What Is Feed the Bin?
Feed the Bin is a recycling collection program funded by Wake County Solid Waste Management Division since 2004. The Division provides free, weekly pickup to Wake County Public School System sites and select charter schools within Wake County. Volunteer coordinators work with students, staff and faculty to organize collection within their school. Environmental educators from the Solid Waste Division provide signage and promotional items to reinforce recycling, and lead educational presentations and field trips to enhance students' understanding of waste prevention, recycling and composting.
Resources for School Coordinators
Find the collection schedule and a list of acceptable materials for your school recycling program.
Waste Characterization Studies
Have you ever wonderered what is being thrown away at schools? Wake County explores this question by funding waste characterization studies, detailed audits of garbage dumpster contents. The most recent study was conducted from January 30 through February 3, 2023, in collaboration with Wake County Public School System and Green for Life Environmental.
The 2023 study found that the percentage of recyclable paper being landfilled has decreased from similar studies conducted in 2008 and 2014. The percentage of milk cartons and juice boxes being thrown away has also decreased significantly. Almost half of the waste analyzed in 2023 could have been composted, including food scraps and paper towels.
Download the full report to learn additional recommendations for improving waste diversion initiatives in schools. Access the 2008 and 2014 school waste studies in our Studies and Reports collection.
Recycling Data
Recycling in public schools in Wake County demonstrates that small acts have BIG results. Sonoco Recycling collected 648 tons of paper, metal cans and plastic bottles from 203 schools from July 2023 through June 2024. Together those recyclable materials weigh approximately as much as 36 school buses!
The Wake County Solid Waste Management Division is thankful for all the students, teachers, custodians, cafeteria employees and administrators who make recycling collection work. We look forward to collaborating with schools during the 2024–2025 year, which is also the 20th anniversary of Feed the Bin!
Presentations and Field Trips
The Wake County Solid Waste Management Division offers free presentations to educate K-12 students about composting, landfills, recycling, and solid waste prevention. Email the school recycling coordinator at feedthebin@wake.gov to book a presentation for the 2024–2025 school year!
Virtual Tour of Recycling Sorting Center
Watch this video of what happens to mixed recycling
See how materials collected from Feed the Bin schools are sorted at Sonoco Recycling. Schools may also request in-person tours of Sonoco Recycling's material recovery facility in Raleigh. Tours must be scheduled at least two weeks in advance, and are not available on evenings or weekends. Email feedthebin@wake.gov to request a tour.
Contact Us
Want to start or improve a recycling program at your school? Call 919-856-2602 or email deja.smith@wake.gov.