North Country Recycles is an initiative of the Development Authority of the North Country to educate residents and businesses in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence Counties about the benefits of reducing, reusing and recycling materials.  Educators are our frontline workers in educating future generations of youth about recycling.  Below are a few of the major sites that provide materials for educators, but there are many more on the web.

North Country Recycles Content

2023 North Country Recycles Scavenger Hunt Grades 6 - 12.pdf 

Recycle Right New York

Recycle Right New York is an education and outreach effort informed by more than 100 recycling professionals from across New York State.  The site has information regarding what is recyclable in addition to resources including outreach materials, outreach and education training, and funding opportunities, as well as an EPS Alternatives Guide.

NYS DEC

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation provides many resources for educators and youth leaders.  Materials include, but are not limited to:

Conservationist for Kids! Newsletter
Transportation Grants for Schools
Workshops for Educators
Lesson Plans and Kids Activities
Technical Data and Reports

U.S. EPA

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides a wide assortment of reduce, reuse, and recycle resources for students and educators.  Here are a few of the examples provided:

Recycle City
Planet Protectors Club
Teach English, Teach About the Environment (for ESOL curriculum)
Science Fair Fun
Learning by Doing: Students Take Greening to the Community (a booklet)
The Quest for Less: Activities and Resources for Teaching K-8
Tools to Reduce Waste in Schools
Pack a Waste Free Lunch

The EPA also has an entire page of resources on learning and teaching about the environment.  This page has resources on classroom resources and project ideas, homework help and activities for K-12 students, other resources for education professionals, and health school environments.  The site also gives examples for best practices.

To contact the EPA Region 2 (New York State) Environmental Education Coordinator click here.

Waste Management

Waste Management is a national waste disposal and recycling firm with operations in Jefferson and Lewis Counties.  Waste Management provides its Learning Hub for environmental education.  The site has information for teachers as well as facts and fun!  Here are some examples of the teaching resources:

Recycled Art Activities
Elementary Curriculum Overview
Curriculum Grades K-2
Curriculum Grades 3-5
Curriculum Grades 4-5

Casella

Casella is a national waste disposal and recycling firm with operations in St. Lawrence County.  Casella has a Recycle Better page on its website.  Here you can get information on how to recycle, videos, posters, and toolkits.