Participate in a national recycling video and poster contest sponsored by The Recycled Materials Association (ReMA), and JASON Learning!
Your Challenge
For this challenge, research the hidden risks behind improperly recycling batteries, as well as the rewards of recycling batteries correctly. Using your research, develop a poster or video Public Service Announcement (a call to action with an important message meant to inspire change) communicating how we can each do our part to support recycling safety by preparing recyclables for processing.
Safe recycling starts with YOU! It’s not optional. Do your part today!
Each grade level will have their own prompt to follow. See your prompt below!
Grades K-4:
The Batteries You Use Everyday
How many of your toys and electronic devices use batteries? Create a PSA teaching your friends and their families how to safely recycle of batteries once they can no longer power your devices. Be sure to include any types of batteries used in your home or classroom like: smartphones, laptop batteries, digital cameras, tablets, etc.
K-4 Rubric
Grades 5-8:
The Batteries in Your Community
Research battery recycling programs in your community. Does your community have battery recycling requirements or programs? Create a PSA that teaches members of your community how to safely recycle batteries using existing programs or by providing tips for communities that do not have an official battery recycling program.
5-8 Rubric
Grades 9-12:
The Battery Recycling Industry
As more and more everyday items are battery-powered, communities face the problem of safely repurposing and recycling batteries and their parts for future use. Create a PSA outlining the need for safe battery recycling to protect our homes and families and ensure the recycling industry is not negatively impacted by poor battery recycling practices.
9-12 Rubric
It’s so important for everyone to do their part in recycling batteries safely. When we recycle, many different materials like paper, plastic, glass, and metal get sorted and processed so they can be reused. But when batteries end up in the recycling bin, they create serious dangers.
Batteries can:
- Spark and start fires in recycling trucks or facilities.
- Leak harmful chemicals that put workers and the environment at risk.
- Damage valuable recyclable materials around them.
THINK ABOUT IT!
You just unwrapped a delivery and tossed the packing paper into the recycling bin. But…someone else accidentally tossed in an old battery along with their recyclables.
That one battery can cause big problems.
- When the recycling truck comes, the battery rolls around with paper, glass, cans, and plastic. If it gets crushed, it could spark a fire inside the truck.
- At the recycling facility, machines sort thousands of items every hour. If that battery breaks open, it could leak harmful chemicals onto paper or plastics, ruining the materials and making them unsafe to recycle. Fire would destroy all the recyclables.
- Workers who handle the recycling are put at risk if batteries catch fire or leak.
Now think: what if dozens of people in your town tossed batteries in the recycling bin? Fires could happen more often, recyclables might be wasted, and people could be in danger.
That’s why preparing recyclables correctly—like removing batteries from toys, electronics, or devices and taking them to a battery drop-off spot—is such an important step. One small action from you can keep recycling safe for everyone!
Now it’s your turn to get creative...
Here are some guidelines to help you get started!
- Follow the project brief for your grade level: Create a PSA that follows the outline in your grade-level specific prompt.
- Meet the contest criteria: Your poster or video should:
- Explain the risks of incorrectly recycling batteries and the rewards that come with proper battery recycling.
- Discuss the importance of battery recycling to the industry.
- Research the risks associated with improperly recycling batteries and rewards that accompany correctly recycling batteries and the process behind recycling batteries.
- Create messaging in the form of a digital poster or video that is less than one minute long and informs and excites your viewers about the possibilities for battery recycling.
- Imagery: Include pictures or visual representations of the battery recycling process, including what can happen when batteries are not recycled correctly, and the rewards that happen when we recycle batteries correctly.
- Title: Display “Recycling Batteries: Hidden Risk, Uncovered Reward” clearly on your video or digital poster submission.
- Be innovative! Think creatively!
You Could Win an Incredible Experience!
The grand prize-winning students of the Youth Recycling Contest, along with their parent/guardian and classroom educator, will earn a trip to the ReMA National Convention in Las Vegas, on April 13-15, 2026! Grand prize winners and their classroom educator will also receive a cgift card of $250. The video and poster grand champions will receive their awards as well as have the honor of showcasing their phenomenal work to thousands of recyclers from around the world.
The four contest finalists and their classroom educators will each receive a gift card of $100.
Recycling Contest Ask-an-Expert
LIVE Webinars
Join experts from ReMA, the trade association representing the recycling industry, and JASON Learning to hear about this year’s recycling contest! This event is open to all K-12 students, teachers, and family members. It is an opportunity to hear from experts in the recycling industry, receive helpful tips and strategies for submitting a successful entry, and ask questions. This event is also great for students who are undecided about entering and wish to learn more. Register below!
*Please note: all students under the age of 18 must register for this event with an adult (family member, teacher, parent, guardian).
Check out these helpful ReMA resources!
Guiding Questions:
Use these questions to guide the creation of your PSA:
- How could a stray battery mixed in with that item cause a problem during recycling?
- What steps should people take to make sure they’re recycling safely? (Following recycling safety guidelines, etc.)
- What good things happen when batteries are recycled the right way?
- How could your PSA show people that recycling batteries safely helps both people and the planet?
Helpful Vocabulary:
- Recyclability: The characteristic of a product, packaging, or associated component that can be collected, processed, and put back into use as raw materials or products.
- Product: An item or substance that is manufactured (made) to sell.
- Battery: a device that stores chemical energy and converts it into electrical energy to power devices.
- Critical Mineral: a nonfuel material that is essential for the functioning of modern economies and national security, but whose supply chain is vulnerable to disruption due to factors like geopolitical instability or limited production.
Important Contest Documents
** Use these documents to help you create your submissions,
including instructions on how to submit and poster and video requirements.
All submissions are due on Friday, December 12, by 11:59 pm ET.
All participants will be notified of their contest standing in March 2026.
All certificates will be sent to educators on April 15, 2026.
If you have any questions, please email vcross@jason.org for assistance.
Check out our Recycling Activities Collection: Lessons and Resources for Grades K-12!
Designed in partnership with ReMA, the trade association representing the recycling industry, students explore the benefits and challenges of sustainable recycling through a variety of activities ranging from physics and chemistry to engineering and human impacts while becoming informed citizens and careful consumers.
