New York Recycles
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by: New York State DEC|Published on: February 21, 2024
Activity - Classroom
Scientist Reviewed
345678
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This infographic and activity examines the environmental benefits of recycling, what materials/products can be recycled, and the symbol that indicates an item's recyclability.
- Students will read about the possibilities for production with recycled materials and complete an activity matching recycled objects to their product.

Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences
Authors: NYSDEC Environmental Education
Region: North America, USA - Northeast, United States, New York
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The resource provides a thorough list of products that come from recycled materials.
- Students can complete the simple activity within one class period.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students should know what recycling is. It may also help them to understand what types of things they can recycle and how to recycle them in the classroom.
- It may benefit students to understand how plastic recycling differs from other types of recycling and why this difference matters.
Differentiation
- Teachers can use this resource in reading as an activity to follow a story about recycling, such as Milly Zantow: Recycling Revolutionary.
- This resource can fit within a larger unit on living more sustainably.
- Students can discuss the amount of litter they see in their community and why it's a problem. Older students can organize a volunteer opportunity to clean up the community.
- Social studies students can discuss how governments worldwide can pressure businesses to manufacture goods more sustainably.
- Teachers who don't want to print off copies of the activity can project the image and work as a class or insert the image on a Google Slide or Canva document for students to work independently.
This resource from the New York Department of Environmental Conservation is a matching activity that teaches students about recycling. The sheet features colorful illustrations, clear text, and sound information linking the recycling bin to items students see every day. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →

