Go Green for Back-to-School
Summer is almost over and it is time to start preparing to head back to
school. Make sure your planning involves reducing the amount of waste you
make. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says that Minnesota K-12
public schools generate an estimated 483,520 pounds of waste a day. Every
little bit helps reduce that number so start planning now to limit your
environmental impact and start the school year in the greenest way
possible.
What Do I Need?
Getting that school supply list can be daunting. Schools have very specific
requests and back-to-school sales are often hectic. Don’t worry; there are
green solutions to your back-to-school needs!
Save Money, Save the Environment
There are lots of ways to make sure you do your part to reduce, reuse and
recycle when heading back to school.
● Reduce- Before hitting the stores; take a look at what is left over
from last year. Buying large quantities only saves money if you
actually use what you buy. Avoid ending up with more than you will
need.
Reuse- Are there supplies that can be purchased used? Can you make
any supplies out of recyclables you may already have around the
house? Shop at thrift stores and encourage your kids to take good care
of supplies so they last longer. Friends, family and neighbors are also a
good source for borrowing or sharing supplies. Make sure you limit the
amount of waste you create every day and try to donate supplies that
are in good condition.
● Recycle- Buy supplies made from recycled materials. Look for pencils,
paper, binders and notebooks made with recycled paper. Most major
stores have recycled-content options.
These materials were provided by the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board (SWMCB) as
a part of its Rethink Recycling outreach efforts. Please help us track the use of Rethink Recycling
materials by sending an e-mail to [email protected] with a description of how the
materials were used, the date(s) published, and the estimated reach.
Go Green for Back-to-School
Greener Schools
Many schools are taking initiatives to improve their recycling programs and
reduce the amount of waste generated. Nearly 80% of school waste is
recyclable or compostable and a good recycling program saves schools
money and educates students. Check with your school to see what kind of
recycling program is offered and encourage environmentally friendly
initiatives. Recycle More Minnesota and Hennepin County have tips and
resources to help schools reach their greenest potential.
Off To College
College students have plenty of ways to make their back-to-school
preparations as green as possible.
● Reduce- Don’t bring more than you will need. Colleges and
universities are requiring more work to be done online which reduces
the need to have as much paper. Only print what will be necessary
and take notes on your laptop. Find out what items are provided in
dorms and other facilities so you don’t end up cluttering your dorm
with unneeded items. Buy dorm room supplies after you move in so
you know exactly what you need.
● Reuse- Moving into the dorms? Buy used items to stock up your new
home. Seek out used book options or rent textbooks for much
cheaper. Didn’t fill up that whole notebook last semester? Use it
again! Donate unneeded items at the end of the year instead of
throwing them out.
● Recycle- Look for recycling options in the dorm and in academic
buildings. If your dorm doesn’t have recycling, ask for it or start
collecting bottles, cans and paper from your roommates.
These materials were provided by the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board (SWMCB) as
a part of its Rethink Recycling outreach efforts. Please help us track the use of Rethink Recycling
materials by sending an e-mail to [email protected] with a description of how the
materials were used, the date(s) published, and the estimated reach.
Go Green for Back-to-School
More Ways to Reuse
Schools like the University of Minnesota and Macalester College offer
programs to ensure that materials students don’t need don’t end up in
landfills. During move in and move out they collect items from students and
either donate them to local charities or give them away in a free store.
Check with your school’s office of sustainability to see if other recycling or
reuse programs exist; if they don’t, ask if you can help get such a program
started!
Social media:
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The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency says Minnesota K-12 schools
generate an estimated 483,520 pounds of waste a day. Learn how to go
green at school.

Take good care of school supplies so they can be reused for the next
school year. Shopping for supplies? Try to get some items at thrift
stores.
Many schools are taking initiatives to improve their recycling
programs. A good recycling program saves money and educates kids.
Learn more at www.rethinkrecycling.com.
Heading to college? Make sure you don’t bring more than you need,
only print what is necessary and seek out used options to save money
and the environment.
Look for recycling options in college dorms or academic buildings and
consider reusing or donating items that are still in good condition.
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These materials were provided by the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board (SWMCB) as
a part of its Rethink Recycling outreach efforts. Please help us track the use of Rethink Recycling
materials by sending an e-mail to [email protected] with a description of how the
materials were used, the date(s) published, and the estimated reach.