Step 1 – Learn about the current state of waste management

• Seek support and input from your building manager, principal, and teachers.

• Learn how waste is currently handled and if the school is recycling anything. 

Step 2 – Determine what can be recycled

• Look at the school’s waste to see what can be recycled. This can be as easy as looking in each garbage can and estimating the amount of the different materials, or as thorough as conducting a waste audit.

• Visually inspect various locations where garbage is collected: classrooms; kitchen/cafeteria; offices; teachers’ lounge; gyms and stadiums; auditoriums; and sports fields.

Step 3 – Find a recycling provider

Contact the school's garbage hauler to set up recycling service.

Step 4 – Designate a recycling coordinator and support team

Recruit a recycling club or Green Team. This could include the principal, building manager, teachers, and students. Designate a Recycling Coordinator to coordinate the program.

Step 1 – Write a step-by-step guide for recycling in the school

• Tour the school buildings and grounds to determine where recyclables should be collected and type(s) of recycling receptacles needed at each location. In classrooms you will need containers to collect paper; in the cafeteria, kitchen, teachers’ lounges, gyms, and outdoor sporting areas you will need receptacles suitable for cartons, bottles and cans. Provide appropriate signage of what can and cannot be recycled.

• Designate someone to take the recyclables to the recycling dumpster regularly. This could be the responsibility of students, Green Team, or facilities personnel. Designate someone to monitor both garbage and recycling dumpsters on a regular basis, and adjust service as needed.

Step 2 – Obtain and place recycling collection containers

• Acquire and distribute recycling receptacles.
  
  
• Use only clear liners/bags to collect recyclables.
  
  
• Always put recycling receptacles next to garbage cans.
  
  
• Make sure each recycling receptacle is well marked with signs (paper recycling, lunch recycling) to prevent contamination.

Step 1 – Kick off a new program any time of year

• Inform everyone about the program with signage, emails, morning announcements, and newsletters. Let people know what can be recycled and where the recycling containers are located.

• Consider having a kick-off event with an assembly or classroom programs.

• Remind everyone of the recycling program at the beginning of each school year.

Step 2 – Monitor for contamination and landfill dumpster usage

• Monitor the recycling containers and check for contamination. Adjust signage if you notice many mistakes.

• Monitor landfill dumpster and decrease pick-ups as needed to make recycling financially sustainable.

Step 3 – Report results and continue promoting program

• Provide positive feedback by informing students, teachers, administrators, parents, and the community of your successes.

• Promote the benefits of recycling by including recycling facts in morning announcements and newsletters.

• Consider having recycling contests like a zero waste lunch day where each grade or class competes to produce the least amount of lunch waste.

Step 4 – Reassess program and identify possible improvements

• Set aside time with the Green Team to evaluate what is working and what isn’t. This step may need to be done at intervals throughout the school year, and certainly at the end of every school year.