Resources for Schools in New York City

Use the online request form to download or order free materials to set up your school recycling program, and to educate students, teachers, and parents about recycling and waste prevention.

View videos on recycling, waste prevention, and composting.

See below for:
resources for recycling in schools
educational materials

Schools in NYC showcase their recycling, waste prevention, and cleanup programs in the annual Golden Apple Awards contests. Consider entering your projects! See prior years' entries for examples of Best Practices: how to set up model programs, and how to incorporate sustainability topics as hands-on applied learning projects in your curriculum and clubs.

ALSO SEE more resources for links to other sites about recycling, waste prevention, and environmental education for teachers and students.

Resources for recycling in schools

See information about New York City's mandatory recycling in schools.

NYC school principals, teachers, & custodians: Use the online request form to order free materials to set up your school recycling program, or download pdfs here.

NOTE: You’ll need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to display and print PDF (Portable Document Format) documents.

	School Recycling Guide & Golden Apple Awards Brochure
	NYC Recycle Sign    (8-1/2 x 11", two-sided sign: shows what to recycle)
	Recycling checklist flyer     (also available as a 5x8" removable sticker)

Free decals to label recycling bins and storage areas:

	Indoor decals to label recycling bins
	Blue labels for bins for bottles, cans, and drink boxes
	Recycling Area decal to label storage areas

See Golden Apple Awards contest information to find out how schools in NYC can win honors for their recycling, waste prevention, and clean-up programs.

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Educational Materials

See recycling education materials:
for teachers & principals
for students
for parents

FOR TEACHERS & PRINCIPALS:

Schools in NYC can win honors for their recycling, waste prevention, and clean-up programs. See Golden Apple Awards contest information for details.

The NYC Teachers’ RRResource Guide: RRR You Ready? helps educators implement the three R’s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) at school. In this guide you will find:

• lesson plans and activity sheets for grades K-5 that comply with NYC Department of Education standards
• ideas for hands-on projects and long-term activities
• extensive background information, including glossary sheets and web links 
• VHS and DVD videos on what happens to recyclables, and the story of the TrashMasters! kids.

Use the school request form to order RRResource Kits in printed or DVD format for every K-5 teacher in your school, and our coloring books or DSNY/Marvel comics for every student, along with other recycling information. The DVD version includes our interactive coloring books and DSNY/Marvel comic books — download these onto your school's computers, so kids can learn to recycle while they practice their mouse skills!

RRR videos may be viewed online or ordered separately. These age-appropriate short features offer a virtual tour of a recycling plant, and are perfect for lunchtime viewing on inclement weather days.

Recycling speakers: see the frequently asked question on how to request a speaker.

Recycling tours: see the frequently asked question about tours of a landfill or recycling plant.

Composting: the NYC Compost Project offers free workshops on composting and vermicomposting (worm bins).

How to receive donations: Public school teachers and principals who want to submit wish lists and receive donations of computers, art materials, and other supplies can contact the organizations listed in the computer section of our new homes for old stuff page.

ALSO SEE more resources for links to other sites about recycling, waste prevention, and environmental education for teachers and students.

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FOR STUDENTS:

Check out DSNY/Marvel Comics. Read about the TrashMasters! — kids who take on recycling and waste prevention at their school. DSNY Comics lets students test their recycling knowledge with fun computer games. 

This is the literacy component of the NYC Teachers' RRR Kit. Use the online request form to order printed copies of for every student who is participating in the curriculum, and order the NYC Teachers' RRR Kit DVD which includes interactive versions of these books.

Click on these links to launch the interactive online versions.
NOTE: You’ll need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to display and print PDF (Portable Document Format) documents.

	NYC Recycles coloring book for Pre-K to grade 1 (pre-literate population) NYC recycles coloring book (online version) NYC recycles coloring book (pdf version)
	TrashMasters comic book for grades 2 and 3 (emergent readers) TrashMasters for grades 2 and 3 (online version)  Story 1 (pdf) Story 2 (pdf) Activities (pdf)
	TrashMasters comic book for grades 4 to 6 (fluent readers) TrashMasters for grades 4 to 6 (online version) Story 1 (pdf) Story 2 (pdf) Activities (pdf)

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FOR PARENTS:

Send recycling information home via backpack mail to reinforce the recycling message, and encourage families to support your students' daily recycling habits at home.

Visit the NYC Department of Sanitation website and fill out the online literature/decal request to order additional materials including information on composting; reducing toxic products in the home; bumper stickers; and recycling checklists, stickers, and bookmarks to encourage recycling at home.

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