Back to School Recycling

Students and teachers across the country are returning to classrooms for another school year, and many parents are shopping for school supplies. The average expenses in 2023 of families with children in elementary through high school is $890, $25 more than last year. In 2021, total back-to-school spending was recorded at $37 billion. 

In addition to the usual school supplies, many schools require students to have access to electronics such as tablets, smartphones, and laptops, making education more difficult for those without access. Upgrading electronics to keep up with this digital age only increases this annual cost. 

With the rising cost of school supplies and electronics on top of gas and food prices, these back-to-school tips are eco-friendly and will prove cost-effective in the long run. 

• Reusing as many school supplies as possible will make a new school year more cost-effective and help reduce the use of the earth’s precious resources. 

• If it is necessary to purchase new supplies, consider purchasing supplies made from recycled materials. Instead of plastic water bottles and plastic or brown paper bags for lunches, invest in reusable cups and lunch boxes. 
• Upgrading smartphones and laptops have become a yearly routine for some, and it’s important to consider an environmentally friendly disposition method. Instead of throwing out your old electronics, consider recycling them or passing them down to someone in need. In this digital age, there’s never a shortage of people needing electronics, and more companies are developing repair and resale programs. 
• For those who live within walking distance of their school, walking or even carpooling can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 
• With the growing global waste crisis, it is becoming more critical to close the loop and dispose of our waste in environmentally friendly methods. Recycling last year’s old school supplies helps protect the environment via proper waste disposal. 

Back-to-school shopping doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Reusing old supplies, using alternatives to plastic bottles and paper bags, and recycling everything you use can help bring the world closer to a more sustainable future one school year at a time.