Recycling at School

Start Recycling!

• Paper can easily be collected in about every room of the building. Paper products make up around 90% of what a school throws in its dumpster.
• Place recycling bins in the cafeteria and around the school to collect empty cans, cartons and plastic bottles. Make sure to include a sink or bucket in the cafeteria for students to dump out any remaining liquid before recycling.
• Don't throw your old electronics away. Computers, printers, toner cartridges and other electronics equipment can be easily recycled without much effort.
• Collect and recycle automotive fluids at your vocational school.

Add waste reduction activities

• Serve cafeteria food on sectioned trays that can be washed and reused.
• Optimize food planning to reduce leftovers. Donate leftovers to a local food bank or hunger center.
• Compost organic leftover from lunches and cafeteria waste. Compost bins are available for purchase from the Solid Waste District.
• Encourage students who pack a lunch or snacks to use a reusable bag, reusable containers, utensils and a cloth napkin.
• Send all flyers, announcements, newsletters and notes home electronically. Reduce the number of paper copies that you make.
• Include automatic paper towel dispenser in bathrooms.
• Donate extra or unwanted classroom and art supplies to an organization in need. See a list of local options.

Reduce toxins

• Evaluate the need for hazardous chemicals in the school.
• Remove sources of mercury. Use alcohol thermometers instead of mercury ones.
• Institute an integrated pest management system and eliminate the use of toxic pesticides.
• Replace hazardous cleaning products with non-toxic, natural or biodegradable cleaners.

Decrease energy consumption

• Create greater flexibility for indoor climate control by placing thermostats in classrooms or in regions of the building so teachers can adjust the climate. Set thermostats to automatically lower temperatures during non-operating hours.
• Install equipment that would decrease the need for lights. Include daylighting features and motion light sensors.
• Install vegetation that creates windbreaks for the buildings as well as provide shade during warmer months.
• Have students monitor the school's energy and water usage as a class project.
• Install equipment that will decrease water usage. Fix leaky faucets.

Buy green products

• Revise procurement specifications to give preference to green products. 
• Purchase recycled content materials. Choose paper products with the highest percentage of post-consumer waste.

Other tips

• Include proper ventilation systems for indoor air.
• Make the school grounds have an outdoor learning lab with a garden, pond and compost pile. Plant native vegetation.
• Design pedestrian and bike-friendly routes to school.
• Replace old non-renewable gasoline powered buses with buses that operate on renewable energy.
• Adopt an Environmental Policy for your school district that creates a sustainable program for administration, staff and students to participate.

Start a School Recycling Program

For details about starting a recycling program at your school, or assistance with improving an existing program, contact our education specialist at (216) 443-3731 or send an email.

Learn more about our general presentations, compost seminars, and workplace recycling presentations.