Waste and Recycling Resources

Reducing waste (source reduction), reusing and repairing items, recycling, and composting draw on fewer of our natural resources by conserving energy and using less landfill space. Practicing waste reduction and recycling can also save your school money. This assessment will help your school to identify current methods of handling waste at school and start you thinking about how these methods can be modified to make your school “greener”.

Discovery and Inventory Stage

In addition to completing the waste and recycling section of the Green & Healthy Schools Assessment, schools registering into the Green & Healthy Schools program must recycle the following items that are banned from landfills in accordance with directions established in your local responsible unit’s recycling ordinance:

Fluorescent bulbs and used computers must also be recycled or managed as a hazardous waste. Some of the resources below may provide you with more information on the recycling requirements.

• Fluorescent Bulb Fact sheet [PDF 164KB]
• Wisconsin's E-Cycle For Schools
• Wisconsin’s Waste Reduction and Recycling Program [PDF 1075KB]

Action and Implementation Stage

Schools qualifying to be a Green & Healthy School must meet the following requirements:

• waste reduction and recycling is included in the curriculum,
• school uses local resources (waste and recycling specialists and facilities) as part of their education program,
• and students and staff have conducted at least one waste reduction/recycling program or event.

The resources below can provide you with ideas on how to meet these requirements.

Reaching Higher

If you choose to go further after your school becomes a Green & Healthy School, the following resources can also be used to help you meet the Reaching Higher requirements.

Teaching

In order to establish a successful and enduring recycling program, participants need to know what and how to recycle, and most important, they need to understand why they are recycling. The following Web sites contain waste and recycling-related lessons and curriculum connections.

• Composting in Schools [Exit DNR]
• EEK!, DNR’s web site for kids.
• E-Waste Recycling Eductaor Guide [Exit DNR]
• Keepin' it in the Loop [PDF 870KB]
• Recycle More – Worm Composting [exit DNR]
• Rethinking Recycling - Waste Reduction Curriculum [exit DNR]
• Think Green Classroom Resources [Exit DNR]

Local Waste and Recycling Facilities

Local waste and recycling professionals and facilities are great tools for learning about waste and recycling in your community. Contact your region’s DNR recycling specialist to find recycling professionals and facilities available in your area.

• DNR Recycling Specialist List

Waste reduction/re-use programs and events

Small changes can have great impacts especially at a school-wide level. Implement some programs or events to increase your school’s waste reduction and recycling efforts. Use the following Web sites for ideas or better yet, come up with your own creative ways to reduce waste.

• 2011-2012 Great American Can Roundup - Sign Up Now [exit DNR]
• Beyond Recycling - Waste Reduction Guide [exit DNR]
• CalRecycle Publications [exit DNR]
• Dream Machine Recycle Rally August 1, 2010 - April 30, 2011 [exit DNR]
• Office Waste Reduction [PDF Exit DNR]
• Print Cartridge and Cell Phone Recycling Program [PDF Exit DNR]
• Recycle More Wisconsin [exit DNR]
• Recycling Markets Directory
• State Electronics Challenge [exit DNR]
• Waste Reduction and Recycling: A Guide for the Workplace [PDF 211KB]
• Wastefree Lunches [exit DNR]

Community Outreach Programs

Use your knowledge about recycling and waste reduction to help your community. The following Web sites provide some ideas on how to educate and get your community involved with recycling and waste reduction. Come up with your own ideas too.

• Boosting Community Involvement [exit DNR]
• Earth Day Bags [exit DNR]
• Recycling Outreach Publications, Including Recycling Signage

Comprehensive Waste Reduction/Recycling Program

A comprehensive program includes more than the implementation of few one-time events or programs, it should include changes in everyday behaviors and operations. This may require operational or policy changes within your school. To help develop a comprehensive waste reduction and recycling program you can use a variety of the resources listed above. You should however take some time to discuss what types of waste reduction/recycling efforts would work best in your school with school staff and students and then develop a plan to implement, educate, and inform your school on the waste reduction/recycling efforts to get them involved.

Check out this video created by the students at Parkview Center School in Roseville, MN for inspiration about setting up a recycling program in your school.