Recycling in Schools

All schools in New York City are required by law to recycle. Campus schools that house multiple schools or programs must institute recycling collection throughout the entire building.  

Remember, recycling properly at school teaches students their civic and environmental responsibilities.

Dept of Ed Recycling Coordinators
How to set up your school’s recycling program
School recycling program checklist
Recycling decals and educational resources

NOTE: See NYC WasteLe$$ Events Calendar to find upcoming School Recycling Workshops presented by DSNY BWPRR for the United Federation of Teachers Green Schools Committee.

ALSO SEE NYC recycling law and the Department of Education Chancellor's regulations for public schools. 

Show us your school's recycling program! TrashMasters! Super Recyclers honors schools in each borough for model school recycling programs that comply with Department of Sanitation regulations. See Golden Apple Awards contest information for details.

NYC Department of Education
Recycling and Waste Prevention Coordinators

Please note these NYC Department of Education requirements for public schools:

• Each principal must designate a School Sustainability Coordinator from administrative or teaching staff.  
• The School Sustainability Coordinator and principal shall consult with representatives from all sectors of the school, including food services and custodial staff, and wherever possible, parents and students, in developing and implementing the School Recycling and Waste Reduction Plan.
• FOR 2009: Principals can use the basic recycling plan template and keep the completed plan on file at the school. 
• Principals or principal designee are required to fill out the Recycling Verification form (on the Department of Ed portal) by December 9, 2009, confirming they have appointed a Sustainability Coordinator and a recycling plan is on file.

Inquiries about these requirements should be addressed to the DOE Department of School Facilities.  ALSO SEE the Chancellor's regulations (A-850). 

At campus schools (housing more than one school), it is recommended that the Sustainability Coordinators from each school meet periodically to discuss and coordinate the recycling activities for the entire building. Sustainability Coordinators are encouraged to reach out to their principals to get on the building council agenda to discuss recycling activities. Use the site visit request form to arrange for a DSNY Recycling Outreach specialist to attend a building-wide meeting.

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How to set up your school's recycling program

Principals, custodians, food service staff, teachers, and students all have responsibilities to make sure that materials designated for recycling are kept separate from garbage and properly placed out for Department of Sanitation collection.

See a list of what to recycle in schools.

Check with your principal to determine your school's designated Recycling Coordinator
Work with the building custodian
Set up containers for recycling
Inform administration, teachers, kitchen staff, and students

WORK WITH THE CUSTODIAN

• Identify storage areas for recyclables—inside or outside, on each floor or in a central location.

• Ensure recyclables are collected in clear bags from each room, separately from garbage.

• Place recyclables at the curb or in the school's dumpster in clear bags. (Note: It is illegal to place recyclables in black bags.) See DSNY Collection Services, below.

Use the site visit request form to arrange for a DSNY Recycling Outreach specialist to come do an informative walk-through with your custodian, principal, and Recycling Coordinator.

SET UP CONTAINERS FOR RECYCLING

• Place containers for recycling in every room—see the school recycling program checklist, below.
  • Note: The Department of Sanitation does not provide recycling or garbage containers. Your custodian or principal can purchase recycling bins through standard Department of Education procurement methods. Use the school materials request form to order free recycling decals and signs, or to download and print your own.
  • Any type of container can be used for recycling indoors—you can even use labeled cardboard boxes or empty buckets the kitchen would otherwise discard.

• Label recycling containers with free Department of Sanitation decals (or use paint or permanent marker).

• Post signs explaining what to recycle near every container.

INFORM ADMISTRATION, TEACHERS, KITCHEN STAFF, AND STUDENTS

• Circulate an annual reminder to teachers and all staff about what and how to recycle.

• Explain to students what and how to recycle in classrooms, cafeterias, and common areas. Make periodic reminder announcements.

• Tell afterschool programs, parent associations, and outside groups how to recycle when they use your space. Set up recycling bins at events, and be prepared to recycle larger quantities.

• Include recycling announcements and notices in your newsletters, webpages, and events planning.

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

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School recycling program checklist

Use this simple checklist to ensure that every area of your school is correctly set up for recycling.

See a list of what to recycle in schools.

Recycling in classrooms and school offices
Recycling in the teachers’ lounge/cafeteria
Recycling in the cafeteria
Recycling in the school kitchen
Recycling storage areas
Recycling collection service

RECYCLING IN CLASSROOMS AND SCHOOL OFFICES

Recycle mixed paper and corrugated cardboard:

Put all paper into GREEN-labeled recycling containers.

