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PRRP School Chapter

The PRRP has developed this School Chapter page intended for students' and teachers' as well as the public's educational use. The PRRP encourages students of all ages to first learn about solid waste management issues on a local, regional and global scale, and then get involved!

The following is a list of the eight core PRRP teams, each focused on specific components of the discard stream, with links to their respective research tools to help you learn about each. Please note that our database of research tools is currently expanding!  Please check back regularly for more information!

Environmental educators, please see request for proposal below! Funding Opportunity!

Construction and demolition debris team resources


General Information:
EPA Resources:
Case Studies:
News:

education and outreach team resources

        
School Resources:
  • Recycling for Kids - An easy guide for children to understand the effects of waste and how can be reduced and recycled.
  • Paper Use Reduction In Schools — This tip sheet, provided by Northeast Recycling Council (NERC), offers suggestions and guidance for reducing paper use in both the classroom and teacher/office work areas. Also included are a method for measurements of success, a sample paper reduction memo, and a sample signage for posting by copy machines and printers.
  • Rural School Recycling Success — This Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) tip sheet focuses on the options, which are available for rural schools to achieve successful recycling. Specific steps are outlined to help schools reach this goal.
  • School Cafeteria Waste Reduction — Through implementation of waste minimization practices, school district food service managers can lower overhead expenses and reduce disposal costs while still providing for the nutritional needs of students. This tip sheet, provided by Northeast Recycling Council (NERC), provides suggestions and guidance for cafeteria waste audits, waste tracking, offer versus serve, zero waste lunches, and more.
  • School Reuse Tips — This tip sheet, provided by Northeast Recycling Council (NERC), lists useful information to include school reuse in the cafeteria, the classroom, desk and locker cleanout, student exchanges, and school supply exchanges.
  • School Web Resources — A list of waste reduction, recycling, and composting web resources for students and teachers, compiled by Northeast Recycling Council (NERC).
  • Recycling Glass, Plastic, Metal and More - a varied guide of useful links with information on recycling.
  • What Really Happens to the plastic you throw away - a TedTalk that traces the life of three plastic bottles, shedding light on the dangers these disposables present to the world. 

Classroom Lesson Plans:
  • Biodegradation (Grades 3-4) — In this lesson, students review the concept that materials in everyday products come from many different renewable and nonrenewable sources and can be classified as "biotic" or "abiotic."
  • Identifying Biodegradable Materials (Grades 3-5) — A fun and easy activity where students will experiment with biodegradable and non-biodegradable materials.
  • Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (Grades 1-2) -  By reviewing the concept of "needs vs. wants," students begin to consider their role in using natural resources.
  • Looking to the Future (Grades 5-8)- In this lesson plan, provided by the Population Connection’s Education Program, students create a futuristic news telecast 40 years into the future and imagine what their lives might be like in the future, given current realities, hopes, and dreams.

Classroom Diagrams & Posters:​
  • World of 7 Billion - This post gives you a quick timeline of modern history that shows what trends and events have shaped population size.   While looking at this diagram, students should consider the importance of valuing our earth's resources.

Classroom Games:
  • Recycling Games (Grades K-3) — Developed by Will County in Indiana, these recycling games will help young students learn how to properly sort recyclable materials and trash.
  • Gapminder (Grades 9-12) - On this site, students construct and interpret dynamic graphs and discuss differences in life expectancy, fertility rates, health, economics, and total population among several different countries.

​Case Studies of School Recycling Efforts:
  • Academy of the Holy Family — Located in Baltic, Connecticut, this school formed a student-lead Environmental Club, an annual campus Environmental Day, and a school-wide Recycling Program. Provided by the Northeast Recycling Council (NERC).
  • John M. Clayton Elementary School — Located in Delaware, this school achieved significant reductions in paper usage through a number of new efforts, including discontinuing the printing of weekly spelling lists and having students use white boards for copying the spelling list. Provided by the Northeast Recycling Council (NERC).
  • Manchester Essex Regional School District Green Program — A presentation providing insight into how this Massachusetts school district implemented a successful green program, which included solid student involvement. Provided by MERSD.
  • Pencader Charter High School — Located in New Castle City, Delaware, this school is committed to cost-effective recycling that has allowed the school to divert a significant portion of its waste and has reduced solid waste expenses by more than $200 per month. Provided by the Northeast Recycling Council (NERC).
  • Rural School Recycling Success — A highlight of rural schools nationwide, which have successfully implemented waste reduction programs, provided by Northeast Recycling Council (NERC). Contact information for each school is included.
  • Sayles School — Recycling programs have helped the Sayles School in Baltic, Connecticut comply with the State of Connecticut’s mandatory recycling requirements and saved money through reducing waste. The Sayles Showcase provided a visual venue for students to combine reuse and art. Provided by the Northeast Recycling Council (NERC).

Electronics recycling team resources

glass, metal and plastic containers team resources


General Information:
 Glass, Metal and Plastic Containers Recycling in the Classroom:

organics team resources


General Information:
Composting in Schools:
Case Studies of Organics Composting in Schools:

paper team resources


Paper Recycling in the Classroom:
  • Please see additional classroom resources under the 'Education and Outreach' heading.

Case Studies:
  • Eldred School District — Located in New York State, this school has implemented a school-wide Recycling Program as well as a paper use reduction campaign. Provided by the Northeast Recycling Council (NERC).

scrap metal team resources


General Information:​
  • Assessing the Management of Lead in Scrap Metal and Electric Arc Furnace Dust - This 2009 report issued by the US EPA provides in depth information on lead contamination of scrap metal.

special waste team resources


General Information: 
  • Special Wastes - General information guide created by the Environmental Protection Agency about special wastes, the types that exists, and other information.

other resources

  • Ecoartspace presents the Sustainable Organic Stewardship and HighWaterLine ACTION guide, two art and ecology learning guides presenting replicable social practice art projects.
  • Green Cleaning: a guide of products you can use to clean your home without the use of chemicals and contaminants 
  • Recycle Right NY: an education and outreach effort informed by more than 100 recycling professionals from across New York State.

useful links