Why Recycling in Classrooms Matters More Than You Think

At My Green Earth (MGE), we believe the best lessons aren’t just read from a book—they’re lived. Children learn sustainability most deeply when they can see it, touch it, and feel the joy of being connected to the natural world. From watching bees pollinate flowers to finding worms in soil, these experiences shape how young people understand their role in protecting the planet.

When it comes to environmental education, what we do matters so much more than what we say. If you’re teaching 6th graders about conserving natural resources and about the destruction of Brazil’s rain forest, and at the same time you toss paper into the trash bin instead of recycling it, what message are they really receiving?

That disconnect is exactly why MGE helps schools make the connection between curriculum and real-world choices. And one of the simplest, yet most powerful, ways to start is through recycling. On average, each school sends 9,000 pounds of waste to the landfill every single year. That’s thousands of pounds of paper, cardboard, and cans that could have been given a new life.

Recycling is a direct way for students to apply what they are learning in the classroom while also supporting our local economy. Georgia-based companies like WestRock take recycled paper and cardboard and turn it into new boxes—helping to meet the demand for all those Amazon deliveries without cutting down more trees. And with soda cans, the story is just as powerful. Companies like Novelis use recycled aluminum instead of mining new metals, and local giant Coca-Cola puts that aluminum right back into new cans—back on store shelves in just a matter of months.

Recycling isn’t just an abstract idea—it’s something tangible that helps preserve rainforests, protect natural resources, and reduce waste right here in our community. And it starts with each of us deciding that the lesson doesn’t stop at the textbook. Together, we can teach our students—through action—that the choices they make today shape the world they’ll inherit tomorrow. Let us help you launch classroom recycling at your school - email bethany@mygreenearth.org to get started today!