Get the whole school involved
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.
Possible role | Possible tasks | Time frame | Working with |
PupilsRecycle as much of their waste as possible in the appropriate recycling bins |
| Day-to-day |
|
Recycling monitorsCarry out recycling duties |
| Day-to-day, weekly, monthly |
|
School Council, Eco Committee or Environment TeamRepresent their class and feed back to the rest of the school |
| Regular meetings |
|
Designated teacher or recycling coordinatorCo-ordinate the recycling scheme |
| Day-to-day |
|
Teachers and teaching assistantsSupport the recycling scheme |
| Day-to-day |
|
Senior management teamPrioritise recycling in the school |
| Regular updates to head teacher, governors and parents |
|
Head teacherFocus on core value of recycling within the school |
| Need to be constantly aware of developments in the school |
|
Cleaning staffSupport and facilitate the recycling scheme and action plan |
| Day-to-day |
|
Kitchen and catering staffMaintain recycling in their area of work - kitchen, canteen, hall |
| Day-to-day |
|
Site manager/caretakerOversee the internal and external bin and collection system |
| Day-to-day |
|
Office/administration staffReduce waste in their area of work. |
| Day-to-day |
|
BursarInvestigate cost-effective recycling solutions, equipment and products. |
| During the set-up process and regular reviews thereafter |
|
School governorsSupport the head teacher, other teachers and pupils. |
| Governor meetings |
|
ParentsSupport the recycling scheme and help pupils recycle correctly. |
| Whenever possible |
|