Back-to-school season is an exciting time of year. New routines are beginning, classrooms are filling up, and families are stocking up on everything students need for the months ahead.
Between new school supplies, clothing, packed lunches, paper products, and electronics, back-to-school season can also create a significant amount of unnecessary and avoidable waste.
The good news? A few thoughtful choices can make a meaningful difference. Whether you are preparing your child for the first day of school or helping create a more sustainable learning environment, there are plenty of opportunities to reduce waste before, during, and after the school year begins.
Here are some simple ways families and schools can make back-to-school season a little greener. You can also pair these ideas with our earlier guide to a sustainable back-to-school season.
Start With What You Already Have
Before heading out to buy new supplies, take inventory of what is already available.
Backpacks, lunch bags, binders, pencil cases, rulers, and other school supplies often have more life left in them than we realize. Checking last year’s supplies first can help prevent perfectly usable items from being replaced unnecessarily. For more ideas, see how to reuse common household items.
The same approach can apply to clothing and footwear. Before buying an entirely new wardrobe, consider what still fits and what can be reused. Shopping secondhand or participating in clothing swaps can also help keep usable items in circulation while reducing the demand for new products. Learn more about how to reduce clothing waste.
When new supplies are needed, look for durable products that are designed to last. Choosing refillable pens, recycled paper products, and items with minimal packaging can also help reduce the amount of waste generated throughout the school year.
Pack Waste-Free Lunches
School lunches are one of the biggest opportunities to reduce daily waste.
Single-use plastic bags, drink bottles, snack wrappers, and disposable utensils can quickly add up when they are used five days a week. Instead, families can invest in reusable containers, water bottles, and utensils that can be used over and over again.
Preparing snacks from larger packages rather than purchasing individually wrapped portions can also help cut down on unnecessary packaging. Bento-style containers and reusable snack bags make it easier to pack a variety of foods without relying on disposable materials.
Food waste is another important consideration. Packing realistic portions based on what your child actually eats can help prevent perfectly good food from being thrown away. Leftovers from dinner can also be repurposed into next-day lunches when appropriate.
For food scraps that cannot be eaten, proper organics collection can help divert material away from landfill. Miller Waste Systems’ composting services play an important role in managing organic waste and supporting more sustainable waste diversion practices. Learn more about how organic waste is recycled and why composting matters.
Make Recycling Part of the Routine
Recycling is most effective when everyone understands what belongs in the recycling stream and what does not. Our guide to recycling myths is a useful place to start.
At home, families can use back-to-school season as an opportunity to review their local recycling practices together. Empty containers, paper, and cardboard materials may be recyclable depending on local collection guidelines, while food residue and certain types of packaging may need to be handled differently. If you are unsure about plastic packaging, see what those numbers on plastics actually mean.
Miller Waste Systems provides residential recycling services in Ontario and residential recycling services in many parts of Canada that support communities in diverting recyclable materials from the waste stream. Taking the time to learn what can be recycled in your municipality can help ensure materials are placed in the correct bin.
Schools can support these efforts by making recycling bins easy to access and clearly labelled. Placing bins in classrooms, cafeterias, and common areas can make proper waste sorting more convenient for students and staff. Curious what happens next? Read what happens to your recycling and what happens to items in the blue bin.
Miller’s material recovery and recycling services and material recovery facilities also demonstrate the important role that proper sorting and recycling infrastructure play in recovering valuable materials.
Rethink Paper Use
Paper remains a major part of the school experience, but there are plenty of ways to reduce unnecessary waste.
Whenever possible, schools can encourage digital communication for newsletters, permission forms and other documents that do not need to be printed. Families can also choose electronic versions of calendars, reminders, and school notices.
When printing is necessary, consider printing double-sided and using paper efficiently. Students can also save partially used notebooks, folders, and other materials for future projects rather than throwing them away at the end of the school year.
Even small changes in daily habits can help reduce the amount of paper that eventually enters the waste stream.
Give Old Electronics a Second Life
Back-to-school season can also bring an increase in electronic waste. Families may replace older laptops, tablets, or other devices as students prepare for a new school year.
Before discarding an old device, consider whether it can be repaired, reused, or donated. Working electronics may still be valuable to another student, family member, or community organization.
Devices that are no longer usable should not simply be placed in the garbage. Electronic waste requires proper handling, and Miller Waste offers options for recycling or safely disposing of old devices with our drop-off depots. Many electronics also fall under household hazardous waste rules, so they should never go in the garbage.
Thinking beyond the landfill is an important part of reducing the environmental impact of technology.
Encourage Waste Reduction at School
Creating a more sustainable school environment works best when everyone participates.
Teachers and administrators can encourage students to bring reusable water bottles and lunch containers, while schools can provide clearly marked recycling and waste collection stations. Student-led environmental initiatives can also help make waste reduction a shared responsibility. Miller’s education and community programs support schools and local partners, and organizations can also develop a waste reduction plan.
Schools and municipalities can work together to support effective collection programs that make recycling, organics diversion and proper waste disposal easier. Through municipal waste services, Miller Waste Systems helps communities manage the collection and movement of waste and recyclable materials.
These systems are an important part of keeping communities clean while supporting responsible waste management practices.
Small Changes Can Add Up
Reducing back-to-school waste does not require families or schools to be perfect. It starts with making a few thoughtful choices and building more sustainable habits over time.
Reusing supplies, packing lunches with reusable containers, reducing food waste, recycling properly, and finding responsible solutions for old electronics can all make a difference.
As a leader in waste management and environmental services, Miller Waste Systems is proud to support communities across Canada with recycling, waste collection and diversion solutions. Contact us if you have questions about recycling, organics, or drop-off options in your community.
This back-to-school season, a little planning can go a long way. By choosing to reduce, reuse, recycle, and divert organic materials whenever possible, families and schools can help create cleaner and more sustainable communities, one school day at a time.
Related reading: Your Guide to a Sustainable Back to School Season · 7 Ways to Reduce Trash at Home · The Hidden Dangers of E-Waste · What Happens to My Recycling?