Recycling challenge action list

See how many actions your school can easily complete for points below, some you may already be doing!

Print a copy of the actionlist  1mb

Composting	Points
Set out compost caddies in classrooms, staffroom and playground, to collect food waste like fruit for your compost bins - remember you can compost teabags from the staff room! 5 points per caddy	5
Compost paper towels	10
Recruit compost monitors to empty caddies each day, and ensure the compost bins have the right mix of browns and greens!	20
Build or invest in a compost bin or wormery, score 50 points for each one	50

Reduce	Points
Set up an arts and craft bin for all left over materials, score 5 points for each class	5
Reuse old display materials to form a new display or for arts and crafts, score 5 points each time.	5
Organise a one letter per family system, rather than one letter per child to save on paper for letters that can't be emailed	5
Circulate meeting minutes and other information for staff, via email to reduce paper use	5
Hold a lost property giveaway, at the end of term - one persons loss it anothers gain!	5
Arrange to reuse items for the school garden, e.g. railway sleepers for raised beds or old compost bags for growing potatos. Be creative! 5 points for each reuse item	5
Ask the school site manager to reuse items around the school, e.g. wood, doors, carpets etc. 5 points for each item reused around school	5
Limit teacher and office printing and photocopying	5
Make sure your school printer and photocopier also print double sided, and that everyone knows how to do this	5
Create scrap paper trays in every classroom, score 5 points for each one.	5
Arrange for empty fruit boxes to be sent back, and reused by the supplier.	10
Reuse shredded paper for the school pets or, arrange a collection for parents to use for pets at home	10
Offer the option for parents to receive school letters, via email to save paper and actively promote this option to all parents	10
Set up an old school uniform swap, shop	20
Create your own Christmas decorations using rubbish you can't recycle, and use them to decorate the school Christmas tree.	20
Organise a day when only scrap paper is used, (this can be more of a challenge for teachers than pupils!)	30
Introduce waste free packed lunches, make sure parents are aware and involved in the scheme	40
Use re-useable plastic bottles rather than plastic cups everyday, Instead of using plastic cups for every lunchtime and throwing them all away, why not try asking each child to use a re-useable drinks bottle.	60

Recycling	Points
Ask your Office Manager to start buying recycled products, i.e. paper, toilet rolls, pencils. Score 5 points for each product.	5
Incorporate recycling into school events, i.e. recycling bins at school discos, summer fetes	5
Use a local scrapstore or craft bank to source art materials, e.g. fabric offcuts, sequins and decorative materials	10
Introduce class prizes for the best recycling class, or stickers for individuals seen to be recycling well and putting things in the right bins	10
Recycle your school Christmas tree, (but don't forget to take all the decorations off first!)	20
Arrange a Christmas card collection at your school, and add them to your recycling bin after the holidays	20
Recruit recycling monitors from each class	20
Organise a recycling themed event, score 20 points per event. BONUS POINTS - score an extra 30 points if you invite your local press to attend!	20
Organise collections of further recyclable material, i.e. printer cartridges, bottle tops, mobile phones. Score 30 points for each collection set up.	30
Invite your local Recycling Officer to visit your school	30
Design and create a recycling or eco-themed board game, (and keep it safe to use on wet play days!)	30
Develop and send out a survey for parents to find out what they recycle at home, and display the results in school or put them in the schools newsletter	40
Set out specific recycling bins around the school, each classroom should have one!	50
Sign up to a Recycling Collection Service	50
Set up an Eco-shop in your school for pupils, selling a range of recycled or sustainable items such as recycled stationary.	60
Take part in the Recycle for Hampshire Outreach Programme, The school must have completed the three visit programme to improve in school recycling.	80

Spreading the word	Points
Add a link to the Recycle for Hampshire website, to your school homepage	5
Write an article for the school newsletter, telling parents what you've been doing to reduce rubbish and increase recycling at school. We'd love to receive a copy too! Score 5 points for each article.	5
Hold a school assembly on recycling, led by the waste action group. BONUS POINTS - we'll award you an extra 20 points if you invite parents to attend as well!	10
Deliver a presentation on recycling to groups of school staff such as the caretaker/site manager, cleaners, cooks and office staff and ask for their input in the school's recycling and waste activities. BONUS POINTS - score 10 points for every group you talk to.	10
Create a recycling themed notice board, This could include what can and can't go in the recycling bins and tips for reducing and reusing rubbish.	10
Create a recycling website, or add a dedicated section to your school's website to tell everyone what you're doing to recycle at school. Don't forget to send us a link!	50

General	Points
Organise a visit from an environmental organisation, to talk to the school about an environmental themed topic	5
Enter a Recycle for Hampshire competition, look out for them in the newsletter each term. Score 10 points for each competition entered.	10
Ensure contractors working at the school to remove waste materials e.g. builders, disposal companies, recycle as much as possible, and dispose of the waste correctly	10
Organise a waste action group	20
Organise a competition to create sculptures from rubbish, (and please send us the photos!)	20
Complete a waste audit, to see how much and what type of waste your school is producing	30
Create an outfit using rubbish or old, unwanted clothing and show off your efforts by organising a fashion show. BONUS POINTS - score an extra 20 points if you invite parents to attend!	30
Collect all the rubbish created at school over a whole week and display it in an area to highlight to pupils and teachers, just how much they throw away each week.	50