Quick Answer: Schools in Oneida and Herkimer Counties can get help building school recycling programs from the Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority through two programs. A Green Team is a school group that plans and runs the school's recycling program. Request a Speaker lets a school book an Authority presentation or a facility tour. The Authority also hand-delivers school recycling posters to schools at no charge.
School Recycling Programs Start With a Green Team
What is a Green Team?
A Green Team is the group that leads recycling at a school. We recommend a leader or coordinator plus faculty, teachers' aides, PTO members, students, and custodial and cafeteria staff. In fact, we consider custodians key players because they oversee how waste and recyclables move through the building, so bring them into the planning early.
How do you start a school recycling program?
Our Green Team Tips lay out the steps:
- Organize your team. Name a leader and recruit members.
- Conduct a waste audit. Identify where waste comes from, what type it is (paper, plastics, metal, or glass), and how much in classrooms, the cafeteria, library, faculty lounge, and offices.
- Choose what to recycle. Start with a limited number of materials and add more as the program matures.
- Set up collection. Place containers where the waste is created: classrooms, offices, lounges, kitchens, near vending machines, and so on. Make them highly visible and labeled with signage to prevent people from using the incorrect container.
- Store recyclables in a designated area until the school's hauler picks them up.
Check our School Recycling Program Guide for more ideas. For example, set realistic goals with simple, low-cost rewards, such as a "Recycler of the Month" certificate, and tell the whole school how and when collections will happen.
If you're ready to set up a program, fill out the request form on our Teachers Corner page.
What does the Authority provide to schools?
The Authority's Go Green Recycling Program offers educational tools, resources, promotional materials, technical information, recommendations, program training, and recycling and waste evaluations. The program includes posters, banners, decals, Green Team hall passes, and recycling containers.
Schools can also order school recycling posters at no charge. We mail an elementary school poster, a high school poster, and two cafeteria carton posters to your school upon request.
Request a Speaker for Your School
What can an Authority speaker cover?
Authority team members give presentations on waste reduction, reuse of materials, recycling, landfill operations, backyard composting, sludge management, and services at our facilities. For schools, we offer classroom presentations, whole-school assemblies, faculty meetings, and facility tours. We give regular presentations at schools, colleges, businesses, and civic groups throughout Oneida and Herkimer counties.
How do you request a speaker?
Complete the form on the Request a Speaker page with your contact details, your preferred speaker, and what type of presentation you are looking for. The same form works to schedule a school presentation or a facility tour. You can also call us.
School Recycling Programs That Work in Oneida and Herkimer Counties
What do School Recycling Champions do?
Let's take a quick moment to highlight the 2025 Recycling Champion: The Conkling Elementary School Green Team in the Utica City School District. The team is student-led with fifteen 5th and 6th graders. For several years, these champions:
- Ran weekly classroom recycling collections
- Invited Authority staff in for assemblies and presentations
- Shared recycling tips on the morning announcements
- Held their own classroom plastic film contest
- Collected deposit cans and bottles
- Toured the Authority's Recycling Center each year
Start improving your school's recycling initiatives today. Call at 315-733-1224 or email us to get started!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How does a school start a Green Team in Oneida and Herkimer Counties?
A: Fill out the form on our Teachers Corner page or call us. As you'll see from our Green Team Tips, we recommend organizing a team, conducting a waste audit, choosing what to recycle, and setting up labeled collection containers.
Q: What can a speaker from the Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority talk about?
A: Waste reduction, reuse of materials, recycling, landfill operations, backyard composting, sludge management, and services at Authority facilities.
Q: Does the Authority offer school recycling posters?
A: Yes. Schools can order posters at no charge, and we will mail them to the school. Options are an elementary school poster, a high school poster, and two cafeteria carton posters.
Q: Can students tour the Recycling Center?
A: Schools can contact the Authority to schedule a facility tour. The Recycling Center is at 824 Sewage Plant Road in Utica.