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Environmental Education » Waste & Recycling

Waste & Recycling

RECYCLING AT WESTGATE

 

There are three clues that can help us determine if something is recyclable.

  • #1 Does it have a recycling symbol? If yes, then recycle.
  • #2 Is it clean? If yes, then recycle. If not, can you rinse it? If you cannot rinse it off, then no.
  • #3 Does it have a silver lining? A silver lining is what most food wrappers have. If it has a silver lining, it cannot be recycled.

 

Things we can recycle: 

  • Cardboard and paperboard crayon boxes, paper towel rolls
  • Coffee cups – unless they are Styrofoam
  • Cans
  • Bottles
  • Paper bags
  • Milk cartons
  • Plastics #1 – 7 (The number is usually inside the recycling symbol.)

 

Things we cannot recycle:

  • Capris Suns and other drink pouches
  • Plastic bags and plastic film
  • Wrappers with silver linings – Cheetos, Uncrustables, Teddy Grahams, etc.
  • Paper plates
  • Plastic Utensils
  • Styrofoam
  • Paper towels, napkins, Kleenex

 

If you are not sure if something is recyclable, ask a friend, or Google it! For Westgate specific, you can take look at GFL's website to double check: Acceptable Materials for Recycling Collection.

 

Zero Waste Wednesdays

How It Works:

  • Every Wednesday is “Zero Waste Wednesday” here at Westgate. What this means is that if students have a lunch that doesn’t use any waste AT ALL (i.e. nothing to throw away, like baggies, cans, plastic cups, paper lunch bags, etc), then their name will be entered into a raffle. Ten raffle winners will receive recognition over the intercom on Fridays for being the Zero Heroes of the week.

*students who have school lunch will qualify if they accurately sort their lunch into the appropriate trash and recycling AND have a reusable water bottle for the day*

  • Bonus Recognition: If there is an entire classroom that has zero waste lunch one day, let me know and the entire class will receive recognition automatically. Our environmental specialist will keep track of the number of days your entire class has done this.
  • Extra Bonus Recognition: The class with the most days with all Zero Heroes at the end of the year will be considered the Zero Hero champions of the year!

 

Why Focus on Lunches?:

  • The goal is for families to start the conversation about alternatives to lunch waste, like glass or plastic lunch containers, reusable lunch bags and water bottles, and cloth napkins. If a student has any item that must be thrown away (at school or at home) their names will not be entered, and they can try again next week and every week after that. Hopefully, this will instill changes that will go far beyond Wednesdays during lunch time at Westgate.