Start a Refuse and Reuse Club at Your School

Most schools require clubs to go through a process to become school-approved. This may be as simple as filling out a form, or it may require discussing the club with teachers or school staff.

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Without school approval, you likely won’t be able to have club meetings or post information at school, which can make it difficult to recruit members, so learn how to properly register your club and make it official. If you’re not sure how to do this, ask your academic adviser, a teacher, or someone at the school office. Your student handbook may also have information on registering clubs.

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Before you register your club, make sure you have completed the following questions so that you can answer questions about the club, why you want to create it, and what club members will be doing. After getting your club approved by the school, a teacher or staff member may be assigned as the club supervisor. If not, ask a teacher you know well or who you think will have an interest in the club to act as supervisor.

1. Why do you want to start this club?
Raise awareness on the harms of single-use plastic and help people make better choices for the planet by refusing plastic.

2. What is the purpose of the club?
To educate students on what plastic consumption does to the planet and find practical ways to make small changes like getting rid of plastic straws and cups at school. Creating a space where students can learn about and engage in scientific conversations about plastic alternatives and what to do about the plastic pollution that exists.

3. What will club members do during meetings?
Once you decide on specific goals for the school year, schedule your meetings.

4. Where will the club meet?
Pick a place on or off campus that is convenient.

5. What are the goals of this club?
Pick 1 or 2 realistic goals to achieve, like replacing plastic cups in the cafeteria. 

Your school may also require you to write bylaws for the club, which will explain what the purpose of the club is, how people can join the club, if and how club elections will be held, and more. If your school does require you to write bylaws, they will often give you a template to fill in to make the process easier.

Once you know what you want your club to focus on and have gotten it approved by the school, it’s time to recruit some members. If you haven’t already, figure out a time and place to hold your first meeting. You may need to get permission from your school to host the meeting in an empty classroom or another place.

Mention your club to your friends and people you think will be interested. If your school allows it, create and post flyers a week or two before the first meeting that briefly state the club’s name, purpose, and time and date of the first meeting. We provide you with a digital poster that you can customize.

Don’t try to do too much at your first meeting; your goal should just be to introduce the club and answer any questions people may have. Introduce yourself, state what the club’s purpose and goals are, what members will do, and any potential ideas you have for future activities and events. Also, providing plastic-free snacks is a great way to get people to love you and your new club.

At one of the first few meetings, you should assign leadership roles to help keep the club running smoothly. 
Common officer roles include:
President: Leads and supervises the club with help from other officers.
Vice President: Fills in when the president is not available.
Record Keeper: Takes notes during meetings, maintains club records, keeps members updated on club news and events.
Treasurer: Manages the club’s budget and expenses
Hold elections or nominate people to fill these positions. Once you have your club organized and a leadership structure established, start planning activities for club members. These activities can take place during club meetings or at special events outside of meetings. 

Now that you have your club up and running, it’s important to make sure it lasts. Keeping your club around for the long term will ensure that more students get to enjoy it, and it will also look more impressive to colleges because it shows that you can commit to something and have the skills to keep a club running long-term. It can also help to have a special event at the end of each year! Doing this will give members something to look forward to and help keep people interested in the club.

Don’t try to do everything all at once. It’s okay to start small and have your first few meetings focus mostly on getting to know each other and brainstorming ideas. Trying to plan too many things right away can be exhausting and overwhelming.

Encourage group members to voice their opinions, and make sure you listen to their ideas. Taking multiple viewpoints into consideration will help your members enjoy the club more and can give you great ideas for future activities.
If there are similar clubs or organizations at your school or in your community, you may want to consider working with them. This can help spread the word about your club, help members meet new people, and give you more options for interesting activities.

Contact us! We are here to help you every step of the way to a more plastic free world!