"Students who participate in our programs grow up with Zero Waste practices as a norm, and continue to practice and advocate for Zero Waste at home, throughout their school career and into adulthood." - Eco-Cycle
Want to make your classroom more eco-friendly?
Many organizations have developed programs to help schools and their classrooms learn about recycling and composting. Invite an organization to come present or get involved in their programs to improve your school's waste diversion rate!
Through in-person and remote presentations and field trips, as well as hands-on activities, Eco-Cycle educators teach students in Boulder Valley, St. Vrain Valley, and Adams 12 Five Star schools about resource conservation, pollution, waste reduction, recycling, composting, energy and water conservation, air quality, and more.
- Green Star Schools Program: A first-in-the-nation, award-winning Zero Waste program serving over 60 schools in Boulder County.
- Environmental Education Programs: Learn about our science-based schools programs for preschool through 12th-grade students.
- Zero Waste Schools Activity Guide: Our Schools Activity Guide offers creative, low-cost ways to educate and engage youth in changing our society’s wasteful habits.
Schools in Eagle County are lucky to have Walking Mountains and their team in the region. By providing zero waste events, recycling center tours, and educational presentations your classroom isn't short of any fun ways to work sustainability into your school year
Denver is here to make recycling easy for you to implement at your school. Check out the helpful tips on their website or contact their Education and Outreach Coordinator to set up a free diversion professional development meeting.
Denver School's Tips & Resources
Looking for some fun or lesson plan ideas for your classroom?
Recycle Colorado loves spotlighting the work of your students throughout the year through our events. Check out the list of resources below to see how you can get involved or integrate recycling and compost education into your classroom.
Recycle Colorado Poster Contest
All of Colorado’s K-12 students are invited annually to showcase their artistic talent and commitment to recycling by participating in our Poster Contest. Each year we receive over a hundred poster submissions and use them to brighten up everyone's day on Earth Day. A different theme around recycling or composting is selected each year and contest guidelines include lesson plans and resources. Check out the past year's winners and the lesson plans on our "For Kids" page.
America Recycles Day & Colorado Recycles Week
November 15 is the only nationally recognized day dedicated to the promotion of recycling programs in the United States. In 2020, Colorado's governor declared the third week in November Colorado Recycles Week. Check out our page and your local recycling providers for fun all week long! Make it a celebration in your classroom!
The Story of Stuff Project
All the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It'll teach you something, it'll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.