Resources for Students
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!
Colorado Circular Communities Enterprise's STEPS Program
The Strategic Technical Expertise for the Public Sector (STEPS) program is the primary mechanism for communities in Colorado to access C3-funded technical assistance for circularity planning. STEPS assists local governments, tribes, and public K-12 school districts with efforts to enhance circularity, including averting and diverting waste, by implementing sustainable, long-term solutions that meet the unique needs of each community.
The STEPS program offers a range of support from resources and workshops to multi-month direct consulting support. Technical assistance provided to communities across Colorado is aligned with the C3 Enterprise's mission of supporting Colorado’s path to circularity.
Program Support Examples: Waste diversion action plans, Recycling drop-off center analysis, design, and planning, Organics diversion program design and implementation, Policy design and implementation, including hauler licensing, Zero-waste programming support, Contracting and RFP support, Education, outreach, and engagement, including stakeholder engagement, and many others!
Eco-Cycle Schools Program
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.
Walking Mountains
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 Public Schools
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.
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.
College & Universities
Getting involved in a major that encompasses sustainability course work is becoming more and more prevalent. What if you're a computer science major who still has an interest in sustainability? How can you get involved?
1. Check out your local universities volunteer recycling or compost program options
2. Sign up for volunteer opportunities
- Recycle Colorado Lobby Day: Learn to lobby, visit the capital, and understand Colorado's legislative process.
- Eco-Cycle's Eco-Leaders Volunteer Network: Eco-Leaders are Zero Waste experts and peer educators.
- High Country Conservation Center: Volunteers are needed throughout the year at HC3’s annual events.
- Become a Recycling Ambassador in your community: Steamboat Springs, Fort Collins, Sangre de Cristo, High Country Recycling (Westcliffe), Clean Valley Recycling (La Junta), Cloud City Conservation Center (Leadville), Goodwill, Evergreen Sustainability Alliance,
3. Get Involved in sustainability events
- Jump in a Recycle Colorado Snack & Share to meet others in the industry and learn
- Attend a Recycle Colorado Young professionals meet up to network and have fun! Join our network!
- Attend the Recycle Colorado Summit for Recycling by applying for the Future Leaders Scholarship
- Get in on the conversation on Equity in Conservation and Outdoor Recreation at the E.C.O.R. Summit for Action conference
- See what's to come for sustainable innovation by attending and networking at NextCycle.
- Get involved with your local state recycling, composting or solid waste organization network and events.
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