Beautification and Environment Commission

How to Have A Successful School Recycling Program

Metro Beautification & Environment Commission and Metro Public Works staff are available to assist you with your school recycling program! Here are a few tips and good information from some MNPS schools about their programs.

  1. Decide HOW to recycle:
    Place a recycling box next to each trash can in classrooms and offices. In some schools, students have decorated used cardboard boxes for this purpose.
  2. Communicate WHAT to recycle:
    The MNPS contract for recycling is for ALL PAPER and ALL BOXES. Download a flyer to post in each classroom and office.
  3. Decide WHO will pick up the recycling:
    Many schools have organized Recycling Teams to pick up the recycling on a regular schedule. This provides students will a real job and gives them the opportunity to participate in school life and gain a sense of accomplishment.
  4. MOTIVATE your recyclers and CELEBRATE your recycling success!
    Metro Beautification can provide you with small prizes and certificates for your recycling team! Email us about your recycling team, and send photos if you would like them to be included on our website.

See school recycling in action! Click on photos to open up a photo collage from each school:

Bailey Recycling Team at Cora Howe
Bailey Students Team Up With Cora Howe to Recycle!

  • Mt.View Elementary Schools Recycling
    Mt. View Elementary School
  • Park Avenue Elementary School Students Recycling
    Park Avenue Elementary School
  • Ewing Park Middle School Student Recycling Team
    Ewing Park Middle School
  • Croft Middle School Students collecting recycling
    Croft Middle Design Center
  • J.T.Moor Students Recycling
    J.T. Moore Midde School
  • Gra-Mar Middle School Students Recycling
    Gra-Mar Middle School

Read about school recycling programs:

The program is going fine. They have recycle bins in each room and one student from each class takes the bins to the recycle dumpster. Buena Vista Elementary School

Three Resource students are responsible for the entire school's recycling. They go quietly into each classroom to collect the recycling. They have an important job in the school. Carter-Lawrence Elementary School

Each class is responsible for getting their own container and emptying it when it is full. In 7th grade Social Studies, we emphasize recycling as part of the academic standards and are attempting to incorporate it into action. Meigs Middle School

We have a team of students that take turns (in groups of 2-3) getting recycling containers located in classrooms and offices. They do this approximately twice a week. Rose Park Middle School

Recycle material is collected by students who are each assigned to teacher's rooms and offices. 40 students collect the materials (20 on Tuesdays and 20 on Fridays). The material is collected on those days at 1:00. Each teacher has a recycle bin, either plastic or cardboard. Croft Middle School

We have 5 ecology classes that collect recyclables every Thursday after school. Hillsboro High School