Practical Information

Devon schools spend approximately £300,000 a year on managing their waste. Setting up efficient whole-school recycling systems has the potential to support pupils’ learning while saving the school money. Schools also have lots of ways to reduce waste and reuse items.

​Our waste education team are here to help Devon schools. Find your local one on our Contact us page or email the team for more details. We can come into school and help show pupils why Reducing, Reusing and Recycling are so important, as well as helping you to set up recycling schemes at school.

Discover how to reduce waste in school

Top tips to recycle well in school

1. Do a waste audit to find out what you’re actually throwing away (Hint: we can help get the students and teachers involved by coming and running a WoW project with your school) (Instructions here… Waste Audit Activities – Zone)

Simpler Recycling for Schools 

From the 31st March 2025, schools, along with businesses (with more than 10 employees), hospitals and other non-household municipal premises were required to separate dry recyclable waste such as paper, card, glass, metals & plastic, from food waste and black bin waste.

Many Schools in Devon already have recycling and food waste collections in place, but if your school hasn’t, then you will need to contact your waste collection provider to discuss your options.  Ideally waste will be separated into the following groups of recyclable materials:

  • Glass
  • Metal and plastic
  • Cardboard
  • Paper
  • Food waste as a dedicated collection

You will need to separate paper and card from other dry recyclables (plastic, metal and glass), unless your waste collector has made arrangements to collect them together.  Waste collectors may also choose to collect other dry recyclable materials separately, like glass.

Putting the 3Rs into practice in your school!

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Waste bin – are you separating recycling?

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Are you reusing stationery and paper?

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Are you encouraging waste free lunches?

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Are staff aware of what to do to reduce waste?

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Is furniture/spare equipment getting reused and shared between schools?

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Are you becoming paper-free?

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Are you recycling food waste in the school grounds by composting fruit peelings?

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Are you communicating your actions in school to reduce waste with the wider school environment?

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Buy equipment and stationery made of recycled materials! This is the best way to support recycling and move us to a circular economy!

While learning about the 3Rs is important, it is essential that pupils have opportunities to put their learning into practice by actively reducing, reusing and recycling on a daily basis at school. The resources below will help schools embed the 3Rs into all aspects of school life.

Devon schools spend approximately £300,000 a year on managing their waste. Setting up efficient whole-school 3Rs systems has the potential to support pupils’ learning while saving the school money.

Recycling collection services are offered to schools by most local authorities. Some charge for this service, but this is usually lower than the cost of collecting the recycling as ‘rubbish’. Many waste collection companies also offer recycling services, so if your school does not yet have a recycling collection then ask your local council and/or current waste collection provider to find out what they offer.

​Don’t forget you can ask our Waste Educators for help! Find your local one on our Contact us page or email the team for more details. They can come into school and help show pupils why Reducing, Reusing and Recycling are so important, as well as helping you to set up recycling schemes at school.

  • Reduce

    Reduce – Reducing waste in school will save your school money as well as being the best thing to do to save the world!

    How to Reduce in your School

  • Reuse

    Reuse – Are you using everything until it can’t be used again? Are pupils given opportunities to reuse paper?

    How to Reuse in your School

District Council household rubbish and recycling collection guides

Many people get confused about what can be recycled in their area. These quick reference guides are handy for showing ‘what goes where’ in your local council household waste collections.

They can be used in class or sent home for further discussions, but remember it is more important to Reduce and Reuse your waste first!

Exeter City Council Collections

Mid Devon District Council Collections

West Devon Borough Council Collections

Torridge District Council Collections

Teignbridge District Council Collections

South Hams District Council Collections

North Devon District Council Collections

East Devon District Council Collections

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