Eight Simple Ways to Reduce Plastic in the Classroom
April 8, 2009 by Myscha Theriault
Plastic in the Classroom
OK. We all know about the plastic bag dilemma. Additionally, most of us are trying to use at least a few cleaning and personal care products that are less toxic. The recycling gig is also familiar to many. But when I recently read about the Pacific garbage patch (North Pacific gyre) on Beth Terry’s web site, Fake Plastic Fish, I found myself completely overwhelmed.
This thing is enormous, people. I’ve seen a fair bit in my lifetime. And I can honestly say it takes quite a bit to shock me, let alone bring me to my knees. When I started researching this phenomenon and saw just how enormous it was, I had to sit down and physically get control of my emotions. I felt physically ill. How can one person feel like what they do makes a difference? And yet, how can anyone sit and do nothing? Beth has done such an amazing job of providing inspiration and information to us. While I’m not sure I can get to her level overnight, she has made me think about what more I can do with my purchasing decisions. Schools generate an enormous amount of trash. When it comes to your classroom, how much of your room’s waste is plastic? Here are a few simple strategies to get you started. I’ll post more information and product reviews as I come across the resources. In the meantime, here we go:
1.Use a refillable tape dispenser.
This alone eliminates the casings the regular rolls come in. Yes, you still have the tape itself, but it’s a start that makes a significant waste reduction.
2.Create your classroom supplies list carefully.
Whether you hand your list out at the end of the year, or have it available for pickup in August, your list has the power to make a huge impact. Consider recommending refillable pens for intermediate grades, stainless steel pencil sharpeners and refillable stainless steel water bottles.
3.Buy your supplies in bulk, particularly things like liquid and powdered tempera, hand sanitizer, lotion, etc.
It’s difficult to find plastic free packaging on some of these things, but by purchasing in bulk you’ll have fewer containers to dispose of.
4.Be more conscious of the teacher supplies you purchase and use.
Your students look to you as a a strong example. Consider a non plastic lunch tote, or wire bins for supply storage.
5.Chalk.
Rather than go for the plastic packaged markers and white board for every single lesson, get back to basics with a blackboard and chalk. Bonus? It’s cheap.
6.Rubber stamps.
I think stickers are fun too, but some of them are enormous and not exactly made of paper. A fun stamp with colorful ink will still reinforce quality work in a way the kiddos can get excited about. They also make stamps to fit in the small squares on reinforcement charts.
7.Composition books.
When asking students to bring in several journals for various subjects, request that they skip the ones with plastic covers and go with the old fashioned paperboard bound composition books.
8.An eco bag fund raiser.
This’ll get the ball rolling, and now is a great time to do it . . . BEFORE everyone buys their kids plastic versions. The folks over at EcoBags.Com gave me the link to their Earth friendly fund raising program. I’ll be reviewing the product individually in the next few weeks right here on Lesson Mag. (So stay tuned.)
Got another classroom plastic reduction tip? Share your information in the comment section below. This post was written in support of the Green Moms carnival, which will be hosted on April 14th, 2009 over at Fake Plastic Fish. For other going green in the classroom information, check out our cloth bulletin board post, eco trash bag article and this post on affordable classroom transition strategies.
Photo Credit: Tourist on Earth
About the author…. I am a self confirmed life hacker who has used frugal living and personal finance strategies to focus on early retirement, pursue personal business goals, and achieve debt free living.
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Wow, Myscha. The first part of your post made me cry at work.
Great tips. And really nice to have a teacher’s point of view in the carnival.
In addition to bringing your own non-plastic lunch tote, can you also encourage parents to pack lunches in reusable containers rather than plastic baggies? There are all kinds of options, many of which I’m sure will be mentioned in other carnival posts on Tuesday.
Oh, and what about the lunch room? I’ve heard many schools now use disposable styrofoam trays. Unheard of when I was a kid. We had reusable EVERYTHING back in the 70’s and early 80’s.
And speaking of the 80’s, can you believe Adam Lambert was born the year “Mad Love” was released? (I’ve decided I’m going to find a way to mention Adam Lambert in everything I write today.)
Hi Beth. You know, I was crying myself for a bit. I had to stop writing and get a grip. This is such an overwhelming problem. You make additional suggestions for reducing plastic in the classroom that are really great. I’ve approved the comment so your tips can stay here with the article for everyone to enjoy. Thanks for taking the time to comment , and again for hosting the carnival.
I love your suggestions. The amount of waste at the schools is enormous! It seems like we are such a disposable society. I am often the lone wolf telling them to think of reusing rather than just buying and recycling at my schools.
I actually wrote a school fundraising post almost 2 years ago and love that people continue to add to it. So, if you want some more ideas, head over to my site and check out “Ecofundraising Made Easy.”
Glad you joined us for the carnival!
Hi Anna.
Thanks for stopping by! For some reason, I notice your link isn’t showing in the comment. I’ll run it by my tech guy, but in the meantime, I’m adding a link to your fundraising post here. (Hey, maybe I just came up with a carnival idea of my own . . . what do you think?)
http://www.green-talk.com/2007/10/19/eco-fundraising-made-easy-and-profitable/
This won’t reduce plastic in the classroom- but wil cut down on trash creation in the lunchroom!
Here is a great lunchbox for helping to eliminate waste in the lunchroom:
laptop lunches. http://www.laptoplunches.com
It is a bit spendy, but I have found it well worth it and my children no longer create any trash at school.
Hi Kristie,
That looks like a great tip! Thanks for stopping by. I’m sure your product suggestion will help a great many teachers with some ideas on things to include on their classroom supplies list.
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