap paper near the copier so that people can retrieve paper and copy onto the other side.
Collect usable items such as pens, pencils, crayons, rulers, binders and unused notebooks at the end of the school year and pass them out or provide to teachers for their classrooms at the beginning of the following school year. Enlist the school’s green team or sustainability club to lead the effort, catalog what is collected and circulate that information in the school newsletter.
To reduce edible food waste, set aside any unopen edible food from breakfast or lunch (such as granola bars or bananas) and provide to an after-school club or sports team.