Waste Diversion and Reduction in Schools

Waste diversion is the prevention and reduction of waste going to the landfill by recycling and composting. Waste diversion generates a host of environmental and social benefits.

Tips to Improve Diversion

  • Include recycling at school events and sports competitions.
  • Help afterschool care and clubs know how and where to divert materials (compost and recycling).
  • Incorporate diversion and compost messages, tips, and tricks in daily announcements.
  • Include diversion methods in the school newspaper, on the school website, or send school diversion information home.
  • Have students make educational posters and post them all around the school. 
  • Have a diversion contest by classroom or grade that rewards prizes for recycling and composting the correct materials with the least amount of contamination.
  • Create a student "Green Team" that can help monitor recycling and compost carts. More information on Green Teams can be found on the Resources webpage.
  • Educate students through classroom presentations or demonstrations at school assemblies.
  • Conduct a Waste Audit by tracking, weighing, and sorting samples of waste tells how well a school is successfully diverting and what areas need improvement.
  • Put recycling on the agenda for staff meetings.
  • Set school diversion goals.
  • Encourage students to create recycling, compost, and diversion songs, poems, or videos.

Event Hosting: Managing Waste and Recycling

  • When organizing an event, it's essential for staff to relocate some recycling, compost, and trash carts to the venue.
  • Always position a recycling and compost cart next to a trash can to facilitate easy diversion for attendees and minimize contamination.
  • Display a poster on or above the recycling and compost carts to inform visitors about which materials can be diverted.
  • Enlist volunteers to monitor the carts during public events to further reduce contamination.
  • After the event, volunteers should inspect the contents of the recycling and compost carts and remove any items that do not belong.
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