Waste Hero Reduce to Zero

Free teacher and school resources on Recycling Fundamentals, Creating Zero Waste, and Building the Circular Economy

Download free lessons

Kids learning about recycling in the classroom

Waste Hero Education is a global education program with the aim toeducate 1 million people by 2030on recycling, zero waste, and the circular economy.

View sample lesson plan

video

Lesson Library

Click on the lesson icons based on language to download the lessons

1level

Level 1
(Pre- Kindergarten to Grade 2)

beginner

Introduction To Recycling

Students will learn the basics of recycling, why it is important, and how to do it. They will listen and comment on a children's story about a rabbit family learning to recycle at home.

Resource Downloads

PowerPoint PDF Worksheet

View full lesson page →

intermediate

What Can You Recycle?

Students will learn what kind of items are and are not recyclable. They will be able to identify simple everyday items as recyclable or non-recyclable items.

Resource Downloads

PowerPoint PDF Worksheet

View full lesson page →

advanced

Find It, Recycle It

Students will learn about the 3 steps of recycling and how to do it at home. They will learn how to identify #1 PET plastic bottles, the most recycled plastic, and how to properly recycle the material.

Resource Downloads

PowerPoint PDF Worksheet

View full lesson page →

2level

Level 2
(Grades 3-5)

beginner

Recyclable, Non-Recyclables, And Potential Recyclables

Students will learn about the recycling process and how improperly recycled items can cause problems or contaminate other recyclables. They will learn the best practices to better manage items that are potentially recyclable at home and school.

Resource Downloads

PowerPoint PDF Worksheet

View full lesson page →

intermediate

Where Does Your Recycling Go?

Students will learn about the relationship between recycling and the environment. They will learn what a landfill is and where waste can end up if not properly managed.

Resource Downloads

PowerPoint PDF Worksheet

View full lesson page →

advanced

What Can You Make From Recycling?

Students will deepen their understanding of how recycling benefits the environment by identifying new everyday products made from recycled materials.

Resource Downloads

PowerPoint PDF Worksheet

View full lesson page →

3level

Level 3
(Grades 6-8)

beginner

Waste Leakage In The Environment

Students will review and refresh their knowledge of recycling and the negative effects on the environment without recycling best practices. They will also be introduced to the concept of "waste leakage" as a result of not recycling and mismanagement of recyclables and create a "Waste Hero" poster with a message to inspire others to take action.

Resource Downloads

PowerPoint PDF Worksheet

View full lesson page →

intermediate

A Waste Hero's Story

Students will review and refresh their knowledge of recycling and the negative effects on the environment without recycling best practices. They will also be introduced to the concept of "waste leakage" as a result of not recycling and mismanagement of recyclables and create a "Waste Hero" story with a message to inform, inspire, and encourage others to take action against waste in our environment.

Resource Downloads

PowerPoint PDF Worksheet

View full lesson page →

advanced

My Waste Audit

Students will consider how much waste they personally and as a class generate each day, and the portion that is recyclable and non-recyclable by conducting a "waste audit" at home.

Resource Downloads

PowerPoint PDF Worksheet

View full lesson page →

4level

Level 4
(Grades 9-10)

beginner

Linear vs Circular Life Cycle

Students will understand the differences between the linear and circular economies and how products and materials move through a life cycle. They will develop the ability to think about the full lifecycle of the things that we use in our daily lives and set the groundwork for being able to redesign systems.

Resource Downloads

PowerPoint PDF Worksheet

View full lesson page →

intermediate

Creating The Circular Economy

Students will understand the differences between the linear and circular economies and how natural cycles can teach us to design more circularly. Students will understand 5 different types of circular economy business models and identify how these models practice the 3 principles of the circular economy.

Resource Downloads

PowerPoint PDF Worksheet

View full lesson page →

advanced

Circular Design Challenge

Students will apply the circular strategies to solve a linear problem of an everyday product. This lesson will cover the linear vs circular economy, and how to build circular solutions using design thinking for linear products.