Line recycling containers with CLEAR bags.

Place garbage container nearby to avoid contamination.

Keep corrugated cardboard boxes separate for recycling.

RECYCLING IN THE TEACHERS’ LOUNGE/CAFETERIA

Recycle mixed paper and cardboard:

Put all paper into GREEN-labeled recycling containers.

Keep cardboard boxes separate for recycling.

Recycle metal cans & foil; plastic bottles & jugs; glass bottles & jars; milk & juice cartons; and drink boxes (empty food or beverages from all containers):

Put all cans and bottles into BLUE-labeled recycling containers.

Line recycling containers with CLEAR bags.

Place garbage container nearby to avoid contamination.

RECYCLING IN THE CAFETERIA

Recycle metal cans & foil; plastic bottles & jugs; glass bottles & jars; milk & juice cartons; and drink boxes  (empty food or beverages from all containers):

Empty leftover liquids into a separate bucket.

Put all bottles, cans, foil & beverage cartons into BLUE-labeled recycling containers.

Line recycling containers with CLEAR bags.

Place garbage container nearby to avoid contamination.

RECYCLING IN THE SCHOOL KITCHEN

Recycle metal cans & foil; plastic bottles & jugs; glass bottles & jars; milk & juice cartons; and drink boxes (empty food or beverages from all containers):

Put all metal, glass & plastic recyclables into BLUE-labeled recycling containers.

Line recycling containers with CLEAR bags.

Place garbage container nearby to avoid contamination.

Recycle corrugated cardboard, paper egg cartons, paper packaging, and mixed paper:

Put recyclable paper into GREEN-labeled recycling containers.

Put wax- and plastic-coated paper packaging in the regular garbage.

Flatten and stack corrugated cardboard boxes for recycling.

RECYCLING STORAGE AREAS

Keep recyclables separate from garbage at indoor or outdoor storage areas:

Label the Recycling Area.

Collect and store all recyclables in CLEAR bags.

Set recyclables out at the curb in CLEAR bags for collection.

Flatten and tie corrugated cardboard into bundles no more than 18” high, or place in CLEAR bags.

Recycle bulk metal (metal furniture, file cabinets, appliances*) by placing at the curb beside other recyclables.

* Before discarding refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, water coolers, and other appliances containing CFC gas, call 311 or make an appointment online for removal of the CFC gas. For safety reasons, remove doors from refrigerators and freezers before placing out for disposal.

DSNY RECYCLING COLLECTION SERVICES

Schools that receive garbage collection from the NYC Department of Sanitation are also eligible for DSNY recycling collection service. There are three types of collection for schools:

• CURBSIDE: Recyclables are collected weekly in the same truck as the local neighborhood's recyclables. To find out your Recycling Day use the collection schedule feature on the Sanitation website, or call 311. To report missed collections, call 311, or complete the Missed Collection form on the Sanitation website. (Note: your building's collection location may be scheduled for a different collection day than the building's street address.)
   
• DUMPSTERS: Buildings that use dumpsters for mechanized collection of garbage and of paper recyclables receive curbside collection of CLEAR bags containing recyclable metal, glass, plastic & beverage cartons.
   
• DUAL-BIN NIGHT TRUCK: DSNY services some schools every weeknight with a dual-bin Sanitation truck: garbage is collected in one side (every day), and recyclables in the other (paper on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday; metal/glass/plastic on Tuesday and Friday). This schedule is in addition to regular weekly curbside recycling collection service.

IMPORTANT: Please see special requirements for discarding electronics (televisions, computers, printer, peripherals) and non-incandescent light bulbs (fluorescent, mercury vapor, metal halide, high intensity discharge, high pressure sodium) with your regular garbage or recycling collection. Contact your custodian or Department of Education Facilities Recycling at 347-386-4458 for information on proper disposal.

Call 311 if you have any problems or questions about Department of Sanitation collection of your recyclables.

To find out what Sanitation does with the recyclables that are collected, see what happens to recyclables.

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ALSO SEE resources for schools to find recycling decals, flyers, and educational materials available free of charge for schools in New York City.

Schools in NYC showcase their recycling, waste prevention, and cleanup programs in the annual Golden Apple Awards contests. See prior years' entries for examples of Best Practices: how to set up model recycling programs, and how to incorporate recycling into your curriculum and clubs.

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