How to Set Up a Recycling Program in a Small School District

Schools produce a fair amount of waste. In addition to plastic bottles, cans and other containers, there's incredible volumes of mixed paper that gets dumped in the garbage every day. According to the California Waste Management Board, nearly 47% of waste produced by schools are some kind of paper.

Many large public school districts already have some sort of recycling program in place. These programs are usually administered by a city's Public Works department or through recycling agencies. For parochial schools and schools in rural areas, setting up a successful program is a bit more difficult.

How to start

For these schools, transporting the recyclable materials to a recycling station is the most difficult part of the job. In rural communities, parents and teachers may have to deliver the recyclables to a transfer station. A better option, is to partner with a small business owner who drives regularly into town for supplies.

If you live in a larger community, Public Works or your waste collection provider will know if a recycling dumpster can be leased for your school. The rental cost of the dumpster is usually offset by the savings to the other dumpster; less waste means fewer loads having be emptied by the trash truck.

If dumpsters aren't an option, paper barrels are a great alternative. These are usually loaned to small businesses and schools free of charge. Your local trash service provider will know if this type of recycling program is available. If not, lightweight 55 gallon trash cans can also be used to collect mixed paper. These can be easily transported in a pickup truck to a local recycling center.

To collect the paper from the classrooms, place inexpensive dollar store laundry baskets in each room. At the end of the day, the classroom assistant can empty the paper into a paper recycling dumpster or barrel.

Earn money with your recycling