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Apr
27

Recycling toolkit

Use our recycling toolkit for program assistance, supplies, how-to guides and more resources by the Green Schools Program for participating schools and districts.

Recycling

Recycling means setting aside recyclable materials so they can be collected and then made into new products by manufacturers.

Visit our reducing food waste in schools page for info on:

  • Reducing food waste
  • Setting up organics collection for food scraps and other compostable materials

Download our Waste Reduction and Recycling Best Practices Guide for schools for resources on reducing waste, reusing, and collecting recyclable materials and organics

Read our school recycling FAQs for answers to common questions.

Program assistance and tools

Assigned program representative

Each school and district participating in the Green Schools Program is assigned a program representative to help you assess your current practices, offer guidance, help you make improvements, and promote your successes.

Indoor recycling bins

The program provides indoor recycling bins as needed, up to:

  • a maximum of $250 for any school serving 40% or more free and reduced lunch and for all schools in Auburn, Federal Way, Highline, Kent, and Renton school districts
  • a maximum of $150 for other schools

King County buys the recycling bins from a vendor and has them delivered to participating schools. Use this container guide to select bins that suit your needs.
See our tips for securing the container liner.

Stickers

  • Recycling stickers
    The program provides stickers that can be placed on indoor recycling bins or signs to post above recycling bins.

Calculating your school recycling rate

Use these tools to track your school’s garbage, recycling, and food scrap volumes, and to calculate your school’s estimated recycling rate.

  • Use our garbage and recycling tracking form to monitor fullness of outdoor recycling and garbage dumpsters. This will help you calculate your school’s recycling rate.
  • Use this food scrap assessment before starting an organics collection program. You can use this form to measure the volume and/or weight of your school’s wasted food scraps.

Educational tools and resources

Sample announcements, emails, and presentation materials

Ask your principal to send an email to all staff about:

Use this Staff meeting presentations guide to plan a short presentation about waste reduction and recycling practices.

Use this these waste reduction and recycling fast facts for PA announcements, assemblies, and other communication channels to educate staff, students, and families about reducing waste and recycling.

Conservation projects

Find guides and resources for Student Green Teams and other groups working on conservation projects.

School tours

Use this list of regional recycling, composting, reuse, and garbage facilities to request a tour.

Grant and fundraising opportunities

Recycling, organics, and waste collection services

Recycling, garbage, and organics (food scraps + other compostable materials) collection services

In King County, private companies handle curbside collection of garbage, recycling, and yard waste. Find the waste hauler that operates in your area to set up or adjust your school’s waste collection services.

Cedar Grove Composting
Cedar Grove picks up organics (food scraps and other compostable materials) from schools and businesses. They provide outdoor collection containers, assessments, training, and education.

Learn how to set your school’s collection services to ‘on-call’’ over summer.

Recycling other specific materials

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