Children are now back to school and starting their fall extracurricular activities after a summer of fun! At this time of year, families are out madly shopping for clothes, backpacks, school supplies, electronics, sports equipment, art supplies, etc. – and that means a whole lot of recycling will be needed to clear out the old stuff. In today’s blog, Green Coast Rubbish is sharing back-to-school recycling tips to make life a whole lot easier for parents this fall.
School supplies
Reusing some of last year’s school supplies is a great way to not only save money but to reduce the amount of waste going into the landfill. Items such as scissors, rulers, binders, pens & pencils, markers, dictionaries, art supplies (paints, pastels), and calculators can easily be used again either for school or home use. In fact, bringing back last year’s school supplies can be a point of pride for budding young environmentalists!
Credit: Pixabay
Clothing/shoes/backpacks
Because shoes, clothes and backpacks can all be reused, there are lots of good textile recycling options for parents. Donate to your local thrift store; these shops sell everything at low prices helping those who are in need and raising money for local charities. Shoes should be donated in pairs and in good condition. And hey – reuse that backpack for one more year, even if it needs a new zipper which can be repaired by your local seamstress or shoe repair shop.
Sports equipment
Donating last year’s sports equipment is a great way to support local youth and parents in your community. For example, KidSport holds regular collections around the province and the proceeds from their used sports equipment sales go towards subsidizing youth sport registration fees for low-income families. You can also check with your local sporting store to see who will give credit in exchange for used equipment. Great examples of this service include SportsX in Port Coquitlam and Sports Junkies in Vancouver.
Credit: Pixabay
Desktops, laptops, smart phones, tablets, computer accessories
The BC Technology for Learning Society in Burnaby is currently accepting tech donations which will be refurbished by youth volunteers and donated back to schools, libraries, not for profits, Indigenous communities and eligible low income individuals. A tax receipt will be provided.
Kids have great instincts when it comes to making environmentally friendly choices so be sure to include them in sorting and recycling their old things. Back to school recycling is a yearly event that can be fun, rewarding and a source of pride through donations made to your local community.
