At Janeville Elementary School, a small group of 12 students accomplished big things in the 2024-2025 school year through their commitment to the Recycling Heroes in School program. Under the guidance of their teacher, students have incorporated recycling into their daily school routine and beyond.
Step 1: Education
The initiative began in the fall, with class discussions on plastic in the oceans and steps each person can take to be part of the solution. With the help of Encorp’s educational materials, students first learned to distinguish different types of containers: refundable containers, non-deposit-bearing recyclable containers and non-recyclable containers. Once fully educated, they went around to the different classrooms to raise awareness among other students, presenting concrete examples of lunchbox waste.
Mobilization Firmly Rooted in Routine
Every day, two recycling ambassadors are responsible for collecting beverage containers at lunchtime. The students have set up an efficient system: unfinished drinks are placed on a special table to be emptied into a bucket. The sorted beverage containers are then stored outside before being taken to the Atlantic Bottle Exchange Centre. The program operates independently: students follow their schedule without having to be reminded of their responsibilities. “They take their role very seriously,” the teacher says. “It’s become as second-nature as wearing a seatbelt.”
A Project That Extends to the Entire Community
Janeville Elementary School is a small school with just four teachers, but the community support is huge. The students created posters and an informational video that was posted on Facebook and in high-traffic areas such as convenience stores, churches and even the fire station. The local redemption centre also agreed to accept donations of deposit-bearing beverage containers on behalf of the school. Even residents who don’t have children at the school are taking part!
An Inclusive, Cross-Disciplinary Approach
Over the months, students deepened their knowledge of the environment, also exploring composting, reuse and responsible consumer choices. Recycling was incorporated into school subjects such as science, math and languages, allowing all students, regardless of their background, to engage and excel.
Tangible Results and Well-Deserved Pride
As well as enabling a large number of deposit-bearing containers to be brought to a redemption centre for recycling, the school saved money for educational initiatives. For the 2023-2024 school year, an appreciation event was held to highlight students’ efforts. This year, they plan to invest in educational materials or improve their outdoor recycling station.
For Janeville Elementary, the impact goes far beyond returned beverage containers: it also includes a change in culture, a lasting learning experience, and a community rallied around a common cause.
Your School Can Also Raise Money by Collecting Beverage Containers!
Janeville Elementary is just one of many schools participating in Encorp’s Recycling Heroes in School program, and yours could be part of the program, too! Collecting and returning deposit-bearing beverage containers is a fantastic way to raise extra funds for your school, and this program helps provide you with the supplies and support to make it easy.
Send us an application on our website to get your school started with beverage container recycling!
