Recycling Education

Recycling Education Presentations

HRRA provides onsite waste reduction and recycling education programs for schools, civic groups, senior centers, church groups, employee groups, condo associations,  almost any group imaginable.  Programs range from 30 to 60 minutes and can be adapted to any age group and any level of pre-existing knowledge.  HRRA can also provide consultation for any school or business that would like to improve its recycling program.

To schedule a HRRA program at your site, email: education@hrra.org with information about your group, the desired date, time and location, and a contact name and phone number

Annual Recycling Billboard Contest

• Click Here for Rules and Contest Information

Videos

Where Does Our Garbage Go?

• See a Waste-To-Energy Plant at Work

What Happens to Our Recycling?

• Single Stream Recycling
• The Cycle – Single Stream Video
• The Cycle – Material Recovery Facility
• The Cycle – Paper Recycling
• The Cycle – Metal Recycling
• The Cycle – Plastic Recycling
• The Cycle – Glass Recycling
• Animal Sculptures Made from 100% Recycled Plastic
• Fun Recycling Facts

Did you Know?

• Christmas Lights can be recycled
• Left over paint can be recycled
• Textiles can be recycled, even if they are ripped or stained
• Mattresses can be recycled in Connecticut
• What to Do With…

Recycling Guide Books

• Wipe-Out-Waste Guide
• Wipe-Out-Waste For Kids
• Mattress Recycling Guide

You may request hard copies by emailing info@hrra.org

Printable Recycling Flyers

• Recycling Flyer – English
• Recycling Flyer – Spanish
• E-Waste Flyer

Resources for Teachers

• TEACHERS Resource Page
• Jeopardy Recycle Game
• 5 Lessons To Teach Students to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
• Teachers Guide to Composting
• EPA Educating Youth on Food Waste
• How to properly dispose of batteries

Resources for Schools

All schools in Connecticut are required by state law to recycle ten mandated items.  If your school isn’t recycling, use these resources to develop, improve and publicize your program and to comply with the law.

• School Recycling
• EPA Guide to Conducting Food Waste Audit in Schools
• Green Cleaning in Schools
• The Crayon Initiative (Crayon Recycling)
• The National Crayon Recycling Program
• Crayon Collection

Kids Corner

We’ve found a bunch of games that will help you learn about the environment and have some fun at the same time.

• Recycling Facts Games & Crafts
• PBS Kids – Sid the Science Kid on Recycling
• Recycle City
• Trash and Climate Change
• Happy Earth Day Coloring and Activities Book
• How Trash Is Recycled – Video
• NIEHS Kids’ Pages
• Recycle Roundup – Play a Game!
• Washington Post Recycling Quiz
• Food Is Too Good To Waste Activity Book

Videos on Composting:

Make the Most of Compost by SciShow Kids

Composting for Kids

Books on Composting:

• Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth by Mary McKenna Siddals
• Garbage Helps Our Garden Grow: A Compost Story by Linda Glaser
• Composting: Nature’s Recyclers by Robin Koontz

Books about the Planet:

• S Is for Save the Planet: A How-to-Be Green Alphabet by Brad Herzog
• A Gardener’s Alphabet by Mary Azarian

• Nearly 75% of all aluminum ever produced is still in use today
  Infinitely recyclable and highly durable, nearly 75 percent of all aluminum ever produced is still in use today. Aluminum is 100% recyclable and retains its properties indefinitely. Aluminum is one of the only materials in the consumer disposal stream that more than pays for the cost of its own collection.*
• The most valuable material in the recycling bin
  Aluminum is the most recyclable of all materials. Discarded aluminum is more valuable than any other item in the recycling bin.*
• Aluminum cans lost to landfills 
  Americans throw away nearly $1 billion worth of aluminum cans every year.*
• A billion dollars in recycling profit is open
  The aluminum industry pays out more than 800 million dollars a year for recycled cans. The U.S. industry can recycling rate is approximately 67 percent, thus nearly a billion dollars of recycling profit can be gained.*
• Recycling one can saves energy
  Recycling one aluminum beverage can saves enough energy to run a 14 watt CFL bulb (60 watt incandescent equivalent) for 20 hours, a computer for 3 hours, or a TV for 2 hours (epa.gov)

*Learn more about recycling aluminum by clicking here to visit the Aluminum Association