Learning to recycle is an important lesson in community responsibility, and schools across the country are embracing the opportunity to equip students with the experience and knowledge they need to be good citizens of the earth.

A comprehensive program should include the recycling of bottles, cans, paper, plastic and cardboard, as well as electronics waste ("e-waste"), batteries and food scraps. The program should acknowledge the EPA's three goals of recycling:

• Reduce the amount and toxicity of trash you discard.
• Reuse containers and products; repair what is broken.
• Recycle as much as possible, including buying products with recycled content.

Resources:

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has many ideas for School Recycling Programs, as well as how to get students, staff, faculty, administrators, and parents involved.

The School Recycling Club is managed by the Northeast Resource Recovery Association based in New Hampshire. The highly successful site is fun and easy to navigate, and includes good ideas and resources for getting a program started at your school.

The Kentucky Recycling Marketing Assistance (KRMA) Program has developed an excellent School Recycling Guide to developing and operating an effective school recycling program. 

Oregon Green Schools is a nonprofit organization that helps schools conduct waste audits, provides guidance and training for new programs, recommends curriculum resources and identifies grant opportunities. The organization has over 25 regional coordinators throughout the state and nearly 200 participating schools.