The Boy Scouts of America merit badge program provides opportunities for youth to expand their skill and knowledge in a variety of fields. Through the program, a Scout can acquire self-confidence from overcoming obstacles to achieve goals. Below Troop Leaders and Scouts will find activities to help complete requirements for badges with an environmental focus. For information on other types of badges, visit the Boy Scouts of America website

Energy Badge

Saving, producing and using energy wisely are critical to America’s future. It is important that we understand energy and the vital role it plays in order for us to leave future generations with a world in which they can live as well or better then we have.

Activity Guide for Energy Badge (PDF)

Environmental Science Badge

This badge teaches Scouts about the world of an environmental scientist---making observations and carrying out experiments to investigate the natural world. Learn about how precious our resources are and ways to reduce pollution.

Activity Guide for Environmental Science Badge (PDF)

Gardening Badge

Humans have been growing plants for thousands of years. Farmers and horticulturists make their living growing food and other plants, while other people grow gardens for pleasure. While earning this badge, Scouts will learn the science behind growing and caring for plants, as well as, the benefits of composting.

Activity Guide for Gardening Badge (PDF)

Soil and Water Conservation Badge

Conservation isn’t just the responsibility of soil and plant scientists, hydrologists, wildlife managers, and landowners alone. It is the duty of every person to learn about the natural resources on which our lives depend so that we can help make sure that these resources are used intelligently and cared for properly.

Activity Guide for Soil and Water Conservation Badge (PDF)

Conservation Good Turn Award

The Boy Scouts of America has been a positive force in conservation and environmental efforts. Past generations of Scouts have been recognized for undertaking conservation action projects in their local communities. The Conservation Good Turn award is an opportunity for Scouts of all ages to join with conservation or environmental organizations to carry out a project in their home communities. Below Scouts will find ways to achieve this award.

• The Recycling Zone is a place to get rid of a variety of materials instead of throwing them in the trash. Schedule a tourto learn about proper management of household chemicals, recyclables and problem materials such as computers and other home electronics. The tour looks at what happens at the Recycling Zone and the importance of pollution prevention. 
• Contact Dakota Valley Recycling at 952-895-4515 or email to have an educational presentation about recycling.
• Have Scouts participate in the Recycle Relay activity to learn about items that can be recycled. Recycle Relay (PDF)

Below are an assortment of educational activities and games for teachers to use in the classroom to encourage learning of solid waste issues. These activities will motivate students to have fun while learning about waste reduction, reuse and recycling.

Recycling Bingo (PDF)
In this educational activity, students will be quizzed on their knowledge of items that can be recycled within the home and the importance of recycling. Students will create their own BINGO card to be used in the Recycling Bingo game.
Grades: K-3

Recycle Relay (PDF)
As a participate in this educational activity, students will complete a relay race to see how much they know about what items can be recycled, composted, or trashed.
Grades: 4-5

Environmental Jeopardy! (PDF)
In this educational activity, students’ knowledge of environmental issues will be challenged as they play the popular TV trivia game called Jeopardy!
Grades: 6-8

The following educational activities are from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Planet Protectors Club for Kids.

Planet Protectors Create Less Waste in the First Place (PDF)
This educational activity is a story about reuse on earth and gives ways to reuse everyday products in the home.
Grades: K-1 

Follow that Trail (PDF)
To help students understand the importance of reducing waste and saving resources, this educational activity is composed of various puzzles that they will have to complete in order to solve the big mystery at the end.  
Grades: K-3

Case of the Broken Loop (PDF)
In this educational activity, another mystery needs to be solved by student detectives. Students will learn about reducing waste and saving resources while trying to prevent the Garbage Gremlin from slipping away!
Grades: 4-6

Trash and Climate Change (PDF)
Students discover the hidden reasons to reduce, reuse, and recycle while completing this educational activity.
Grades: 4-6

The Life Cycle of a Cell Phone (PDF)
This educational activity follows the life cycle of a cell phone. Students will learn what it takes to produce a cell phone and why recycling one is so important.
Grades: 6-8

Every year on April 22, more than one billion people take part in Earth Day. Across the globe, individuals, communities, organizations, and governments acknowledge the amazing planet we call home and take action to protect it.

