Things You'll Need:
- Containers for each classroom to hold recycling materials
- Your city's sanitation company phone number
- Contact information from the principal
- Paper and markers to make posters
- Stickers or other small prizes
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Step 1
Check to make sure your city has a recycling program that will service the school. Unfortunately, some cities do not have programs that will come to businesses, although they may have regional centers you can take your recyclables to. In that case, you will have to decide if you can gather enough volunteers to transport the materials each week to the center.
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Step 2
Obtain permission from the school principal. Although recycling is never a bad idea, it does create extra work for the teachers, who may have to find the time to teach some lessons on recycling along with all the other lessons they are required to teach by the state.
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Step 3
Provide each classroom teacher with containers that can hold the materials. You may want to start with just paper, as this is the most common recyclable item in schools. Make sure the containers are unobtrusive, as many teachers will be reluctant to use a giant, ugly metal can that does not fit anywhere into their classroom. A simple cardboard box works well.
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Step 4
Create a plan. Where will the outdoor bins be located? Is it safe for the students to dump the materials every day into the bin, or will the teachers need to add that to their duties every day after school? The more details you have worked out ahead of time, the more likely the program will be a success.
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Step 5
Make it fun. Have the students some posters on recycling and put them up in the lunchroom, along with some recycling bins. Give away some prizes to students who remember to recycle their water bottles. Create and send home a letter to parents encouraging them to have discussions about recycling at home.
