Building a recycling program at your school can be easy with our how-to guide.

1. Build a School
Recycling
Program
How to

2. A school recycling team should include:
- Administration to provide“top”level leadership to direct and
make important decisions about the campaign.
- Custodial Staff to ensure recyclables are being properly collected.
- Teachers willing to market the program, educate students in the
classroom and motivate them through various activities.
- Students to participate in the program and understand why their
contribution is important.
- Parents to continue the message outside of the classroom.
1. Form a Recycling Team

3. - Place clearly marked recycling containers next to trash cans
wherever waste is generated: classrooms, offices, kitchen, cafeteria, play-
ground, etc. Inside containers can be purchased or you can use any
container, such as a laundry basket, storage container or cardboard box,
to collect recyclables throughout the school. Making DIY containers
could also be a project for students to take on.
- Develop a plan to ensure proper collection of materials inside and
conveying them to outside collection receptacles.
- Set up FREE (with the exception of a few municipalities) recycling
collection services with ACUA.
2. Lay the Groundwork

4. 3. Create a Campaign
Make recycling as easy as possible with a clear and simple message:
- Explain why recycling is important. View recycling as an essential part of
educational development and character building for students.
- Educate entire school on the goal and what is recyclable.
- Inform parents with letters and include recycling information in any
promotional newsletters sent home.
- Use banners and posters to reinforce the message. ACUA can provide or
students can create.

5. 4. Maintain the Message
Keep your campaign fresh with creative ideas:
- Tie recycling into science and other environmental classes
- Incorporate art into your recycling campaign
- Bring students on a tour of our facilities to see what happens
after materials are collected
- Hold recycling competitions between classrooms, lunch hours,
etc. to motivate students
- Enter the National Recycle Bowl (Contact us for more info)

6. We’re here to help!
Contact us for assistance and resources.
609.272.6950
www.acua.com