Educational activities are a way to supplement lessons taught in the classroom.They are also a way of bringing environmental education outside of the classroom and into extracurricular activities. In this section, students will find fun activities and project ideas to learn more about waste reduction, reuse, and recycling. Teachers and troop leaders will find activity guides, games, art projects, and other educational material to help increase environmental awareness. 

Check out these fun and interactive recycling games!

Recycle Roundup

Help clean up the park! Your job is to sort the stuff people throw away and put it in the proper bin. Source: National Geographic Kids

Super Sorter

Your goal is to sort all of the materials so that they can be reused into something new and valuable. Source: Keep America Beautiful

Saveonenergy.com also has a downloadable Kid's Recycling Guide that features coloring pages, word finds, quizzes and more!

• Classroom
• Art Projects
• Tip of the Day
• Girl Scouts
• Boy Scouts

Ever wondered how a Recycling Facility actually works? Take a look into Dem-Con's Facility here! 

Sustainability Man

Faster than compost, taller than a rain barrel and more powerful than an LED light bulb - Sustainability Man is in search of green projects and sustainable resources in Burnsville. 

Episode 1: What is Sustainability?

Episode 7: Composting

Episode 10: Household Hazardous Waste Recycling

Episode 13: Climate Change

Episode 16: Energy Savings

NEW! Episode 19: Composting and Recycling at the Burnsville Ice Center

Sustainability Man Shows How YOU Can Recycle Even More

For more sustainability man videos, check out the City of Burnsville's Youtube Channel

Nature Connections

The Lake Detective

Rain Barrels

What Happens to Your Recyclables? 

NEW! Ways to help food last longer

For more Nature Connection videos, check out the City of Lakeville's Youtube Channel

Find the latest Environmental Guide right here! For information on what to recycle at home, organics drop sites, and the Recycling Zone, keep this Guide handy!

Dakota County

Extend your teaching beyond the classroom and take your students on a Dakota County field trip. Educational topics include: Bugs, Bugs, Bugs; Earth Materials; Predator Prey; Trees, Trees, Trees (and other plants); Wetlands 101; Wetlands 102; Who Lives Here?

For more information visit Dakota County School Field Trips

Visit a Recycling Facility

Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs) are where all curbside recyclables end up for sorting and preparation before being sent to recycled-content manufacturers. Three MRFs in the Dakota County area offer interactive tours to groups to see first hand the processes required to sort and recover our recyclable material.

• Recycle MN (Dick's Sanitation): 8812 215th St. W., Lakeville; Schedule a Tour
• Republic Services: 2795 117th St. E., Inver Grove Heights; Call 651-437-8101 to schedule a tour
• Dem-Con: 13161 Dem-Con Dr., Shakopee: Schedule a Tour or call 952-445-5755

Extend your teaching beyond the classroom and take your students on a Dakota County field trip. Educational topics include: Bugs, Bugs, Bugs; Earth Materials; Predator Prey; Trees, Trees, Trees (and other plants); Wetlands 101; Wetlands 102; Who Lives Here?

Rudy Kraemer Nature Preserve

Rudy Kraemer Nature Preserve was created in 1996 on land donated by Edward Kraemer & Sons, Inc. The 75-acre park offers close to 2 miles of trails through restored wetlands and prairies, and boardwalks allow visitors access to open water for fishing and wildlife watching. Near the parking lot, native plant gardens offer visitors a place to learn about prairie wildflowers and grasses. To download a trail map and guide visit the City of Burnsville's natural Resource Page here.

Trails description: Easy to moderate difficulty, gentle slopes, crushed gravel and woodchip surfaces.

Facilities: One toilet (seasonal), one picnic table.

