Good news, teaching kids to recycle doesn’t have to be boring! In fact, recycling through the Container Refund Scheme teaches kids two very valuable life lessons. Not only will they learn how and why to protect the planet, but they’ll also learn how to save cash from an early age.

As adults, it’s our responsibility to help shape environmentally aware kids with healthy financial habits. And while you’re at it, why not have some fun!

With a 10-cent refund per eligible container returned through the scheme, the dollars can add up quickly! State schools can have lots of students (and, even if they don’t, they can still collect a whole lot of eligible containers – check out what Rolleston State School did with just 61 students), which in turn can mean they create a significant amount of waste every day. Instead of throwing away eligible containers, why not develop an educational school program that gets kids involved, and recycle them for a refund, which your school can put to good use?

If you’re stuck for ideas on how to do this, or just looking to find out more about how you can develop a fun program tailored for your school, here’s how.

“Hey miss, what’s an eligible container?”

“Good question Tommy – eligible containers are items that are allowed to be recycled. They can be plastic bottles, glass bottles and aluminium cans!”

Grab your markers, pens, pencils, highlighters, anything creative and occupy the kids with a fun, end-of week activity. Make some charts to hang on the wall that will display all the containers that can be recycled through Return-It’s program. This will involve creating charts that show what containers can be returned for a 10-cent refund and which ones can’t. Not only is this downright fun, but kids are learning about the program in the process.

Create a fundraising competition at school

It’s important to set a goal as a class or a year level and make sure it is visible for all students to see. Have a competition to see who can recycle the most and earn the most cash for the school. Ensure you inform the kids of what prizes are at stake; give it a creative name and get the kids excited for some good old-fashioned rivalry – nothing motivates kids more than competition. However, make this an end of week game or end of term ‘championship’ to ensure that the fun doesn’t get in the way of school work.

There you have it, some great ideas to get involved in Return-It’s Schools Program. It doesn’t have to be hard, the simpler the program and games are, the more effective it will be. Help create healthy habits in these children’s minds from a young age and society will reap the benefits.

For more information on how to get involved, sign up today!