Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Resources
Recycling Posters
Looking for additional recycling posters? You can print your own or order more from TMPC (must be on FCPS network).
General Resources
These sites are good places to find information about reducing waste.
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Fairfax County’s Recycling and Trash website has resources on recycling at home, at work, and at school.
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Covanta Fairfax is the waste-to-energy plant where trash from FCPS is taken. Their website contains more information about the facility as well as emissions data. |
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NOAA’s Marine Debris Program provides information and resources, including classroom activities, about the issue of trash in the ocean.
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The EPA’s Sustainable Management of Food program provides resources and information about food waste in the U.S. The site has tips and ideas for organizations and individuals to reduce food waste. |
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The EPA’s toolbox for students to Pack A Waste-Free Lunch includes a flyer, tips, and tracking sheet to help you reduce, reuse, and recycle your way to a waste-free lunch.
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Follow The Story of a Plastic Bottle from production of the bottle to recycling using this interactive map. |
Composting
Want to learn more about composting? Look no further than these resources.
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The US Composting Council’s Composting for Teachers and Students page has a compilation of composting information, resources, and activities for teachers and students to use.
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The Cornell Composting site is managed by Cornell University and includes information on the science of composting and how to compost in schools, as well as fact sheets about composting. |
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The Ultimate School Composting Resource Page has composting manuals and resources, vermicomposting resources, profiles of school-wide composting programs around the country, and lessons and activities relating to composting.
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This Worm Composting (Vermicomposting) site provides a guide on what you need to get started with vermicomposting and how to manage your worm bin. |
Upcycling
Find ideas for upcycling common items using the resources below.
Find alternative ways to recycle some products that go in our recycling bins on the Upcycling page. You can find an abundance of additional ideas through a search engine.
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This page on 21 Upcycling Hacks for the Classroom has upcycling ideas that can prove useful in school, including upcycled seating, organizational items, and decorations.
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Find 30 Ways to Upcycle Plastic Bottles, including for gardening, organizers, decorations, and more. |
Lesson Plans and Activities
These lesson plans and activities can help you teach about recycling and waste reduction in the classroom.
Resource Website | Website Information |
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The Consumption and Waste Eco-Schools pathway provides samples and templates for students to conduct an energy audit and create an action plan to conserve energy at school. |
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The Planet Protectors: Activities for Kids is run by the EPA and provides activities for students to learn about reducing waste and saving resources. The activities are geared toward elementary school students. |
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The EPA’s The Quest for Less: Activities and Resources for Teaching K-8 is a teacher’s guide to reducing, reusing and recycling with students. This guide has dozens of resources and activities on natural resources, product life cycles, and waste.
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Do the Rot Thing: A Teacher’s Guide to Compost Activities contains activities for teachers to use in introducing students to the concepts of biodegradability, soil science, resource conservation, composting, worm composting, and more. Many of the activities are targeted at grades 3-12. |