Lebanon Hills Visitor Center

The Lebanon Hills Visitor Center serves as a Minnesota Model for sustainability. The Visitor Center showcases several green building features, including a vegetative roof, rain garden and day lighting. The Visitor Center and surrounding area of prairies, woodlands, lakes, and wetlands provide an opportunity for premier environmental education and outdoor recreation, natural and cultural interpretation, and outstanding visitor services.

For more information, visit the Lebanon Hills Visitor Center webpage

Dodge Nature Center

Located in West St. Paul and Mendota Heights, Dodge Nature Center is full of prairies, hardwood forests, lakes, wetlands and miles of hiking trails! The center provides outstanding educational programs to school groups, scout troops, families and individuals. Programs engage students in natural history and agricultural programs. Outreach programs are also available for off-site programs as well.

For more information visit Dodge Nature Centerwebsite. To schedule a program, call 651-789-5215 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

McColl Pond Environmental Learning Center

Located in Savage, the Environmental Learning Center includes McColl Pond, 10 acres of woodlands, marshes and restored prairie – oak savanna. The center has two environmental classrooms, a multipurpose room and an outdoor covered patio which are all perfect settings for implementing environmental education courses. The building itself has incorporated several green features, such as, cupboards made from pressed sunflowers and counters made of recycled plastic jugs. To learn more about the Environmental Learning Center and to reserve rooms, visit the City of Savage Parks Guide here.

Schaar's Bluff

The Schaar’s Bluff Trailhead and picnic area provide a scenic overlook to the Mississippi River Valley, as well as access to the Schaar’s Bluff Gathering Center. The building has a variety of sustainable design elements including being powered by a wind turbine and capturing rainwater from the roof to flush toilets. Other activities available include: picnicking, hiking, community gardens, children’s playground and cross country skiing.

Schaar’s Bluff Trailhead: 8395 127^th Street East Hastings, MN 55033

For more information visit Schaar's Bluff Trailhead

UMore Park

UMore Park in Rosemount hosts the Master Gardener Education and Research Display Gardens. Come learn about the over 30 research and display gardens and the history of UMore Park and surrounding communities. Tours are available between the end of June and the end of September. Call 651-480-7700 to schedule a tour.

The number one item in our trash is food and it’s finding its way to the landfill. That’s why nearly8,000 Dakota County households have registered to participate in the free organics drop-off program. Across all eight locations, more than 10,000 pounds of food scraps and other compostable products are collected each week.  

Bringing organics to a drop-off site is easy and can dramatically reduce waste. The typical household can divert up to one-third of trash by delivering items such as food scraps, spoiled produce, coffee grounds and bones. Instead of sitting in a landfill, this material is turned into compost — a nutrient-rich soil additive — used in gardening and landscaping. 

Sites are located throughout the county — Burnsville, Eagan, Farmington, Hastings, Lakeville, Mendota Heights, Rosemount and West St. Paul – with more sites opening this year.  

Locations

Locations are open daily from 5 a.m.-10 p.m., unless noted below.

• ​Burnsville – Civic Center Park, 260​ Civic Center Parkway​​
• ​Eagan – Holland Lake Trailhead, Lebanon Hills Regional Park, 1100 Cliff Road 
• Farmington Central Maintenance Facility, 19650 Municipal Drive​​​
• Hastings Transportation Shop, 900 County Road 47​
• Lakeville Water Treatment Facility, 18400 Ipava Ave.
• Mendota Heights – Mendakota Park, 2171 Dodd Road​​​
• Rosemount
  • Rosemount Public Works Facility, 14455 Brazil Ave.  
  • The Mulch Store, 16454 Blaine Ave. E (Empire Township), Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Saturday hours vary seasonally. Check The Mulch Store website or call 651-423-4401.
• West St. Paul – Dakota Lodge, Thompson County Park, 1200 Stassen Road

To sign up and for more information visitwww.dakotacounty.us, emailThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 952-891-7557. All registered participants receive helpful tips and compostable bags to use at home. 

Partially funded by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and Dakota County.  

Girl Scouts River Valleys planning guides allow troop leaders to customize their year and help girls develop leadership skills while earning awards, badges and patches in each of the seven skill-building areas. Below troop leaders will find planning guides for awards and badges with an environmental focus. Visit the GSRV website for planning guides in other focus areas. 