Resource Downloads

PowerPoint PDF Worksheet

View full lesson page →

5level

Level 5
(Grades 11-12)

beginner

Circular Case Study

Students will understand the differences between the linear and circular economies and will develop the ability to think about the full life of the products that we use in our daily lives and set the groundwork for being able to redesign systems. Students will understand the 5 different types of circular economy business models and identify how these models practice the 3 principles of the circular economy based on a business case study analysis.

Resource Downloads

PowerPoint PDF Worksheet

View full lesson page →

intermediate

Redesign For Circularity

Students will apply the circular strategies to solve a linear problem of an everyday business. This lesson will cover 5 circular business models, review an existing business model, and answer questions in the circular business case study.

Resource Downloads

PowerPoint PDF Worksheet

View full lesson page →

advanced

Circular Business Model Canvas

Students will apply a circular design strategy to solve a linear business design problem. They will learn what the circular business model canvas tool is and how to use one to create their own circular business model.

Resource Downloads

PowerPoint PDF Worksheet

View full lesson page →

6level

Level 6: Workshops
(Universities & Youth Clubs)

workshop 1

Problem And Solution Tree

The workshop aims to provide guidance on how to frame problems and solutions using practical and user- friendly tools to help solve complex and interconnected problems. The workshop will focus students on transformative thinking, teamwork and results oriented thinking through the utilization of mapping tools that help identify, define, and solve for the greater sustainability challenges of our time.

Resource Downloads

PowerPoint PDF Worksheet

View full lesson page →

workshop 2

Mind Mapping

The workshop aims to explore how students can use mapping tools to identify key opportunities or solution pathways to problems and visualize the complexity and interconnectedness of them. Students will learn how to utilize decision making tools like "down selection" to weigh the value of an idea against another, and to identify and select the best solution pathway for a problem.

Resource Downloads

PowerPoint PDF Worksheet

View full lesson page →

workshop 3

Circular Business Model Canvas

Students will apply a circular design strategy to solve a linear business model problem. They will learn what the circular business model canvas tool is and how to use one to create their own circular business model.

Resource Downloads

PowerPoint PDF Worksheet

View full lesson page →

workshop 4

Solving For The SDGs

The workshop aims to analyze the indivisible whole of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, understand the nature of the interlinkages, and then provide practical and user-friendly tools to help achieve the goals.

Resource Downloads

PowerPoint PDF Worksheet

View full lesson page →

Explore with Us

Our educational videos bring key lessons to life with clear, informative details from our Waste Hero Education lesson plan.

Why Waste Hero

What’s Recycling?

Learn what goes in the bin, how to clean recyclables, and avoid common mistakes.

Waste Hero Overview

Discover the Cost of Waste

Understand how long waste lasts, what recycling saves, and how materials get a second life.

How Do I Access

From Linear to Circular

Discover how to turn the world around, by shifting linear economics into circularity

Expert validation badge

Expert Validation

Tested and Validated by Education Experts

Waste Hero Education was created by Yunus Thailand, a not-for-profit foundation co-founded by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, in partnership with and supported by Indorama Ventures.

The educational materials have been validated by an independent panel of global education experts who have determined that the materials are fit for purpose. The panel concluded with a high level of assurance that the materials are appropriate for use with learners at different educational levels in diverse contexts globally.

Educate Tomorrow's Green Leaders

Empower students with the knowledge, attitude, and skills to protect our planet. Learn more about how Waste Hero Education is preparing tomorrow’s green leaders.

Free lesson plans

Waste Hero offers 19 FREE activity-based lessons and workshops for K-12 and university students.

Why Waste Hero

Why Waste Hero

1:57

Save preparation time

The 19 lessons are organized into 6 levels with each containing a beginner, intermediate, and advanced lesson plan.

Waste Hero Overview

Waste Hero Overview

1:37

Inspire youth action

A PowerPoint version with teacher instructions and a printable PDF lesson and classroom handouts available for free

How Do I Access

How Do I Access

1:47

Voices From the Classroom

Anuwat

Thitipon

Robert

Suji

Julie

Mi Mi

Jon

Yanniz