1) Get Recycling Containers in Place
OCRRA provides FREE recycling containers, posters, and decals for schools.
Place an order today!
Place clearly marked recycling containers in the following locations:
In the Classroom
• Next to every trash can to collect all that unwanted paper
In the Cafeteria
• Next to every trash can to collect bottles, cans, & juice boxes
• Don’t forget the food prep area! Place recycling containers in the kitchen
to collect cans, glass bottles / jars, plastic bottles and cardboard.
In the Teachers’ Lounge
• Next to the trash can
• Don’t forget to have bins to recycle containers AND paper in the
teachers’ lounge!
In the Office / Mail Room / Copy Room
• At each desk. OCRRA has FREE deskside containers available.
• Next to the mailboxes – staff can toss junk mail in there!
• Next to the copiers
In the Hallways
• If you are able to place recycling containers in the hallways, they’re a great place to collect bottles & cans, especially in high schools. Place them in high-traffic areas, if possible.
2) Educate Staff and Students about the Recycling Program
• Post recycling instructions on or near all recycling containers.
You can order FREE posters and decals from OCRRA.
• Send a memo or email to the whole school. Here’s a sample memo.
• Plan recycling lessons or activities for your classroom.
Check out OCRRA's great resources.
• Schedule a classroom recycling presentation from an OCRRA
representative. It’s FREE!
3) Keep Up the Recycling Momentum
• Get OCRRA’s School Recycling Pledge! It can bring everyone together
and energize the recycling program. Need one? Already have one and
need a replacement? Contact us today!
• Make periodic PA announcements to remind everyone to recycle
everyday or to share fun facts.
4) Incorporate Waste Reduction into Daily Activities
School-wide
• Combine fund-raising and recycling! Hold a bottle drive or check out
TerraCycle – they pay schools for all sorts of collected materials.
• Donate unwanted books to a local library or charity.
• At the end of the school year, collect unwanted school supplies such as
pencils and notebooks that can be used during the next school year.
Cafeteria
• Encourage parents and students to pack waste-free lunches when
possible. Waste-free lunches consist of reusable bags, containers and
silverware
instead of disposable items like plastic bags.
• Think about composting food waste from the kitchen and/or the cafeteria. Start small – compost with worms in the classroom.
• Use bulk condiment containers instead of individual packages.
• Encourage reusable water bottles, instead of single-use plastic bottles.
Classroom
• Make double-sided copies whenever possible. You’ll use half the amount of paper, which also saves money!
• Reduce the amount of paper distributed in class – use digital media or white boards when possible.
• Encourage students to write on both sides of a sheet of paper before
recycling it.
• Ask students to bring 3-ring binders to class instead of spiral notebooks.
They can be reused and paper can be easily removed for recycling.
• Buy classroom materials that are durable and include recycled content.
• Use paper towels only as needed. Better yet, replace them with sponges or other scrap material.
• Designate a Scrap Material box in the classroom for paper, fabric and
other objects that can be reused for classroom projects.
• Encourage students to reuse – have them collect supplies for art projects, such as egg cartons, magazines, milk cartons, paper grocery bags and plastic lids.
• Consider online subscriptions to periodicals, instead of printed copies.
