Setting up recycling points within your school buildings.

How to set up your recycling bins

Once you have arranged for your school’s recycling to be collected and you have some information about how the recycling scheme will work, you can set up recycling points within your school buildings.

Developing a recycling system was a great opportunity for the whole school community to work towards a common goal.

Laura Daniels, head teacher
Woodheys Primary School

Bin locations

To make recycling as easy as possible:

  • Position recycling points as close to the source of waste as possible e.g. place a paper recycling bin next to the photo copier/printer.
  • Put recycling points and rubbish bins next to each other so that it’s no extra effort to recycle.

Types of recycling points

You may be provided with internal recycling containers by your council or service provider, or you may need to buy your own. You can use the data from your waste audit to help you decide what type, size and quantity of recycling bins will suit your school best. You will also need to consider who will empty materials from your internal recycling containers into external facilities, how they will do it, what equipment they will need and how often it will be done.

Labelling recycling points

  • It is really important to label recycling points clearly, so that everyone knows where they are and what should go in them.
  • You can use the easily recognisable Recycle Now materials to support your school’s recycling scheme, including awareness posters and recycling point signage.

Visit the school success stories to see examples of how different schools manage their recycling systems.

Share this:
START RECYCLING

Top tips

  1. Have a recycling point in every room

    Don’t forget non-teaching areas like the office, staff room and kitchen

  2. Put rubbish bins and recycling points together

    This makes it as easy to recycle as it is to throw something away

  3. Keep people informed

    Make sure everyone knows what can be recycled at school and why it is important to recycle

  4. Label recycling points and waste bins clearly

    This will help avoid the wrong things being put in the wrong bin

  5. Set up a rota

    Set up a rota for emptying the recycling point

  6. Monitor your recycling scheme

    Watch out for any decline in recycling levels. For example, you could keep a record of how full your external recycling bin is each week.

  7. Have regular recycling reports

    Report at assemblies and display amounts of recycling collected on a notice board to keep everyone informed and motivated.

  8. Motivate teachers to lead by example

    Recycle as much as possible and encourage pupils to get involved.

  9. Involve cleaning and support staff

    Ensure cleaning and support staff are informed of changes which affect them and let them know how important their role is.

  10. Spread your success

    Tell other people about successes, especially parents and the local press and praise all the teams involved