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Waste Reduction & Recycling

Waste Reduction

Waste reduction means decreasing the amount of materials needed in the first place so that the volumes of garbage and recyclable materials are reduced.

Schools can reduce waste:

• School wide
  • Organize and hold a School Swap Day (PDF, 23 K) to facilitate the reuse of books and other items.
  • Organize and hold a "Zero Waste" cubby or locker clean out (PDF, 32 K) to facilitate reuse and recycling at the end of the school year.
  • See the "End of School Year Check List Calendar" (PDF, 76 K) for other ideas about reducing, reusing and recycling.

   

• In the classroom

  Elementary school proudly holds up his classroom's paper reuse tray

  • Use both sides of a sheet of paper. Place "paper reuse" trays in each classroom.
  • Make scratch pads from one-sided printed materials.
  • Limit the use of handouts and refer students to books and Web sites.
  • Reduce (PDF, 52 K) or eliminate unwanted newspaper subscriptions.

   

• In the office
  • Make double-sided copies on printers and copiers.
  • Use e-mail for newsletters, bulletins and memos.
  • Reuse office supplies such as envelopes, file folders and paper.
  • Use one-sided printed materials for scratch pads.
  • Use draft paper in printers.
  • Reduce (PDF, 52 K) unwanted mail.

   

• In lunchroom, kitchen and break room
  • Have bulk dispensers installed.
  • Use durable plates, glasses and utensils.
  • Encourage students to bring lunches in durable containers. See waste free lunches (external) for tips on waste free lunches
  • Compost food waste using worm bins (vermicomposting) or other methods. Also see "How To Care for Your Worm Bin over the Summer".

   

• By donating leftover edible food
  • The national Good Samaritan Food Donation Act encourages the donation of food to nonprofit organizations for distribution to needy individuals. See "Food Donation Guidelines" (PDF, 47 K) and "Food Donations with Food Lifeline and Northwest Harvest" (PDF, 32 K) which includes contact information for these organizations
  • Read the success story (PDF, 31 K) about how five school districts donated edible food with the help of King County's Green Schools program.

   

• In the restroom
  • Use air dryers or cloth towel rolls instead of paper.
  • Use foam soap and foam soap dispensers (PDF, 80 K)

   

• Through groundskeeping and landscaping
  • Compost leaves, grass clippings and other yard waste.
  • Leave grass clippings in place to provide nutrients to the lawn.

Recycling

Recycling means setting aside materials that can be recycled so that they can be collected and then made into new products.

Schools can:

• Establish a recycling program

   

• Expand an existing recycling program
  • Add new materials to the list of materials currently collected.
  • Collect recyclable materials from additional locations in the school.
  • Increase participation in the recycling program through education and by promoting the benefits of recycling. Take advantage of the King County Solid Waste Division's classroom workshops, elementary school assembly program, and other educational resources. Also see "Communication Cycle" (PDF, 165 K) and "Continue the Cycle" (PDF, 158 K) for ideas about how to promote recycling in your school.
  • Use the Waste Reduction and Recycling fast facts (PDF, 60 K) in PA announcements, emails, school newsletters and other publications to educate students and staff about the benefits of reducing waste and recycling.
  • Make sure that classroom, office and lunchroom recycling containers are in place when school begins in September. Ask your principal to send an email to all staff regarding the school's recycling containers. See the "Sample End of Year Principal Email" (PDF, 29 K).
  • To save money over the summer, change your school's garbage and recycling collection service to "on call". Give "On-call Summer Garbage Collection" (PDF, 38 K) to your principal, custodian or school district office.

Once a school or school district has requested assistance, King County conducts a walk through with the school's custodian or other representative to assess the school's current recycling and waste reduction practices. King County then provides written recommendations and assistance to improve the recycling program and decrease solid waste.

For more information, visit the School Recycling & Waste Reduction Assistance site.

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