Daisy

It’s Your Planet – Love It! Journey Series
Between Earth and Sky
Explore the natural world around you and learn skills to help Planet Earth. The Girl Scouts River Valleys has multiple ways to earn the award. See below for activity plans.

Activity Plan 1: The Blue Bucket Award

Activity Plan 2: The Firefly Award

Brownie

It’s Your Planet – Love It! Journey Series
Wonders of Water
Learn about water in some wonder-filled adventures that are exciting and fun! Girls will understand how to love, care and protect this precious resource in their local community.

Activity Plan 1: LOVE Water Award

Activity Plan 2: SAVE Water and SHARE Water Awards

Household Elf Badge
While earning this badge, girls will discover ways to save energy, water and the planet!

Activity Plan

Junior

It’s Your Planet – Love It! Journey Series
Get Moving!
Investigate and innovate while exploring energy in all sorts of forms. From personal energy to the energy within our homes, girls will gain knowledge of how to efficiently use energy and reduce their impact on the world.

Activity Plan 1

Activity Plan 2

Go Green Girl!

This program is available for Junior through Ambassador and teaches girls about the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling! This patch and toolkit discuss ways to decrease our impacts and to make this world a better place.

To download the requirements and toolkit, click the link below.

Go Green Girl! Patch Program (PDF)

Looking to teach your girls more about recycling? Then contact a Dakota Valley Recycling staff member at 952-895-4515 or email to have an educational presentation about recycling.

A Materials Recovery Facility, MRF, is where recycling goes after it is picked up by a hauler. Multiple haulers can use the same MRF, as they are usually not hauler specific facilities. The visual below shows the process of how a mixed recycling stream is sorted at a MRF.

1) Recycling is picked up throughout an area at residential homes and businesses by a hauler.

2) Various haulers in the area then bring the recycling they have collected to a Materials Recovery Facility.

3) At the Materials Recovery Facility, the recycling gets loaded onto a conveyor belt where workers manually remove contamination. The contaminates usually are plastic film like plastic bags and candy wrappers, but also wires, textiles, and organics. This is an important step because if not removed, these items can cause severe damage to the sorting equipment.

4) Cardboard and paper products are the first recyclables to be separated. As the recycling stream moves down the conveyor belt, large wheels divert and propel the cardboard and paper up as the heavier items fall through.

5) As the lightweight paper materials is sorted out, the remaining glass, metals, and plastics continue down the conveyor belt.

6) The metals are the next material to be removed. Large magnets collect steel cans and other magnetic metal as it passes by.

7) After the steel is drawn out by magnets, an eddy current is created by a magnet field which repels aluminum and other non-ferrous metals into a separate bin.

8) Glass bottles and jars are then separated from the remaining plastics using a density blower. A jet air stream hits each item, blowing the lightweight plastics onto a different route.

9) The heavier glass does not get redirected by the air and continues down the original conveyor belt to be hammered or grinded into finely crushed glass, known as cullet.

10) The remaining plastic is sorted by optical lasers that determine the resin type and sort each plastic into its appropriate bin. 

Once the separating process is complete there are six different collections of recyclables: cardboard and paper, steel, aluminum, glass, and plastic. Each material is compacted and bailed and sent to specific materials recycling facilities where they are further processed in order to become suitable for use in manufacturing.

Incorporating environmental education in the classroom is important for teaching children what impacts humans have on our environment and what we can do to remedy it. Finding valuable lesson plans on subjects, like recycling, can be even more of a challenge. Here teachers can find a variety of lessons plans for different age groups. All lesson plans have Minnesota Teaching Standards included.

• K-2
• 3-5
• 6-8

Browse the lesson plans below to find different ways to educate your students on recycling, composting, reducing, and reusing and why these are important practices in our daily lives. All lesson plans indicate what age groups they are appropriate for and include Minnesota teaching standards. 

