If your home is cluttered with dried-out markers, just think about the number at your child’s school. Kids not only use markers extensively but often forget to put the caps back on, leading to a significant number of unusable markers each year that typically end up in landfills. Fortunately, Crayola has a solution that schools across America should embrace.
A viral Facebook post from a mom named Jenna Smith revealed a fantastic initiative called ColorCycle, which Crayola offers to help schools recycle their dried-out markers. Jenna shared how her son’s preschool collected 15 pounds of used markers, preventing them from polluting landfills and oceans. “Did you know Crayola has a program called ColorCycle?” she wrote. “If you gather the unusable markers, they provide a free shipping label to send them back for recycling!” Her kids were thrilled to set up collection boxes at school after learning about the program.
In just three months, Jenna’s school amassed a surprising number of markers. “Just think about how much waste we could keep out of landfills if every school participated throughout the year!” she exclaimed. As a parent of two children with what feels like a million markers in her home, I completely resonate with her enthusiasm. This initiative is an easy way to make a positive impact on our planet.
According to Crayola’s website, they cover the shipping costs for returning markers, but there is a catch. “Currently, they don’t provide free shipping to Hawaii or Alaska,” Jenna noted, which means she had to cover those costs herself. However, a group of parents could easily chip in to make it affordable.
Getting Started with ColorCycle
Getting started is simple. Parents should inform their child’s school or PTA about ColorCycle—it’s hard to imagine any school or PTA resisting a free, eco-friendly program. After that, you can create a collection point for used markers. Just pack them in a plain cardboard box, and arrange for FedEx Ground to pick them up, with Crayola handling the shipping in the contiguous U.S.
Jenna mentioned that thousands of people commented on her post, surprised to learn about ColorCycle. “It’s incredible to think that my simple post has inspired so many schools to join in,” she said. She also expressed a desire for Crayola to offer free shipping to Alaska and Hawaii, where recycling options are limited. “In Maui, everything typically goes to landfill, so getting these markers off the island feels rewarding,” she added.
Teaching Eco-Friendly Habits
While working on a similar recycling initiative for Elmer’s glue, Jenna is teaching her kids other eco-friendly habits too, like using bento boxes instead of plastic bags, opting for steel straws, and avoiding plastic utensils. She even shared a fun project where they melt down old crayons into molds to create larger, rainbow crayons.
Recycling dried-out markers is a win-win scenario: it helps the environment while engaging kids in a fun and educational activity. If only getting them to remember to cap their markers was as easy!
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In summary, Crayola’s ColorCycle program offers schools a simple and effective way to recycle dried-out markers, preventing them from contributing to landfill waste. With minimal effort, schools can engage students in environmental responsibility while making a significant positive impact.
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