National Recycling Week 2026 Teaching Resources
Bring National Recycling Week 2026 into your classroom with activities, printables, sorting games, word searches, interactive lessons, worksheets and more teaching resources for primary school teachers. Engage students with the concept of sustainability and make recycling something they don't even have to think twice about as they learn to reduce waste for the good of their community and Australia.
The teacher team at Teach Starter has created this collection to set your classroom and your students up for success this National Recycling Week. Take a look at this primer from them to get started, including an explanation of what this sustainability celebration is all about, plus the dates to add to your classroom calendar!
What Is National Recycling Week?
National Recycling Week was established by Planet Ark Environmental Foundation in 1996 and is a week-long event that takes place annually in Australia to promote recycling and raise awareness about the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling waste.
The event is typically held in November and includes a variety of activities, such as recycling workshops, educational events and community clean-up projects. The goal of National Recycling Week is to encourage households, businesses and community organisations to take action to reduce their waste and improve their recycling efforts.
It also provides an opportunity for our students to learn about the different types of recycling and how they can play their part in preserving the environment for future generations.
When Is National Recycling Week 2026?
National Recycling Week has been held in the second full week of November every year since its inception. In 2026, the dates for the week-long event are 9-15 November.
Why Is Teaching Kids About Recycling Important?
Teaching our students about recycling helps them understand why we work to protect the environment by reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and polluting the air and water.
Teaching students about recycling from a young age can help to instil the importance of being environmentally responsible and can encourage them to continue these practices as they grow older.
Recycling Facts for Kids
Looking for a few recycling facts to share during your lessons this week? Here are a few facts for kids from Planet Ark:
- Australia is one of the most wasteful countries in the developed world, producing more waste and recycling less than most other developed nations.
- Approximately 85 percent of soft plastics from bags and packaging ends up in a landfill.
- When food rots in landfill, it lets off methane which is 25 times more potent than the C02 produced by cars.
- Australia is the fourth highest food-wasting country — only USA, Canada and Belgium waste more.
- The average Australian produces nearly 22 kg of e-waste per year. Unfortunately, only 10 percent of this is being recycled.
- About 88 percent of packaging material is recyclable in Australia, however, less than 50 percent is actually recycled. This is mostly due to materials either not being collected for recycling or being lost in the recovery process.
- Bin contamination is a big problem in Australia — 84 percent of surveyed councils report people place plastic bags in their recycling bins.
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Rubbish Bin Sorting Activity
Learn about recycling, composting and sustainable practices for waste management with a fun sorting activity.
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Recycling Word Search
Build your students’ vocabulary around the topic of recycling with this recycling-themed word search.
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The Recycling Process Poster
Show your students the process materials go through when they are recycled with printable recycling posters.
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Recycling Poster Pack
Use our Recycling Poster pack to teach your students about sustainability and conservation.
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How is Plastic Recycled? – Recycling Worksheets
Explore the process of recycling plastic with a printable recycling worksheet.
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Rubbish Bin Posters - Rubbish, Recycling and Compost
Posters outlining what can be put in the different types of bins.
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Recycling I Spy and Sort Worksheet
Sort different pieces of rubbish into their appropriate bins with this I Spy worksheet.
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Comprehension Worksheets - The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Read to learn about the Great Pacific Garbage patch with a printable reading comprehension worksheet pack.
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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rethink and Repair - Brainstorming Sheets
Brainstorm All the Ways to Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle with a pack of printable brainstorming worksheets.
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Recycling Craft - We Recycle Because...
Write about why we recycle and create this recycling craft to display in the classroom.
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Ocean Pollution Art Activity
Inspire discussions about ocean pollution and environmental impact with an Earth Day art project.
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What Can Be Recycled? Poster
A poster showing the products that can be recycled.
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Helping the Earth Flipbook
Use this printable recycling flipbook with your students to teach them about ways to help Earth.
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Earth Day - Acrostic Poem Template Pack
An acrostic poem template to use in the classroom to celebrate Earth Day and National Poetry Month.
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Recycling SNAP Card Game
Use this card game to reinforce which bin should be used for different rubbish items.
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Write About It! Recycling Writing Prompt Worksheets
Differentiate writing instruction in primary grades with informational writing prompts about recycling and conservation.
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What Can We Recycle? Cut and Paste Worksheet
Remember what to recycle with a cut-and-paste worksheet.
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Recycling Writing Prompts
Show off your procedural writing skills with a pack of recycling writing prompts.
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Recycling Posters -Signs for Recycle Bins
Teach your students how to recycle in the classroom with signs for recycle bins.
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Earth Day Mobile - Craft Template
Inspire your students to reduce, reuse, and recycle with a fun Earth Day craft project.
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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - Environmental Word Wall
Help your students learn about recycling and conservation with an illustrated word wall.
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Student Lunch Box Audit - Reducing Waste Project
An investigation that will have students calculating the waste produced from their lunch boxes, creating a plan of action to reduce their waste and reflecting on their results.
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Recycling Soft Plastics Made Simple Poster
A poster that shows an effective way to identify soft plastics when recycling waste.