Recycling Lesson Plans

Recycle Right to Save Resources (PDF)
This lesson plan allows for creativity while learning about recycling! Students will design a poster aimed at encouraging other students to recycle. Students will develop research and presentation skills by researching their own recycling topic and presenting it to others.
Grades: 3-5

Breaking the Paper Chain (PDF)
In this lesson plan, students will evaluate how they use paper products on a daily basis and recognize why reduction is critical and better for the environment.
Grades: 4-5 

Waste Reduction Lesson Plans

Needs and Wants (PDF)This lesson plan focuses on creating awareness of what defines a "need" and a "want". Students will learn to recognize that responsible consumer choices can result in reduced waste and environmental impact.
Grades: 4-5

Composting Lesson Plans

Worms at Work (PDF)
In this lesson plan, students will create a compost bin using worms and food scraps and monitor the changes in the bin over time. Students will understand that there are benefits to composting rather than throwing our waste in the garbage.
Grades: 3-5

Household Hazardous Waste Lesson Plans

Hazardous Products (PDF)
This lesson plan teaches students how to identify household hazardous products and to learn where they can be found around the home. 
Grades: 4-5

Read the Label (PDF)
This lesson plan explores the different signal words found on many household product labels. Students will learn the definition of these words, how to list the four signal words in order from most hazardous to least hazardous, and to determine the level of hazard of two products by using the signal words found on the labels.
Grades: 4-5

Natural Resources Lesson Plans

Planting a Tree (PDF)
In this lesson plan, students will research native trees and plants where they live, and the significance of those plants to the habitat. Students will then participate in a service project planting trees in their community to gain an understanding of stewardship.
Grades: 1-3

Oh Deer (PDF)
Students will become different components of any ecosystem and learn about habitat interactions in this lesson plan. By graphing the results of this game, students can discuss the topics in population dynamics, limiting factors, and carrying capacity.
Grades: 4-5

Earth's Land as an Apple (PDF)
This lesson plan uses an apple to demonstrate how precious habitable land and natural resources are on our earth, and the importance of conserving it as a limited resource.
Grades: 4-6

Earth Day Lesson Plans

Reading List 5-8 (PDF)
This list includes short descriptions of the most popular of youth chapter books while also including a complete list of suggested reading in honor of Mother Earth.

Looking for more resources? Visit the Earth Day webpage for more information and ways to get involved.

Browse the lesson plans below to find different ways to educate your students on recycling, composting, reducing, and reusing and why these are important practices in our daily lives. All lesson plans indicate what age groups they are appropriate for and include Minnesota Teaching Standards. 

Recycling Lesson Plans

Wise Use of Paper (PDF)
Students will learn about the production and reduction of wastes in this lesson plan. They will understand that reusing and recycling paper is a way of conserving resources, protecting the environment, and reducing energy use.
Grades: 6-8

Recycle Right at Lunch (PDF)
Within this lesson plan, students will survey and analyze lunchtime packaging waste in order to identify how much of it is recyclable and what packaging waste can be reduced.
Grades: 6-8

Waste Reduction Lesson Plans

Make a Difference in Your School (PDF)
This guide was created by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a how-to for engaging students in resource conservation and waste reduction. The guide includes various activities and lesson plans for "Make a Difference Day."
Grades: 6-8

Composting Lesson Plans

Compost Chefs (PDF)
Within this lesson plan, students will create four compost bins with different “recipes” of air, moisture and nitrogen. Students will observe the four compost bins and record the differences these conditions cause in the composting process.
Grades: 5-8

Household Hazardous Waste Lesson Plans

Toxic Chemicals in the Home (PDF)
Chemicals and toxins are all around us and we can make a choice whether or not to use them. In this lesson plan, students will take a Household Hazardous Waste survey to learn about different types of products that contain toxic chemicals, as well as, learn about safer alternatives.
Grades: 6-8

Natural Resources Lesson Plans

Six Infamous Pollutants (PDF)In this lesson, students will work in groups to research and "get to know" the six major air pollutants, and then present the information in creative ways to make an invisible and intangible entity (air pollution) a bit more viable and real to them. Students will also discover ways to help reduce air pollution in their own lives.
Grades: 5-8

