School Supply Recycling: How to Keep Backpacks, Binders & Supplies Out of Landfills This Back-to-School Season

Every August, millions of backpacks, binders, pens, and notebooks hit the trash — even though many are still usable or recyclable. Here's how to recycle or donate old school supplies, plus tips for choosing gear that won't end up in a landfill after one semester.

Why School Supply Waste Matters

The average student generates 67 pounds of backpack waste over their K-12 years — that's backpacks, lunch boxes, binders, and accessories that wear out or go out of style. Add single-use supplies like disposable pens, plastic folders, and spiral notebooks, and the numbers climb fast.

Most of this ends up in landfills, but it doesn't have to:

• Backpacks and lunch boxes can be donated if they're in good shape, or recycled through textile programs

• Binders and folders (metal and plastic) are recyclable in many cases

• Notebooks and paper products go in your blue cart if they're clean and dry

• Pens, markers, and small plastics can be collected through specialty programs like TerraCycle

🎒 How to Recycle or Donate Old Backpacks

If the backpack is still usable (zippers work, no major tears), donate it:

• Goodwill and Salvation Army — both accept gently used backpacks at Chicago-area locations

• Cradles to Crayons (1721 W. 18th St., Chicago) — serves kids in need; drop off backpacks, lunch boxes, and supplies

• School-based drives — many Chicago Public Schools run back-to-school drives in July and August; check with your local school

If the backpack is worn out:

• Textile recycling bins — look for bins at grocery stores (Jewel-Osco, Mariano's) or use the Chicago Textile Recycling Drop-Off Locator at chicago.gov/recycling

• H&M and North Face — both brands accept old backpacks and bags for recycling at their retail locations

• TerraCycle's Zero Waste Box — businesses and schools can purchase a box to collect backpacks, lunch boxes, and other hard-to-recycle items (not free, but comprehensive)

Do not put backpacks in your blue cart — they jam sorting equipment.

📓 What to Do With Old Binders, Notebooks & Folders

Spiral notebooks and composition books:

• Remove the metal spiral (pull it out or use pliers) — metal spirals go in your blue cart

• Toss the paper in your blue cart if it's clean and dry

• If pages are heavily soiled or food-stained, they're trash

3-ring binders:

• Metal binders (like the old-school ones) are fully recyclable — blue cart

• Plastic binders are trickier: Chicago's blue cart accepts rigid plastics, but check for a recycling symbol (usually #5 polypropylene). If no symbol or it's cracked/broken, it's trash

• Remove any paper or cardboard inserts first

Plastic folders and dividers:

• Clean, rigid plastic folders can go in the blue cart if they're marked #1-7

• Flexible plastic (like thin pocket folders) is not accepted curbside — save for a store drop-off (see Plastic Film Recycling below)

✏️ Where to Recycle Pens, Markers & Small Supplies

Pens, markers, highlighters, and mechanical pencils are mostly plastic and metal — but too small for curbside recycling. Here's where to take them:

TerraCycle programs:

• BIC Writing Instruments Program — free; accepts pens, markers, highlighters, mechanical pencils (any brand). Find a public drop-off location or start a collection at your school: terracycle.com/brigades/writing-instruments

• Crayola ColorCycle — free; accepts used markers (Crayola and other brands). Schools and youth groups can sign up: crayola.com/colorcycle

What you can't recycle:

• Pencil shavings, erasers, glue sticks — these are trash

• Broken crayons — compost (they're wax) or trash

🛍️ Choosing Sustainable School Supplies That Last

The best way to reduce school supply waste is to buy less and buy better. Here's what to look for:

Backpacks and lunch boxes:

• Choose durable materials (canvas, nylon, polyester) with reinforced stitching

• Avoid character-themed bags that kids outgrow quickly

• Look for brands with repair programs (Patagonia, L.L.Bean, JanSport)

Binders and folders:

• Metal or cardboard binders last longer than plastic

• Buy folders with pockets sewn in, not glued (they won't fall apart mid-semester)

Pens and pencils:

• Refillable pens (Pilot G2, Uni-ball) reduce plastic waste

• Wooden pencils are compostable (the wood, not the eraser)

• Avoid single-use plastic mechanical pencils

Notebooks:

• Choose 100% recycled paper when possible

• Composition books last longer than spiral notebooks (no bent wires)

📦 What About Packaging?

School supply packaging — plastic clamshells, blister packs, shrink wrap — is a huge source of waste. Here's how to handle it:

• Cardboard boxes — flatten and toss in your blue cart

• Plastic film and shrink wrap — save for a store drop-off (Jewel-Osco, Target, Walmart all have bins near the entrance)

• Plastic clamshells — check for a recycling symbol; #1 PET is accepted in Chicago's blue cart, but #6 polystyrene is not

🏫 School Supply Donation Drives in Chicago

If you're cleaning out last year's supplies and want to donate, here are a few Chicago-area programs:

• Cradles to Crayons (1721 W. 18th St.) — accepts new and gently used supplies year-round

• Bernie's Book Bank (1950 N. Ruby St., Melrose Park) — focuses on books, but also accepts school supplies

• Chicago Public Schools Community Service Centers — many locations run supply drives in July and August; call 773-553-1000 for current drives

• Local libraries — Chicago Public Library branches often host supply swaps or donation bins in late summer

Commercial & Institutional Supply Recycling

If you manage a school, daycare, or youth program with bulk supply waste — outdated textbooks, surplus binders, broken furniture, or end-of-year cleanouts — GreenWay can help with commercial recycling and waste removal.

We work with schools and institutions across the Chicago area to:

• Sort and recycle paper, cardboard, and rigid plastics in bulk

• Coordinate donation pickups for usable supplies

• Remove and responsibly dispose of items that can't be recycled or donated

For commercial or institutional recycling services, contact GreenWay at (773) 522-0025.