Wake County marks 20 years of the school recycling program Feed the Bin, which began in 2004. The program is organized by Wake County Solid Waste and involves students collecting recyclable materials from classrooms. For the academic year 2024-2025, 203 schools are engaged in the initiative.
Commissioner Cheryl Stallings expressed pride, stating, “We are very proud of the participation we’ve seen from students across Wake County in the Feed the Bin Program.” Stallings emphasized the program’s role in waste diversion and environmental preservation.
Celebratory activities over the last year included a School Media Day in partnership with Sonoco Recycling. The event allowed students to learn about recycling and featured a visit from the mascot, Paper Guy.
A survey titled “Show Us How You Feed the Bin” was conducted to gather feedback from schools. Responses may be shared on the Wake County Waste and Recycling Facebook page. Additionally, interviews were held with key partners to understand the program’s impact.
A composition study by Sonoco Recycling in May 2024 analyzed materials collected from participating schools. The study revealed paper makes up 87% of the recycled materials, with PETE plastic bottles and steel cans following. Nonrecyclable materials constituted only 1.5% of the collection, showcasing the students’ strong recycling knowledge.
Outreach efforts by Wake County Solid Waste will proceed, focusing on minimizing contaminants in recycling bins. The county plans to commemorate the anniversary with partners, including the Wake County Public School System and several charter schools.
