Recycle Week 2023: Brilliant Recycling Ideas For Schools
Updated on: September 19, 2023
Recycle Week is a great opportunity to take some time out to consider what your school community can do to look after the planet.
When the school schedule is so packed, thinking about how to fit recycling into your school routines is the last thing you need. But it can be done and easily too.
From compost heaps to swap shops, there are lots of innovative ways to promote sustainability and recycling in the school space. Let’s take a closer look at what recycling week is and how some schools are supporting recycling around the world.
What Is Recycle Week?
Recycle Week will take place from the 16th – 22nd of October 2023. Its purpose is to promote and celebrate the benefits of recycling.
The annual event is organised by WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme). WRAP are a global organisation who support governments, businesses and individuals around the world to re-use and recycle as much waste as possible.
Every year, WRAP create a theme to inspire everyone to recycle more of the right things, more often.
This year’s theme is: ‘The Big Recycling Hunt’. The organisers want to encourage everyone to recycle things in the home that are often forgotten, these are known as “missed capture”.
Missed capture includes things like empty aerosols, food tins, cleaning bottles, toiletries, pots, tubs, and trays.
Recycle Week: Brilliant Recycling Ideas For Schools
1. Recycling Lunch Waste
Waters Elementary School in Chicago have managed to recycle 87% of the waste created at lunchtimes. Children are taught to pour liquids into a sink and empty drink containers into a recycling bin.
The school’s recycling station also has space for:
- fruit, vegetable peel and compostable lunch trays which are taken to the school compost heap.
- plastic knives, forks and bags which are recycled.
- everything else which goes to a local composting facility.
It is estimated that only 13% of the waste generated from their school lunches goes to landfill sites.
By helping to decrease the amount of rubbish ending up in landfills, Waters Elementary are supporting the global reduction of carbon dioxide and other toxic gases.
2. Compost Heap
An elementary school in Chicago has kept an open compost heap for over 10 years and found it doubles as a brilliant teaching tool.
There are so many reasons to compost. Composting helps to reduce the number of landfill sites which produce harmful greenhouse gases whilst enriching the soil and lowering the need for pesticides.
After discovering children were fascinated by the decaying waste, the staff created a range of activities around it such as studying: the life cycle of worms, why compost smells and more.
Whether you choose to use a container or wooden pallets, compost heaps are easy to set up and maintain. Suitable for everything from kitchen waste to grass cuttings and shredded cardboard, compost heaps are a great way to keep your school tidy too.
3. School Swap Shop
Take inspiration from the Rubery Schools Swap Shop. The swap shop is a joint venture for a collection of schools in Birmingham.
Parents and carers can send in unwanted PE kit, shoes, forest school clothes and more. In return, local parents and carers can find clothes for free.
Why not set up a similar version at your school for Recycle Week or a longer period of time? You could go beyond school uniform and consider things like books and toys.
You might want to put the swap shop online, have a tiny charge for sales which generates money for the school fund or even have children manage the venture.
4. Community Hub
Children are always passionate about looking after the planet. Terracycle UK have come up with a brilliant way for schools to take advantage of this natural interest.
Terracycle have a school community scheme which enables your school to become a drop-off point for the local area.
Children and local residents can bring a wide range of plastics to the school and Terracycle will come and collect it. Learn more at Terracycle UK
5. Cut-Price School Equipment
SportsafeUK have created a way for schools to get affordable sports equipment whilst recycling old sports gear.
Sportsafe UK can either repair and service your old equipment or recycle it. In return, you can buy sports gear at a lower price. Discover more at SportsafeUK
To get involved, primary schools in England and Northern Ireland can sign up for an Action Pack which contains all the information and details you need to get involved.
Jess Sparks
Jess is deeply committed to supporting our mission of positively impacting UK outdoor play environments to promote healthy lifestyles in children.
With a CIM Level 6 Diploma in Sustainable Marketing, Jess channels her passion for sustainability into her marketing role, using her skills to promote eco-conscious practices and raise awareness for our initiatives.
Jess’ experience within the industry is instrumental in driving engagement and supporting connections with those who require ultra-durable, high-grade playground markings both locally and internationally.