How to Host a Recycling Drive

Recycling is most powerful when done in large groups. Here are some ideas to start a community trend of recycling and donating.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Make a plan.
   
   One good idea is to create a raffle with recycled goods. For every pound of recyclable paper, the donor gets a raffle ticket. Same goes for a set number of aluminum cans, glass jars, cardboard boxes, and other goods you feel you can recycle. If you hope to reduce overall waste and donate goods not traditionally recycled, you can also include items like furniture, TV screens, eyeglasses, and more. Make sure to create a list of accepted items, as well as a “conversion chart” for number of raffle tickets they get for items.

2. Advertise.
   
   Obviously, you will raise for recyclable items if you advertise to the whole city. Choose how big you want this effort to be. Location will factor into this: if it’s going to be hosted in your backyard, keep it to your block or neighborhood. If you can use the local park, you can bring in more people. Advertise through flyers, online forums like Craigslist, and by invitation.

3. Have refreshments and prizes.
   
   You can make the celebration into a potluck. If you want to further help people, promise to donate leftover food to the local homeless shelter. As for prizes, you can keep with an eco-friendly theme with prizes such as recycled totes and other green products. Depending on how many raffle winners you want to have, prizes can range from bulk items for many winners to special grand prizes for a select few winners.

4. Use this chance to educate.
   
   To further fill up time while people are arriving and getting their raffle tickets, set up posters about the recycling process and how it helps the world. You can also set up booths for children to make crafts with recycled products or make a small play about saving the environment.

5. Plan the item drop-off.
   
   If you can’t get the recycling center to pick up items the community brought, find a way to bring them there. You may offer extra raffle tickets to anyone who helps drive items over. Remember that you may also need to make trips to the homeless shelter or anywhere else you’re donating items.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask for donations from local groups like school recycling clubs.
• Do different fundraising themes for the season: a troop car package drive for Veterans Day, diaper and baby item drive for Mother's Day, a school supply drive in the fall, and more.

[static404]

on 7/29/2009 Very well thought out. Thank you for the ideas for a recycling drive.

[JeannieKerns]

on 6/12/2009 Ideas like this need to get out there.. People just do not realize how little they need to do just to help out a small amount !