Better recycling in schools

Children participating in making recycling posters

7 Steps every school can take

Schools generate a wide range of daily waste — from leftover food and single-use plastics to paper, packaging, and outdated electronics. With the right school recycling strategy in place, you can improve recycling rates, reduce costs, and teach pupils lifelong habits that benefit the planet.

As of 31 March 2025, new UK recycling regulations (simpler recycling) require all schools to separate six key waste streams: food, glass, metal, plastic, paper, and cardboard. Now is the perfect time to review your waste practices and take meaningful action.

Here are 7 straightforward ways to build better recycling habits in your school:

Step 1. Involve everyone from the start

The more people involved, the better your school recycling results. Build enthusiasm and make recycling part of school culture by:

Forming an eco-team or green group with both staff and pupils
Running themed assemblies or lesson plans focused on sustainability
Celebrating key events like Earth Day or Recycling Week
Hosting competitions between classes (e.g. most recycled paper wins a prize)
Highlighting successes in newsletters and school noticeboards

When recycling becomes a shared goal, it’s more likely to succeed, and habits formed at school often carry on into adulthood.

Step 2. Know what can and can’t be recycled

Contamination is one of the biggest barriers to successful recycling. Teach pupils and staff the basics:

What can be recycled:

Clean paper and cardboard
Plastic bottles, tubs and trays
Aluminium cans and clean foil
Glass bottles and jars
Food waste (e.g. fruit peels, bread, coffee grounds)

What can’t be commonly recycled:

Crisp packets and sweet wrappers
Food-soiled containers
Used tissues or hand towels
Cling film and plastic wrap
Pens, markers and certain hard plastics

Always check with your waste management provider — some items (like pens, soft plastics or WEEE) may be recyclable through specialist services.

Step 3. Understand what you throw away

A pie chart of different recyclable and waste materials

Before making changes, it helps to know what’s in your bins. Conduct a simple waste audit:

Track what waste is generated and where (e.g. classrooms, canteens, staffrooms)
Measure how much is currently being recycled, and what is going to general waste
Look for obvious changes, like reducing paper handouts or swapping bottled drinks for refills
Involve pupils in this process — it’s educational and helps build responsibility.

Step 4. Reduce waste at the source

Once you know your biggest waste culprits, take steps to reduce them:

Paper: Encourage digital communication and print double-sided where possible
Plastic: Switch to refill stations and reusable containers, avoid single-use milk or juice cartons
Hand towels: Replace with energy-efficient hand dryers, or choose recyclable paper options and confirm collection availability

Small changes can add up to big savings — both environmentally and financially.

Step 5. Promote reuse in creative ways

Not everything needs to be thrown away, Schools are ideal places to build reuse habits:

Uniform swap shops: Let parents donate and pick up pre-loved uniforms
Scrap stations: Repurpose packaging and materials for art and design lessons
Reusable bottles: Encourage pupils to bring and label their own
IT and electronics: Use WEEE-compliant services to ensure equipment is reused or properly recycled
Scrapstore: Source affordable materials for creative activities from your local children’s scrapstore

Step 6. Make recycling easy and visible

Person placing empty plastic bottle into a bin

Even the most enthusiastic recyclers need the right tools. Set up recycling points that are:

Clearly labelled with images and words
Colour-coded (e.g. green for food, blue for paper)
Paired with general waste bins to encourage correct sorting
Placed in high-traffic areas like classrooms, canteens and staffrooms

Involve students in creating posters or signage — it encourages ownership and creativity.

Step 7. Choose the right waste partner

Working with a reliable waste management provider makes a big difference.

Look for one that:

Offers separate bins for food, cardboard, glass and plastic
Provides regular reports on your recycling progress
Helps you stay legally compliant with regulations
Offers specialist collections (e.g. hand towels, printer cartridges, IT equipment)
Supports education and behaviour change through add-on services