Get the whole school involved

Everyone can contribute to make recycling a success at your school.

Try to involve as many people as possible

Involving pupils and staff across your school in setting up and running your recycling scheme is essential to ensure the scheme works successfully. If the school community has ownership of various tasks and responsibilities, participation is likely to be higher and contamination (throwing unsuitable materials into recycling bins) is likely to be lower. Whole school involvement also ensures recycling continues even if enthusiastic staff and pupils move on.

A table detailing the different roles and responsibilities for recycling at school
Possible role	Possible tasks	Time frame	Working with
Pupils Recycle as much of their waste as possible in the appropriate recycling bins	Involvement in setting up and running the recycling scheme Follow instructions on what to recycle and where to recycle it	Day-to-day	Class representatives Teachers Designated teacher
Recycling monitors Carry out recycling duties	Empty bins at regular intervals Monitor the scheme and report back to designated teacher (eg how full are the bins, contamination) Champion the scheme to classmates	Day-to-day, weekly, monthly	Designated teacher Site manager/caretaker All other pupils
School Council, Eco Committee or Environment Team Represent their class and feed back to the rest of the school	Develop ideas and take on responsibilities for ongoing scheme Carry out a waste audit and action plan Prepare assemblies, newsletters and website updates to feed back to rest of school Label recycling bins and put up posters	Regular meetings	Designated teacher Class teacher All other pupils
Designated teacher or recycling coordinator Co-ordinate the recycling scheme	Take responsibility for waste audits and developing action plans. Provide training for other school staff Raise awareness Regular meetings with school council/eco committee Keep head teacher and school management informed	Day-to-day	Head teacher School management School council/eco committee or environment team Site manager/caretaker Pupils
Teachers and teaching assistants Support the recycling scheme	Use and support the scheme Help pupils to recycle correctly Feed back to the designated teacher	Day-to-day	Own class Designated teacher
Senior management team Prioritise recycling in the school	Monitor progress with designated teacher and report back to head teacher Lead by example	Regular updates to head teacher, governors and parents	Head teacher Designated teacher Teaching staff
Head teacher Focus on core value of recycling within the school	Ensure the whole school is involved Ensure the development of a school policy	Need to be constantly aware of developments in the school	School management Teaching staff Non-teaching staff Pupils
Cleaning staff Support and facilitate the recycling scheme and action plan	Ensure all recyclable materials are collected and emptied into the correct centralised/external facilities Inform site manager/caretaker about contamination issues and where external bins are full	Day-to-day	Site manager/caretaker Pupils
Kitchen and catering staff Maintain recycling in their area of work - kitchen, canteen, hall	Ensure packaging is recycled and bins are emptied regularly and don't overflow	Day-to-day	Site manager/caretaker Pupils
Site manager/caretaker Oversee the internal and external bin and collection system	Liaise with the cleaners and designated teacher to help with the day-to-day running of the scheme Ensure the recycling monitors or cleaners collect and empty the bins into the central/external bins on a regular basis Liaise with the local authority or service provider regarding the external collections	Day-to-day	Head teacher Designated teacher Recycling monitors Cleaners Bursar Local authority or service provider
Office/administration staff Reduce waste in their area of work.	Only print documents if absolutely necessary. Print double sided. Recycle used paper.	Day-to-day	Head teacher Designated teacher Site manager/caretaker
Bursar Investigate cost-effective recycling solutions, equipment and products.	Liaise with the designated teacher and site manager/ caretaker on implementation and cost issues of the recycling scheme. Look into purchasing recycled products. During the set-up process and regular reviews thereafter.	During the set-up process and regular reviews thereafter	Head teacher Designated teacher Site manager/caretaker
School governors Support the head teacher, other teachers and pupils.	Take interest in plans and achievements. Ensure head teacher demonstrates progress or maintenance of high recycling performance in the school.	Governor meetings	Head teacher Teacher on governing body
Parents Support the recycling scheme and help pupils recycle correctly.	Possibly help generate funding for specific recycling related activities. Support additional activities e.g. run information stalls at parent evenings or after school.	Whenever possible	Whole school

Get the whole school involved

Pupils

Recycling monitors

School Council, Eco Committee or Environment Team

Designated teacher or recycling coordinator

Teachers and teaching assistants

Senior management team

Head teacher

Cleaning staff

Kitchen and catering staff

Site manager/caretaker

Office/administration staff

Bursar

School governors

Parents

Share page