School Recycling

Children at School Pointing to a Recycling Bin

Schools are a great place to recycle. Children typically enjoy helping out with recycling efforts. Topics such as 'natural resources' and 'reuse' are included in the New Mexico Science Standards and the Next Generation Science standards and can be easily integrated into classroom instruction.

In 2010, SCSWA and Las Cruces Public School District (LCPS) started the School Recycling Program with just 6 pilot schools. Today, the program has grown to include all LCPS public schools and is an active and thriving institutional recycling program. All LCPS public schools currently have provided a blue recycling dumpster from SCSWA and are serviced at least once a week.

With over 50 recycling dumpsters placed at schools, there are more options than ever before for students, teachers, and the community to recycle. LCPS schools have embraced recycling in a big way, and all schools are active participants.

Residents are also welcomed to recycle clean and dry recyclables in the blue recycling bins at LCPS public schools. See a list of participating school locations below.

For more information about Las Cruces Public Schools visit the Las Cruces Public Schools website.

When schools recycle, they save money and energy, improve air quality, and set a good example of environmental stewardship for the students. Recycling programs provide a prime opportunity to bring the school together around a shared goal.

SCSWA is ready to help schools establish an active and thriving school recycling program. Call or contact us:

  • Assist with providing classroom, hallway, cafeteria, and administrative area recycling containers when available.
  • Posters that list all eligible recycling materials to post above the containers
  • Consultation for the best placements for containers and posters
  • Lesson plans on recycling, litter prevention, and composting for use in school curricula; also visit our Kids Corners page for fun recycling-related activities and games.
  • Guidance on arranging field trips to a materials recycling facility.
  • Speakers
  • Assistance with establishing or providing content for environmental clubs

Find out which materials are accepted for recycling within your school by visiting the What to Recycle page.

Participating Schools

Elementary Schools

School NameAddress
Alamedia Elementary1325 N Alameda Boulevard Las Cruces, NM, 88005
Booker T Washington Elementary School755 E Chestnut Avenue Las Cruces, NM, 88001
Central Elementary School150 N Alameda Boulevard Las Cruces, NM, 88005
Cesar Chavez Elementary School5250 N Holman Road Las Cruces, NM, 88012
Conlee Elementary School1701 Boston Dr Las Cruces, NM, 88001
Desert Hills Elementary School280 N Roadrunner Parkway Las Cruces, NM, 88011
Doña Ana Elementary School5551 Camino De Flores Las Cruces, NM 88005
East Picacho Elementary School4450 N Valley Dr Las Cruces, NM, 88007
Fairacres Elementary School4501 W Picacho Avenue Las Cruces, NM, 88007
Hermosa Heights Elementary School1655 E Amador Avenue Las Cruces, NM, 88001
Highland Elementary School4201 Emerald Street Las Cruces, NM, 88012
Hillrise Elementary School1400 S Curnutt Street Las Cruces, NM, 88011
Jornada Elementary School3400 Elks Drive Dr Las Cruces, NM, 88005
Loma Heights Elementary School1600 E Madrid Las Cruces, NM, 88001
MacArthur Elementary School655 N 4th Street Las Cruces, NM, 88005
Mesilla Elementary School2363 Calle Del Sur Las Cruces, NM, 88046
Mesilla Park Elementary School955 W Union Avenue Las Cruces, NM, 88005
Monte Vista Elementary School2675 Peachtree Hills Las Cruces, NM, 88012
Sonoma Elementary School4201 Northrise Dr Las Cruces, NM, 88011
Sunrise Elementary School5300 N Holman Road Las Cruces, NM, 88012
Tombaugh Elementary School226 Carver Road Las Cruces, NM, 88005
University Hills Elementary School2005 Locust Street Las Cruces, NM, 88001
Valley View Elementary School915 California Avenue Las Cruces, NM, 88001
White Sands Elementary School1 Viking Street White Sands Missile Range, NM, 88002

Middle Schools

School NameAddress
Camino Real Middle School2961 N Roadrunner Parkway Las Cruces, NM, 88011
Lynn Middle School950 S Walnut Street Las Cruces, NM, 88001
Mesa Middle School7225 Jornada Road Las Cruces, NM, 88012
Mesilla Valley Leadership Academy2355 Avenida de Mesilla Mesilla, NM, 88046
Picacho Middle School1040 N Motel Boulevard Las Cruces, NM, 88007
Sierra Middle School1700 E Spruce Avenue Las Cruces, NM, 88001
Vista Middle School4465 Elks Dr Las Cruces, NM, 88007
White Sands Middle School1 Viking Street White Sands Missile Range, NM, 88002
Zia Middle School1300 W University Avenue Las Cruces, NM, 88005

High Schools

School NameAddress
Arrowhead Park Early College High School3600 Arrowhead Dr Las Cruces, NM, 88011
Centennial High School1950 S Sonoma Ranch Boulevard Las Cruces, NM, 88011
Las Cruces High School1750 El Paseo Road Las Cruces, NM, 88001
Mayfield High School1955 N Valley Dr Las Cruces, NM, 88007
Oñate High School5700 Mesa Grande Dr Las Cruces, NM, 88011
Rio Grande Preparatory Institute2355 Avenida de Mesilla Mesilla, NM, 88046

Administration / Facilities

School NameAddress
Field of Dreams2300 Tashiro Dr, Las Cruces, NM 88007
LCPS Admin Building505 S Main Street, Suite 249 Las Cruces, NM 88001
Children raising their hand

No-cost, Low-cost Solutions Recycling

Decision Makers

  • Create community awareness about reducing waste.
  • Set a school policy to use both sides of the paper to reduce waste.
  • Advocate for using recycled paper and other products.
  • Work with the community to provide incentives for recycling. TerraCycle will pay you for recycling items that had been thought to be not available for recycling.

Facility & Maintenance

  • Ensure that recycling and waste containers are inappropriate locations, where the need is.
  • Ensure that the SCSWA recycling dumpster provided for community recycling drop-off on school property is accessible.

Teachers & Students

  • Encourage the use of refillable water bottles. This could mean fewer trips to the water fountain while the students are still getting the water they need.
  • Research waste reduction options that will work for your school. Make sure to include everyone affected by the plan that would be proposed, school leaders, staff, facility staff, and students.
  • Consider setting up compost in the schoolyard or vermiculture bins in the classroom. If properly maintained, these can be great tools for learning and waste diversion.
  • Create a "No Waste Lunch" program at your school.
  • Hold a recycling competition. These could be inventions to resolve waste issues, a fashion show out of recycled materials, or a poster contest.