FollowThe start of a new school year has a way of resetting everyday life. Families settle into new schedules, classrooms reestablish routines, and workplaces shift back into a more regular rhythm after summer, especially in Alaska. That makes this a useful time to take a look at other habits—what we use, what we reuse, what we throw away, and what we recycle.
Throughout August, we focused on practical ways to make recycling and waste reduction easier to understand and easier to incorporate into daily life. The ideas apply just as well at home and at work as they do in a classroom. Use what you already have, avoid unnecessary waste, and make sure the materials you recycle are actually accepted where you live.
Make the Right Bin the Easy Choice
Good recycling habits depend partly on getting good information, but the specifics of how a space is set up also makes a big difference. Think about a classroom, break room, or kitchen where the trash can is easy to find but the recycling bin is across the room, around a corner, or somewhere people have to actively search for it. Even someone who intends to recycle may choose the more convenient option. We’re all in a hurry some days.
That’s why we like to encourage a “twin the bin” approach: whenever possible, place recycling and trash receptacles together. Recycling works best when people are given the opportunity to make the right choice at the exact place waste is generated.
Clear labeling matters, too. Recycling stations are easier to use when they have:
- Recycling and trash bins located together.
- Large, easy-to-read labels.
- Pictures or examples of accepted materials.
- Simple instructions.
- Information that reflects what the local recycling program actually accepts.
Bins should also be checked periodically. If the same incorrect materials keep showing up, that may be a sign that the labels or instructions need to be clearer. A well-designed recycling station takes some of the guesswork out of recycling.
For younger recyclers, there’s even a fun way to practice the concept. Twin the Bin is an online educational arcade game that teaches children about recycling and waste separation. Players move a character back and forth to catch falling items, choosing only the materials that belong in the bin they are carrying.
Because recycling rules vary by community, the game is best used as a general introduction to sorting rather than a guide to what is accepted locally. After playing, families and educators can take the lesson one step further by checking which of those materials are recyclable where they live.
Know Before You Throw
Unfortunately, the recycling symbol itself doesn’t always provide the answer. One of the most important messages in ALPAR’s ongoing Know Before You Throw series is that seeing the familiar recycling arrows on an item does not automatically mean it belongs in your recycling bin.
That is especially true with plastics. The number stamped inside the recycling symbol identifies the type of plastic resin used to manufacture the item. It does not guarantee that a local program has a market or processing option for it. Across Alaska, recycling opportunities vary by community and provider. An item accepted in Anchorage may not be accepted in another part of the state. And even two programs serving the same area may have different requirements.
Material matters, but so do shape, size and construction. Flexible plastics, very small items and packaging made from multiple materials can all present processing challenges even when some part of the package is technically recyclable. This month, we educated our followers on just what those arrows mean.
The most reliable rule is to check the instructions for the recycling program you actually use. Recycling markets and collection programs can change, so local guidance should always come first.
Before Buying New, Look at What You Have
Back-to-school shopping can create the impression that the new season requires an entirely new set of everything. New notebooks, new pencils, new lunch containers, new backpacks, new clothes, and new supplies. But the beginning of a school year can also be a good opportunity for families to take inventory of what they already have and make some good decisions about what really needs to be bought new.
What from last year is still in good condition? What actually needs to be replaced? And which new items are important enough that it may make sense to choose something better made and keep it for longer? A reusable water bottle can replace a routine of buying single-use bottles. A reusable lunch container can take the place of disposable sandwich bags. Reusable utensils can stay in a lunch bag instead of being replaced every day.
And when it comes to clothes and school supplies, reusing the things that still work can leave more room in the budget for a few new items a student really wants, like a higher-quality backpack, winter coat, or pair of shoes they will be excited to keep using.
Waste reduction doesn’t have to mean never buying something new, of course. But being more deliberate about what really needs replacing and what still has useful life left can make a big difference, both for your budget and the environment.
A New Season for Community Recycling
Because back-to-school season feels like a fresh start, it makes us start thinking about getting organized, establishing new routines, and finally tackling things that have been piling up. Communities can take the same approach. If electronics, batteries, plastics, light bulbs, or other hard-to-recycle materials have been accumulating locally, ALPAR’s 2026 Recycling Collection Event Mini Grants may help turn an idea for dealing with them into an actual event.
The grants are available to eligible Alaska nonprofits and tribal entities organizing community collection events for materials that will ultimately be recycled. Standard requests are $250 – $500, although applicants may request another amount. Preference is given to rural Alaska communities, while larger communities with limited recycling access may also qualify.
Applications are reviewed quarterly, and 2026 funding is still available. Applicants are responsible for arranging where the collected materials will go after the event so that they continue on to recycling. If your community has been talking about organizing a collection event, the start of a new season may be a good time to get it on the calendar.
Apply for a 2026 ALPAR Mini Grant.
Build the System Into the Routine
Throughout August, we were reminded that good recycling habits are easier to follow when the system around them makes sense. Put the recycling bin where people need it. Label it clearly and use pictures for easy understanding. Learn what your local program accepts. Keep reusable items where you will remember to use them. Look at what you already own before automatically replacing it. Give young people opportunities to participate rather than only telling them why recycling matters.
The beginning of the school year may be a reset, but these are habits that can work throughout the year in our classrooms, our offices, our homes and communities across the state.