Recycling is a good habit, just like listening in class, washing hands, or saying thank you. As we all know, it takes time and a few gentle reminders to learn good habits!
Recycling training can help students and staff know what to recycle. Recycling education will help deepen students understanding of why it is important to reduce our waste and decrease the amount of materials sent to landfill. Looking closely at the social, economic and environmental reasons to reduce waste provides students with the motivation to recycle.
With opportunity (access to the correct bins!), training and a deeper understanding of reducing waste, your school community can help NYC acheive the goal of zero waste to landfill by 2030. The following resources will help you and your students to become #SuperRecyclers!
ADULT RESOURCES <-- Click to expand
> Faculty PD
Teachers and staff are important recycling role models! Use our Faculty PD slide deck, with included notes, at an all staff meeting to:
- debunk recycling myths
- provide tips for acheiving great classroom recycling
- share where to go for futher resources to integrate recycling lessons into classroom learning
> School Sustainability Council Guide
Having more than one person dedicated to sustainabilty initiatives in your school will broadend the impact of you sustainabilty efforts. Whether you meet once a month or once a quarter, your School Sustainabilty Council(SSC) can support the assigned Sustainabilty Coordinator by helping to set goals, and implement school-wide projects to improve recycling, and reduce waste, energy and water usage.
> NYC Schools Guide to Zero Waste
STUDENT RESOURCES <-- Click to expand
>Green Team Guide
RCP's essential guide for forming a new Green Team or organizing an exising Green Team for ongoing success. The guide includes numerous activities and templates to help your students be the best advocates for recycling in your school.
>High School Monitor Guide
One of the best ways to improve recycling is to have trained students monitor the stations. This guide provides the materials you need to train a core group of students and stresses the importance of the role through a job description and contract.
>Cafeteria Data Collection
The reasons students don't recycle correctly and consistently are varied. This data collection activity gives student monitors a better understanding of the barriers to successful recycling in the cafeteria. Observing a full cafeteria period, students categorize their peer's sorting behavior as "Zero Wasters", "Contemplators", "Dump & Runners" and "Desserters." Knowing these behaviors in the cafeteria allows monitors to provide targeted strategies to increase cafeteria recycling.
>Waste Investigation
Conduct a waste investigation, also known as a waste audit, with your students! Information from waste audits help identify current recycling practices and how they can be improved.
>Rusty
Join Rusty, our Zero Waste ambassador, on his adventures to learn where waste comes from and where is goes after we dispose of it. Rusty travels the world to see waste's impact on the evironment, takes field trips to waste related sites around NYC, and discovers which bin wins the race to away. Designed for 3-5 grade, each lesson can be adapted for different lengths of time or grade levels.
>Waste Deep
The Waste Deep lesson series for middle school and high school students takes an in-depth look at the economic, social, and environmental impacts of waste on New York City and the world. Students work together to gain an authentic and holistic understanding of different issues. They are guided to pitch solutions to their peers, motivating their school and our city towards Zero Waste.
OTHER RESOURCES <-- Click to expand
