Have a recycling point in most, if not all rooms – including staff areas such as offices, the kitchen or staff rooms.
Ensure cleaning and support staff are informed of changes and recycling schemes which affect them and make them aware of the importance of their role.
Put waste bins and recycling points close together so it is as easy to recycle as it is to throw something in the bin.
Make sure everyone knows what can be recycled at school and why it is important to recycle. For further information on what can be recycled, contact the Target 45+ team at East Riding of Yorkshire Council.
Raise awareness of your recycling by telling other people about successes, especially parents and the local press, praising the teams involved. A section of the school website could be dedicated to recycling.
Label recycling points and waste bins clearly to avoid the wrong items being put in the bin. Recycle Now has iconography and bin stickers that can be downloaded.
Work together as a classroom to set up a rota or timetable for emptying the recycling points.
Set up a ‘recycling council’ or include recycling and sustainability within the school council to help monitor the recycling scheme. Students can play a key part in this. The Eco-Schools scheme recommends a school ‘action team’ be set up.
Make the recycling classes and schemes fun and interesting for the children. Recycling can be a vibrant and exciting part of daily school life.
Monitor your recycling schemes and keep a lookout for any decline in recycling levels. For example, you could keep a record of how full your external recycling bin is each week, or the number of recycling points in the school.
Have a regular recycling report at assemblies and display amounts of recycling collected on a notice board to keep everyone informed and motivated. Students can help create a recycling notice board with artwork, collages etc. WRAP has created an interactive video-led assembly pack that may prove to be very successful with students.
Visit Recycle Now's website for ideas.
Get your recycling collected and ensure you have all the required recycling bins. Speak to the team at East Riding of Yorkshire Council for further details.
Motivate teachers to lead by example: recycle as much as possible and encourage pupils to get involved. Staff being keen to recycle will filter down to the students.
If you have any further advice or suggestions, please feel free to email Debbie.Mansell@eastriding.gov.uk
