Business recycling programs have discovered a remarkable new source of cost savings in the form of waste management. Virginia Mason Hospital, in Seattle, has garnered a savings of over $170,000 in the first year of their business recycling program as they reduce their contribution to local landfills by 80%. Residential recycling programs have discovered similar savings as waste materials are no longer collected, transported and disposed of at great expense.

Instead, these groups have saved themselves money as they help the environment by initiating successful programs. Schools are in an ideal situation for creating highly successful programs as they educate staff and students alike in the benefits of recycling both to their school and to the world in which we all live. There are five basic steps to creating a successful school recycling program.

Step One: Conduct A Trash Audit

Many school recycling project services will provide your school with a trash audit. A trash audit will analyze your current garbage output to give you an idea of how much savings you can expect to earn from your school recycling program. A trash audit will also help school board members and administrators understand the full extent of their current garbage situation on both the budget and the environment.

Step Two: Select A School Recycling Program Service

Recycling has become big business. As the technology involved with processing recyclable materials improves, the number of companies who see the potential for profit continues to rise. Recycling service companies that offer single stream recycling are the best choice for school recycling programs. These allow participants to use the same recycling containers for all recyclable materials, instead of having to sort them out for themselves. This increased convenience also results in a greater participation rate and better savings for the school.

Step Three: Install Recycling Collection Containers

School recycling program services have a wide variety of recycling containers available to choose from. They come in a number of sizes and colors and can even be customized with the school’s logo or mascot, adding an extra measure of school pride to the school program. Instead of the bulky, ugly recycling containers of yesteryear, today’s recycling containers are made from recycled materials themselves and they look at least as attractive as any trash can, though most of them are far better looking than trash cans.

Step Four: Educate Students And Staff

Educating the staff and students about the school recycling can be lots of fun. Student assemblies, contests, and challenges can be used to motivate and inspire student participation. Staff members can be encouraged to use the theme of recycling in their various lesson plans. Social studies teachers can discuss the changing history and perspective on recycling, math teachers can demonstrate the financial savings, science teachers can educate students about materials cycles and pollution and even elementary teachers can use the recycling program as a means to educate students about being responsible members of a community.

Step Five: Challenge Participation And Demonstrate Success

Participation challenges can be designed, volume goals can be set and measured and special projects can be paid for with the savings that will occur from the school recycling project. North Seattle Community College used the money saved by their Recycling Project to install an arboretum of rare, indigenous plants on the school property, which was then used to educate students about horticulture and the environment, not to mention creating a pleasant area where staff and students could relax and enjoy their surroundings.

School recycling programs are a win-win situation for everyone and it is simple for administrators and staff to work together to create a successful recycling program.

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