Carrying Water (PDF)
In this lesson, students will audit their personal daily water usage, and participate in a class discussion about water use and conservation.
Grades: 5-8

Earth’s Land as an Apple (PDF)
This lesson plan uses an apple to demonstrate how precious habitable land and natural resources are on our earth, and the importance of conserving it as a limited resource.
Grades: 4-6

Gravity and Tides(PDF)
This lesson plan teaches students how the gravitational pull of the moon and the sun, along with differential gravitational forces, affect the ocean’s movements. Students will also learn the phases of the moon and vocabulary describing tides.
Grades: 6-8

Bugs – Clues to the Environment (PDF)
In the Bugs-Clues to the Environment lesson plan, students will identify macro invertebrates, learn why certain aquatic life does or doesn’t exist locally and will understand that we cannot always see the wildlife around us.
Grades: 7-8

Earth Day Lesson Plans

Reading list for grades 5-8 (PDF)
This list includes short descriptions of the most popular of youth chapter books while also including a complete list of suggested reading in honor of Mother Earth.

Looking for more resources?  Visit the Earth Day webpage for more information and ways to get involved. 

Browse the lesson plans below to find different ways to educate your students on recycling, composting, reducing, and reusing and why these are important practices in our daily lives. All lesson plans indicate what age groups they are appropriate for and include Minnesota Teaching Standards. 

Recycling Lesson Plans

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle! (PDF)
Students will classify garbage items into 3 piles: reduce, reuse and recycle. This lesson plan teaches students about how and why practicing all three in their daily lives is so important.
Grades: K-2

The Bigger Meaning of Recycling: Green Play Structures (PDF)
This lesson plan is designed to show students the bigger meaning of recycling by focusing on what is created from the process. Many commonly recycled materials such as tires, scrap metal, and cardboard are converted into materials used in the construction of green play structures.
Grades: K-3

Waste Reduction Lesson Plans

The Truth about Plastic Bags (PDF)
This lesson will inform students about the scope of the worldwide plastic bag problem, and provide them with ways to reduce plastic bag generation and waste.
Grades: K-3

Composting Lesson Plans

Compost Critters (PDF)
This lesson plan explores how nature “recycles” its own resources. Students will learn how this phenomenon happens by observing some of nature’s recyclers at work.
Grades: K-2

Household Hazardous Waste Lesson Plans

Hazardous Products Substitutes (PDF)
In this lesson plan, students will learn about why certain products are dangerous to our health and the environment, and what some substitutes are to these products.
Grades: K-3

Natural Resources Lesson Plans

Planting a Tree (PDF)
In this lesson plan, students will research native trees and plants where they live, and the significance of those plants to the habitat. Students will then participate in a service project planting trees in their community to gain an understanding of stewardship.
Grades: 1-3

Pollution Search (PDF)
In this lesson plan, students will learn to identify different types of pollution and how to manage the pollution properly. In particular, students will be identifying one form of pollution know as litter.
Grades: K-3

Earth Day Lesson Plans

Grades K-3 (PDF)
This list includes short descriptions of the most popular of earth related children’s books while also including a complete list of suggested reading in honor of Mother Earth.

Looking for more resources? Visit the Earth Day webpage for more information and ways to get involved.

The Minnesota Materials Exchange is a free online service that links organizations that have reusable goods they no longer need to those who can use them. This business reuse network helps prevent usable materials from becoming waste, and saves users money.

Exchange Categories:

• Art Supplies
• Building Construction Material
• Chemical and Cleaners
• Classroom Supplies and Fixtures
• Commercial Appliances
• Computer and Office Equipment
• Fixtures and Parts
• Furniture
• Glass
• Industrial and Agricultural By-products
• Medical/Laboratory Equipment and Supplies
• Metals
• Misc. Goods and Raw Materials
• Motors, Pumps and Other Electrical Equipment
• Office Supplies
• Paints, Coatings and Stain
• Paper
• Plastics, Rubber and Composites
• Shipping and Packaging Material
• Sporting Goods
• Textiles, Fabric and Leather
• Tools and Manufacturing Equipment
• Wood

Who uses Materials Exchange?

