Waste and Recycling

The products we use are made of natural resources such as energy, water, trees, oil, metals, and human labor, and some of them contain hazardous chemicals.  We can reduce pollution and natural resource impacts by preventing, re-using, or recycling waste. 

Setting up or improving school recycling and waste reduction systems can result in environmental benefits and garbage cost savings. In addition, integrating resource reduction practices at school encourages these same practices at home and in the future.

The purpose of the Waste and Recycling Assessment (pdf) is to identify current methods of recycling and waste handling at your school.  Use this Assessment to find out what your school is already doing to reduce, reuse, and recycle waste, and use the results to choose a long lasting environmental change.

This Waste and Recycling Assessment Guide (pdf) provides helpful hints and background information about many of the Assessment questions.

The Waste and Recycling Action List (pdf) allows you to pick from a list of waste reduction and recycling options.  Points are earned for each item, and the goal is to pick actions that address weaknesses, missing services, or opportunities at your school.

This Waste and Recycling Educator's Guide (pdf) includes vocabulary terms, discussion questions, and other supporting resources to help teachers integrate these issues into their curriculum.