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How to get involved in National Recycling Week with your school

By Liam Taylor 6 October 2021

Looking for fun and engaging ways to learn about recycling and build better habits? Look no further than the Schools Recycle Right Challenge!

National Recycling Week (November 8-14) is rapidly approaching and that means it’s time for Australian schools to put their recycling skills to the test with the Schools Recycle Right Challenge. This year, Planet Ark is challenging Australian teachers and students to recognise waste as a valuable resource and celebrate all things recycling!

The Schools Recycle Right Challenge runs from 4 October to 12 November 2021 and offers a wide range of free recycling themed activities, curriculum-aligned lesson plans and event ideas that have been developed specifically for Australian schools, whether they be early-learning, primary or secondary. Teachers and students interested in participating in the challenge can find these resources and the Getting Started Guide from the National Recycling Week website, which will assist in planning your involvement.

Students who participate can also go into the running to win a grand prize worth over $1,000 for their school, while teachers have the opportunity to win several individual prizes. To submit an entry simply take a photo of your completed lesson plans, resources or taking part in one of our activities and tell us about how your students got involved.

This year, Planet Ark worked with National Recycling Week Major Sponsor Gumtree Australia to develop a curriculum-aligned lesson plan based on the recently released digital book “Ollie and the Spectral Spectacles”. The book and lesson plan urge students to rethink the way we understand our resources and encourages them to reduce and reuse to help them make their community and environment more sustainable. 

Planet Ark also worked with Sheridan, Official Sponsor of the Schools Recycle Right Challenge, on an audiobook called “Dreams Can Change The World” to inspire Australian students to think outside the box when it comes to sustainable action. The story was co-created by seven Australian kids for other Australian kids about a shared dream where they use secret powers to help them clean up a river that needs their help.

Schools Recycle Right Challenge Resources:

For more information, check out our National Recycling Week resources for schools.

Liam Taylor
Prior to joining Planet Ark Liam spent his time studying global environmental issues, travelling Southeast Asia on the cheap and working for a sustainable property management company in Bali, Indonesia. Joining the communications team at Planet Ark, he hopes to inspire positive environmental behaviour through effective and positive messaging.