Apply Today To Become A 2026-2027 School Recycling Champion!
SWACO’s School Recycling Champion program provides free containers to help schools implement sustainable, comprehensive recycling programs that teach students and staff how to recycle right at school. Participating schools are asked to assess their current recycling efforts, adopt recycling best practices, and educate staff and students with resources from SWACO.
Click HERE to learn more about the School Recycling Program and how your school can participate!
Congratulations to the most recent School Recycling Champions:
- Evening Street Elementary
- Franklin Woods Intermediate
- Hold Crossing Intermediate
- Slate Hill Elementary
- Stiles Elementary
- Sutter Park Preschool
End The School Year Sustainably
As the school year wraps up, classrooms often generate extra waste from clean-outs, celebrations, and last-minute projects. With a few mindful choices, teachers and schools can end the y ear in a away that honors student learning and supports a healthier planet.
- Reuse & Repurpose: Inventory and reuse leftover supplies from previous years before buying new.
- Supply Swap: Designate a give-and-take area so that teachers can swap unused or unwanted items as they clean out their classrooms.
- Donate: Take leftover items from the swap area to a local thrift store.
- Student Giveaway: Offer gently used supplies and other unwanted items for students to use at home.
- Gifts & Prizes: Instead of buying trinkets or tangible things for students, offer extra recess, movie day, bring your favorite board game to school day, or walk to a park. The memories will last a lifetime.
- Recycle: Purchase plates and cups that can be recycled after a celebration and remember to recycle all paper and carboard when cleaning out your classroom.
Other Green Considerations-
- Textbooks: Donate them to libraries or used bookstores. Collect past editions district-wide to sell, rehome, or recycling if they’re old and damaged. Consider Friends Of The Library or Better World Books.
- Electronic Waste: SWACO encourages school districts to participate in this important waste diversion program to ensure that e-waste is properly reused, refurbished, or recycled.
Eco-Friendly Field Day: Where Fun Meets Responsibility
As schools plan end-of-year celebrations, field day often brings increased waste and disposable materials. An eco-friendly field day offers schools a chance to rethink traditions, reduce environmental impact, and create an event that aligns with sustainability goals without sacrificing excitement.
Low-Waste Activities: (Borrow or reuse equipment from the P.E. teacher or other community partners.)
- Relay race
- Shadow tag/Freeze tag
- Kickball or other ball games
- Nature scavenger hunt
- Hula-hoop games
- Dance station
- Yoga or fitness station
Low-Waste Practices:
- Refillable water bottle station (ditch the single-use plastic)
- Serve fruit or unpackaged snacks
- Skip balloons and plastic givaways