Schools

When it comes to recycling, schools are a great place to start. Schools serve as a great community point of contact for recycling programs and have the opportunity to educate students regarding everyday conservation practices to better our environment.

Earth 911's educational resource page is a one-stop shop for lesson plans, activities, and information. School programs like Wake County, North Carolina's Feed the Bin program are evidence that schools are an excellent place to establish recycling behavior. South Carolina's Action for a Cleaner Tomorrow is a model for incorporating waste reduction and other environmental education topics into the classroom.All of the above programs have components available for downloading and use by classroom teachers. Whether you are looking to start your own school recycling program, improve an existing program, or simply learn ways to educate students or kids of all ages about conservation practices, the following links and resources can be used both in and out of the classroom.

EPA Resources:

Resource Conservation Challenge is a national effort to conserve natural resources and energy by managing materials more efficiently.
EPA teacher resources include classroom exercises as well as information about starting an electronics recycling program.
EPA has answers to your frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Tips for a waste-less school year can be found here.
This is EPA's online guide for school recycling and waste reduction.
Ways to reduce chemicals in schools can be found at EPA Region 4's School Chemical Cleanout Campaign Web site.
EPA's recycling and greenhouse gas conversion site can help you determine the greater environmental impact of your community's waste reduction program.
EPA's kids recycling page, also known as the Environmental Kids Club.
EPA's consumer tips for reducing solid waste is a valuable tool.
EPA Region 4's A-Z recycling topics page covers a variety of waste reduction topics.

State/Regional Resources for Schools:

State and local recycling representatives can help with local recycling programs and issues.
Florida's educational resources include materials for kindergarten through college.
Georgia's school resources page has recycling links and information on environmental grants.
Mississippi's school resources page has links to FAQs, coloring books, children's activities, recycling program information, and various educational materials.
North Carolina's RE3 recycling promotional materials are available for download and include designs and patterns for shirts, stickers and posters.
Download the Recycle Guys' award-winning posters and fact sheets from South Carolina DHEC's Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling.

Other Resources:

America's Beverage Companies Web site allows you to follow a day in the life of a recycled can or bottle.
Curbside Value Partnership works with communities to educate residents and encourage participation in recycling programs in order to increase recycling rates. This is primarily a resource for cities, waste haulers and material recovery facilities (MRFs). Communications templates, including flyers, brochures, magnets, and signage are available for use through this site.
The Earth 911 Kids Web site includes activities and resources for all grade levels.
Earth 911's holiday tips may be useful in the classroom.
The Earth 911's Recycling PSA Clearinghouse shares public service announcements (PSAs) on a variety of environmental topics so that all local communities have the opportunity to promote environmental messages on local radio and television. Access numerous PSAs through the multimedia PSA library. How Stuff Works Web site offers an educational piece on how landfills work.
Waste reduction is one of Keep America Beautiful's top priorities.
PaperRecycles.org has teacher tools and offers resources such as posters, fact sheets, and videos regarding paper recycling.
Paper University is sponsored by TAPPI, the technical association for the worldwide pulp, paper, and converting industry. The site is appropriate for all ages.
Steel Recycling Institute lets kids log in to play recycling games and access fun activities on steel recycling.
Steel Recycling Institute teacher tools offers teaching materials on steel recycling from early education through high school.

Composting Resources:

EPA has a Web site completely dedicated to organic composting.
Earth 911's site on organic composting provides resources from mowing tips to vermiculture worm compost.
Florida's comprehensive composting tutorial and information site has information specific to the area.
North Carolina Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance's Organics Recycling and Composting site provides Composting 101.
South Carolina's Gardening and Recycling Organics Wisely (GROW) program is an integrated approach to gardening, landscaping, and waste reduction.

Schools

Local Navigation