Over 12,000 people are registered with the Minnesota Materials Exchange from large and small businesses to educational and nonprofit organizations.

To view current listings visit Minnesota Materials Exchange website

The program is run by the Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP). For more information, go to http://www.mntap.umn.edu/

Recycling is important to help humans reduce their impact on the environment. Within schools, there are 3 main benefits to starting a recycling program:

• Save Money. Reducing waste and increasing recycling often requires there to be a shift in the size of your dumpsters and collection frequencies. This shift is where substantial savings can been seen as recycling
  and organic recycling is exempt from the State of Minnesota Solid Waste Tax. In order to maximize the program and reduce the amount of tax you pay, it is a best practice to have a recycling bin next to every garbage can.
• Meet Regulations. The Waste Management Act requires that public entities have containers for at least three recyclable materials and transfer all recyclable materials collected to a recycler.
• Do the Right Thing. By choosing to recycle, your school can save natural resources, reduce greenhouse gases and create jobs. A win, win for everyone.

Not sure where to start?

Recycle More Minnesotais a tool kit developed by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to help schools get a recycling program organized and operating successfully. The tool kit contains key steps, best practices and other resources to implement a successful recycling program. The tool kit also highlights what is happening in other Minnesota schools through case studies. Find case studies for various Minnesota schools here. 

Resources are features of the environment that are important and valuable to humans in one form or another. Conserving these resources means using them wisely from day to day. It is important to conserve as increasing pressures and demands from a growing population continuously impact the planet’s natural resources. There are a number of simple ways for school’s to reduce their impact on natural resources. The most effective way is by using these resources more efficiently.

• Energy Efficiency
• Water Conservation
• Air Quality
• Organics Composting

A great way to reduce waste is to extend the lifetime of what you already have. It's important to know where to recycle household items, but it's even better to know how to do repairs so you can continue to use your household items instead of throwing them away. Here are some resources for helping you get the most out of your things:

• iFixit.com: This website has thousands of guides for repairing various electronics, appliances, clothing, and even your car. You can also buy parts and tools for fixing electronics from the iFixit store. 
• Minnesota Tool Library: If you would like to repair your own things, but don't have the equipment to do so, you can find what you need at the Minnesota Tool Library. There is one in Saint Paul and one in Minneapolis. Paid membership is required, but is available at different levels so you can find one that works for you. They also offer classes in how to use the tools and in skills like sewing, plumbing, and other maintenance.
• Fix-It Clinics: These free events happen all over the metro and are a great place to learn new repair skills. Volunteers will look at up to three of your items and help you mend or repair them. Upcoming Fix-It clinic dates and locations are listed on the Dakota County website. 

Learning to repair your own things reduces waste, saves money, and can be fun and empowering. Next time something breaks, try out some of these resources.

For more information on reuse, check out Dakota County's Reuse Guide.

Finally, if your item can't be repaired or reused, Dakota Valley Recycling can help you find a place to recycle it. 

In this section, school district officials, principals and operations staff can find information on a variety of topics from recycling to resource conservation. Explore the topics to learn new tips on how to decrease your school's impact on the environment and get recognized for it.

• State Statutes
• Recycling
• ARROW Program
• Resource Conservation

Schools in Minnesota are considered a public entity and are required to follow recycling related State Statutes. The following are regulations about recyclable container requirements and environmentally preferable practices.

Minnesota State Statute 115A.151 – Recyclable Material Container Requirements; Public Entities
Under this law, public entities are required to have containers for at least three recyclable materials, such as, but not limited to, paper, glass, plastic and metal, and transfer all recyclable materials collected to a recycler.

Minnesota State Statute 16B.122– Purchase and Use of Paper Stock; Printing
This law requires all public entities to follow environmentally preferable printing practices, including use of paper with a minimum of 10% post-consumer recycled content.