School Recycling
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
Middle Schools
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Camino Real Middle School | 2961 N Roadrunner Parkway Las Cruces, NM, 88011 |
| Lynn Middle School | 950 S Walnut Street Las Cruces, NM, 88001 |
| Mesa Middle School | 7225 Jornada Road Las Cruces, NM, 88012 |
| Mesilla Valley Leadership Academy | 2355 Avenida de Mesilla Mesilla, NM, 88046 |
| Picacho Middle School | 1040 N Motel Boulevard Las Cruces, NM, 88007 |
| Sierra Middle School | 1700 E Spruce Avenue Las Cruces, NM, 88001 |
| Vista Middle School | 4465 Elks Dr Las Cruces, NM, 88007 |
| White Sands Middle School | 1 Viking Street White Sands Missile Range, NM, 88002 |
| Zia Middle School | 1300 W University Avenue Las Cruces, NM, 88005 |
High Schools
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Arrowhead Park Early College High School | 3600 Arrowhead Dr Las Cruces, NM, 88011 |
| Centennial High School | 1950 S Sonoma Ranch Boulevard Las Cruces, NM, 88011 |
| Las Cruces High School | 1750 El Paseo Road Las Cruces, NM, 88001 |
| Mayfield High School | 1955 N Valley Dr Las Cruces, NM, 88007 |
| Oñate High School | 5700 Mesa Grande Dr Las Cruces, NM, 88011 |
| Rio Grande Preparatory Institute | 2355 Avenida de Mesilla Mesilla, NM, 88046 |
Administration / Facilities
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Field of Dreams | 2300 Tashiro Dr, Las Cruces, NM 88007 |
| LCPS Admin Building | 505 S Main Street, Suite 249 Las Cruces, NM 88001 |
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.