Seven Ways to Minimize and Process Wastes at School

Schools produce tremendous amounts of wastes and unfortunately, only a small percent of them are properly handled and managed. When a recycling program is set in place, it is easier for the school to manage its wastes and significantly reduce school carbon footprint.

Here are some recycling and waste reduction ideas that can take schools closer to their eco and sustainability goals.

1. Involve school administrators, teachers, staff, and students in a recycling program. Hold contests to encourage everyone to be active supporters of the project. Establish a recycling club who will lead recycling initiatives in the campus.
2. Send school memos and announcements electronically instead of printing multiple copies of it. Same is true with assignments and documents that usually come in hard copies. Use the back part of copy paper before throwing them on the recycling bin. Provide a scrap paper box to each classroom.
3. Reuse office and classroom supplies whenever possible and refrain from buying new stocks. Use ink refills instead of buying new pens and markers.
4. Collect empty printer ink containers. You can sell them at certain amounts, which you can use to fund eco activities at school.
5. Encourage the use of old magazines, plastic bottles, and similar discarded materials for art projects.
6. Encourage the cafeteria staff to purchase food in bulk to minimize paper and plastic wastes. Also teach them how to convert food wastes and kitchen scraps to compost that can be used as organic fertilizers for the school garden. To manage excess edible foods, encourage them to donate to local shelters instead of dumping them on the garbage cans.
7. Encourage students use reusable containers for their packed food instead of disposable ones and single-use plastics.

Recycling can make a huge difference to how a school manages its wastes and creates impact to the environment. When measures like these are set in place, it is easier for a school to shift to a greener and more sustainable image.