Waste Management & Recycling Teaching Resources

Discover education resources that explore litter prevention, waste reduction, recycling, and sustainable practices through hands-on, real-world learning

Perfect for Global Recycling Day, Keep Australia Beautiful Week, World Cleanup Day, International E-Waste Day, and National Recycling Week, these resources won’t go to waste!

Turn rubbish into real-world learning

Bring sustainability education into your classroom with curriculum-aligned teaching resources for Early Learning to Year 10. Help young people investigate waste management, litter prevention, recycling, composting, and e-waste through engaging, multidisciplinary units, lessons, and activities.

From discovering where our waste goes to exploring practical ways to reduce it, these resources encourage young people to rethink what we throw away and take action towards a more sustainable future.

Popular resources

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National Recycling Week Education Resources

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Clean Up Australia Education Resources

Primary
Secondary
Foundation
Year 1-10
English
Mathematics
Science
Humanities and Social Sciences
Environmental

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Visy Recycling Education Resources

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Containers for Change WA

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MobileMuster Schools Education Resources

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Closing the E-Loop: Teaching Circular Economy and Technology for Secondary

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The War on Waste Education Resources

Primary
Secondary

Primary units & lessons

Unit

Trash Talk: Building Literacy Through Waste Awareness

Primary
Year 3-4
English
Grammar and Spelling
Reading
Environmental
Recycling
Sustainability

Lesson

Using Batteries Safely and Sustainably

Primary
Year 1-2
Technology
Design and Technologies
Environmental
Sustainability

Lesson

Plants and Compost: Let’s Break it Down

Primary
Year 1-2
Science
Biology
Environmental
Sustainability

Unit

Waste Warriors - Exploring Waste

Primary
Year 1-2
English
Mathematics
Science
Environmental
Recycling
Sustainability

Secondary units & lessons

Lesson

Fashion for Good

Secondary
Year 7-10
Technology
Design and Technologies
Environmental
Sustainability
Economic
Design Thinking

Unit

Back to Earth - Waste Reduction and Recycling

Secondary
Year 7-8
English
Science
Humanities and Social Sciences
Geography
Technology
Design and Technologies
Environmental
Recycling
Sustainability

Lesson

Blue - Do the Maths on Litter

Secondary
Year 9-10
Mathematics
Environmental
Biodiversity
Conservation
Oceans
Water
Documentary and Film

Lesson

AuSSI Waste Audit (Secondary)

Secondary
Year 7-10
Mathematics
Science
Humanities and Social Sciences
Geography
Environmental
Recycling

Early learning lessons & activities

Unit

National Recycling Week - Reducing Waste

Early Learning
Environmental
Recycling
Sustainability

Activity

Visy Education - What is Recycling?

Early Learning
English
Science
Environmental
Recycling
Sustainability

Activity

Clean Up Australia - Keep Waste Out of Nature

Early Learning
Science
Environmental
Recycling
Social
Social Action

Unit

Connecting Children to Nature - Exploring Waste and Taking Action

Early Learning
Science
Humanities and Social Sciences
Geography
Environmental
Recycling

With thanks to our partners

These resources have been made possible by our partners who share our commitment to sustainability, environmental education, and inspiring the next generation to make a positive difference.

Together, we're helping educators bring real-world environmental challenges into the classroom, giving young people the knowledge and skills to make more sustainable choices and take meaningful action.

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