California K-12 Schools Recycling Challenge is an annual statewide program to generate enthusiasm for recycling and promote a healthy competition between schools and recycling coordinators.

Overall Goals for California K-12 Schools Recycling Challenge

• Have a fair and friendly recycling competition.
• Increase recycling participation by students, staff and community members.
• Heighten awareness of schools' waste management and recycling programs.
• Have the competition serve as a catalyst for K-12 schools and/or school districts to build and expand waste reduction programs.
• Organize this event successfully so it can be repeated and possibly expanded to other schools and states in the future.

The 2011 competition is complete, and the winners will be notified in February 2012!

In addition to other prizes, participants in the competitive Waste Minimization Category will compete for the coveted "Waste Not, Want Not" trophy. This trophy stays with the winner for the year before being forwarded to the following year's winner. The winner will also receive a permanent award to keep.

Take the Challenge!

To register your school and start your participation, click here.

Participants will be able to select one of two levels of participation through the Competition Division and the Benchmark Division to encourage participation for those who may not be ready to submit full documentation of their diversion numbers. To learn more about the structure of the competition and the various contests, please visit the Rules Section. To get started with a check list of suggestions and links to online resources please visit the Tools Section.

To run an effective competition, it is recommended that each school select an advisory committee, including the principal, a lead faculty member, the building manager, and the students, and the committee should be responsible for the development of the rules, logistics, and implementation plan that works for their school.

Because there is quite a bit of diversity in the availability of recycling programs and infrastructure for schools throughout the state, the contest will include 6 basic categories for recycling:

1: Paper (magazines, books, white and mixed paper)

2: Cardboard

3: CRV Beverage Containers (bottles, cans, glass)

4: Mixed Recyclables

5: Food Service Organics (Compost)

6: Expanded Polystyrene Foam (Lunch trays and food serviceware)