20 Ways To Reduce Waste in Your Classroom
Calling all educators! Are you interested in moving toward a greener teaching practice? Perhaps you’ve wondered about the best ways to teach your students about sustainability or decrease the amount of trash you generate at school? We have a great list of actionable steps you can take, from eco-friendly products to recycling ideas. Keep on reading to find out more. With our ideas, you’ll be making an impact in no time at all.
1. Swap out those tubes of antibacterial wipes for all-purpose spray and reusable rags. You’ll still rid your surfaces of germs, but in a more sustainable fashion.
2. Similarly, make the change from boxes of Kleenex and paper towels to cloth versions you can throw in the wash each week. Bonus points if you cut your scraps from leftover fabric.
3. Make your celebrations greener by purchasing a classroom set of plates, cups, and silverware. This way, when you celebrate birthdays and holidays with your students, you won’t feel guilty about filling your trash bin with plastic.
4. Stop going through piles of pencils and get your students invested in using only three to five throughout the whole year. Keep some spares on hand for when you need them, but try to prevent them from getting lost by labeling each one with their names.
5. Keep on top of your classroom’s crayons, markers, and pens as well. We love these ideas for extending their use, upcycling old ones, and special recycling programs in which you can participate.
6. While we’re thrilled about how many recycling options exist in today’s world, we all know that the absolute best way to help our planet is to reduce waste in the first place. How about trying your hand at refillable markers? These ones from Amazon are great for dry erase boards, and you can find them at local shops as well.
7. Another great idea we’ve seen around the internet: highlighter pencils. They’re much more eco-friendly than the traditional version!
8. If you’re interested in additional recycling programs, check out Terracycle’s free programs. In addition to what we’ve already mentioned, you can arrange to recycle drink pouches, chip bags, and more.
9. Switch to rechargeable batteries.
10. Get a set of mini whiteboards that you can use for classroom exercises. We’re also big fans of these dry erase paper covers.
11. When you do need to create handouts, remember to print double-sided or use half-sheets whenever possible.
12. Remember the ‘GOOS’ acronym, which stands for “good on one side”. It’s a great way to utilize paper that’s already been printed on single sheets.
13. Limit your laminating. This doesn’t mean you should never engage in it, but many teachers find alternative methods to make certain materials last longer. One idea we’ve seen a lot: using flattened cereal or packaging boxes as backing. This way, you can make items like activity instructions more durable, but recycle them when you’re through.
14. Rather than using nametags to label cubbies, use chalkboard labels.
15. Invest in refillable glue bottles.
16. Compost your classroom food waste! If your school doesn’t have its own garden yet (and maybe you can eventually start one), see if a nearby community organization can arrange a pickup. You might also have families who compost at home collect your classroom bin from week to week.
17. Set up a recycling bin if you haven’t already. If your town or city doesn’t make one available for you, create your own and bring it by your local recycling center on a regular basis.
18. Conduct a trash audit in your classroom. Seeing how much waste gets produced will have a lasting effect on your students. You can even create a goal around how much you’d like to reduce, and keep what does need to get tossed in a smaller bin or jar for tracking purposes.
19. Incorporate zero-waste ideas into your lesson plans. A trash audit is one way to get started, but you can go beyond that into the importance of recycling, composting, reducing waste, and more.
20. Share what you’ve learned with other educators. Together, small steps make a huge difference!
Interested in other back-to-school green routines? Check out our tips for the sustainable student or our ideas on how to pack a sustainable lunch.