Things to Consider When Researching Your School Recycling Options

What material can be collected?

For example: school paper, newspaper, magazines, plastic bottles, and/or metal cans

Who will collect materials within the school?

This could be club members, class(es), a different grade level for each commodity, special needs students, custodians, or kitchen staff.

Do materials need to be sorted in a special way? Which items can go together and which must be separate?

For example, do you need to separate plastic from glass?

Do materials need to be prepared in a special way?

For example, cans and bottles should be crushed and caps should be removed from containers.

Who will oversee the quality control of sorting and preparing materials?

This could be club members, class(es), a different grade level for each commodity, special needs students, custodians, or kitchen staff.

Are special collection containers required?

For example, do you need roll carts with metal bars for hydraulic lift trucks?

How will you pay for the recycling containers?

Possibilities include school or district funds or DHEC Recycling Education Grants. Or, containers could be provided by your municipality.

Do containers need to be put outside for collection? By whom?

This could be club members, class(es), a different grade level for each commodity, special needs students, custodians, or kitchen staff.

Who will pick up materials?

The city, county, or private companies all do pick-ups.

Is a fee involved? How will you pay the fee?

Possibilities include school or district funds or money raised through special projects. Grants can also help pay fees.

Can you make money by recycling any items?

For example: computer cartridges, cell phones, aluminum cans are some items for which you might get money.

If pick up is not an option, can someone from your school deliver materials somewhere?

For example, custodians, scouts, staff members, and family members may be able to help deliver materials.

What can be mailed?

For example, six pack rings, plastic bottle tops and printer cartridges can be mailed in for recycling.

• To recycle six pack rings, call High Cone at 1-800-965-7464 for a free kit with postage-paid labels.
• To recycle plastic bottle tops through Aveda, click here.