What Really Happens When We Recycle at Graded?

This semester, lower and middle school students passionate about caring for our planet joined the Sustainability Committee on a field trip to trace the journey of recyclables from our classrooms to a local processing facility. At the facility, students observed as plastics, paper, metal, and other materials were sorted, cleaned, and prepared for a new life as items like t-shirts, containers, sleeping bags, and more. Their experience made it clear that the effort we make to sort our recyclables on campus really does make a difference.

Watch the video to follow the path of a single plastic bottle—from a student’s hands to the processing line—and learn how everyday choices help keep recyclable materials out of the landfill and in circulation.

As Brazil hosted COP30, conversations about sustainability gained renewed attention nationwide. Experiences like this field trip help our students see how their everyday actions connect to broader environmental goals. For another example of student engagement, read how our high schoolers recently added their voices to COP30.