This National Recycling Week, let’s inspire little recyclers to Join the Cycle!
National Recycling Week, running from 9–15 November, is a great opportunity to help children discover how everyday choices can make a difference. This year’s theme, “Join the Cycle,” encourages everyone to take part in recycling, reducing waste and giving materials another life.
Learning about sustainability can be even more meaningful when children can get creative and involved. That’s why we’ve created two fun, hands-on worksheets to help bring recycling conversations to life.
With the Build a Recycling Bin Worksheet, children can colour, cut and paste while learning to recognise recycling bins and think about where different items belong. Then, they can celebrate their efforts with the Recycling Champion Crown Worksheet, creating and decorating their own crown to proudly show that they’re ready to be recycling champions.
Whether you’re an educator planning a classroom activity or a parent looking for something creative to do at home, these worksheets offer a simple and enjoyable way to introduce positive recycling habits.
1. Build a Recycling Bin Worksheet
Materials required:
- Printed worksheet
- Crayons, coloured markers, or coloured pencils
- Safety scissors
- Glue stick / PVA glue
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Step 1: Download the worksheet
Download your free worksheet and print it out.
Step 2: Colour the worksheet
Colour the bin, lid, wheels, eyes, mouth, recycling symbol and Recycling Bin sign. Make the recycling bin as colourful and creative as you like!
Step 3: Cut out the bin
Carefully cut around the dotted line surrounding the large recycling bin.
Step 4: Cut out the lid
Cut around the dotted line surrounding the BIN LID. Keep the lid safe as the lid will be added to the top of the bin.
Step 5: Choose the eyes
There are two pairs of eyes to choose from. Pick your favourite pair, then carefully cut the eyes out.
Step 6: Choose a mouth
Choose one mouth for the recycling bin. Cut around the dotted line.
Step 7: Choose a recycling symbol
Which recycling symbol do you like best? Choose one, cut the recycling symbol out and place the recycling symbol on the front of the bin.
Step 8: Cut out the wheels
Carefully cut out both wheels. The recycling bin needs two wheels, one for each side.
Step 9: Add the recycling sign
Colour and cut out the RECYCLING BIN sign. Place the sign on the front of the bin wherever you think it looks best.
Step 10: Build your bin
Now it’s time to put everything together! Arrange the pieces first, then glue:
- the lid at the top;
- the eyes and mouth on the front;
- the recycling symbol in the centre;
- the Recycling Bin sign on the front; and
- a wheel on each bottom side.
Click on the below images to download your free printable worksheets
2. Recycling Champion | Crown Worksheet
Materials required:
- Printed worksheet
- Crayons, coloured markers, or coloured pencils
- Safety scissors
- Glue stick / PVA glue
- Tape
- Optional for decoration, use rhinestones, pom-poms, jewels, or glitter
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Colour the crown, Earth, recycling symbols, leaves and stars. Make the crown bright and colourful!
Decorate the two strips at the bottom. Children can use different colours or add their own patterns.
Carefully cut around the outside edge of the crown.
Step 4: Cut out the two strips
Cut around each of the two rectangular headband strips at the bottom of the page.
Step 5: Attach the first strip
Glue or tape one strip to one side of the crown and the second strip to the other side of the crown.
Wrap the strips around the child’s head and adjust them until the crown fits comfortably.
Glue or tape the overlapping headband strip ends together.
Put on the finished crown and celebrate helping to reduce, reuse and recycle!
Click on the below images to download your free printable worksheets
Want to keep the recycling fun going? Explore our 5 DIY Recycling Crafts to Reduce Waste, featuring easy step-by-step activities for kids. From paper plate clocks to colourful cardboard roll fish, each craft encourages children to get creative while learning about the importance of recycling and repurposing everyday materials.
