Introducing the recycling process to students early establishes lifelong habits of environmental sustainability. A school recycling program creates a learning experience for all those involved.
With all the paper, beverage containers and other recyclable materials that are produced, your school has the potential to divert thousands of kilograms of material from the landfill each year.
Start slowly when setting up your recycling program. Concentrate on locations that produce significant amount of recyclables first.
In order for your recycling program to be successful, you must have the support of everyone in your school.
This includes:
- Administration
- Teachers
- Students
- Parents
- Custodial Staff
- Community
A few simple steps will help your school develop an effective recycling program:
ORGANIZE A GREEN TEAM
The “Green Team” should include teachers, students and parents. The team will be responsible for organizing and maintaining the program as a whole.
Choose a program coordinator that will be responsible for the overall recycling program. The coordinator should have some knowledge of recycling and be interested in the project.
SET PROGRAM GOALS
Answer these questions before setting up your recycling program:
- Why is your school interested in recycling?
- Who will take responsibility for the program?
- How will the program operate during school holidays?
- How will your school gain community support and volunteers?
DECIDE WHICH MATERIALS TO COLLECT
Start by collecting a few materials at first, and slowly grow your program as participation increases.
When deciding on which materials to collect, take in to consideration your facility, storage space, safety issues and transportation.
IDENTIFY RECYCLING LOCATIONS
Set-up bins throughout the school to collect recyclable materials. The number and type of bins will vary depending on their placement.
- Administration Office – office paper, envelopes, paper, cardboard
- Classrooms – mixed paper, beverage containers
- Cafeteria – cardboard, steel cans, aluminum cans, plastic and beverage containers
- Library – paper, magazines, books and newspapers
- Vending Machines – plastic, beverage containers
PROMOTE YOUR RECYCLING PROGRAM
The success of your recycling program depends on good publicity and community involvement. Plan a kick off assembly to inform students of the recycling program. Distribute flyers to parents to get their support.
FIND YOUR LOCAL RECYCLING DEPOT
Contact your local recycling depot to find out which materials are recyclable. If your school is located in Fort St. John or Dawson Creek, you can also inquire about our school recycling collection service.
For a list of recycling depots in our region click here.
KEYS TO SUCCESS
The key to success in any recycling program is the involvement and education of all the staff and students.
- Set-up bins in convenient locations around the school
- Keep it simple with easy to follow instructions
- Make sure the bins are well marked to ensure they will receive the intended recyclable material
- Consider restricting the openings on lids to cut down on contamination by trash or other material
- Locate the bins close to the trash containers in order to make the choice to recycle easy
- Ongoing recycling education is vital, otherwise people lose interest and go back to their old habits
REDUCE YOUR USE OF DISPOSABLES
- Use both sides of paper when printing material
- Use reusable cutlery and glassware in the school cafeteria
- Request that students decrease the amount of waste brought in lunch bags
- Promote lunch boxes and reusable cloth bags
