Recycling & Composting Program

Youth is where foundational habits are established, so we focused on schools as the place where long-term change could begin. The foundation already existed: 89.2% of students agreed that recycling is good for the environment. Our goal wasn't just to raise awareness, but to make recycling accessible. To coordinate funding, materials, volunteers, communication, and school partnerships under one student-led organization, founder Anikaa Sharma created the nonprofit Future Forward.

Survey data from 1,050 students across Pike County high schools showed the gap clearly: 79.7% of students never recycled at school, and 71.4% said the biggest reason was a lack of bins. To launch the program, we needed funding for bins, labels, and materials, so we presented the project to local boards and businesses, including the Pike County Extension Office, Community Trust Bank, Jones Oil, and Total Care Pharmacy.

Once funding was secured, bins were purchased, transported, and labeled for school use. Recycling bins were picked up from Home Depot locations across Kentucky and Ohio, while composting Megabins™ were ordered online. Jaded Rayne donated custom labels recognizing local sponsors, and the Pike County Extension Office printed flyers and educational materials.

The program expanded beyond Pikeville High School to other high schools across the county. Principals helped identify the best locations for student use and championed the program in their buildings, turning a single-school effort into a county-wide waste reduction system. Student volunteers and school sponsors gather recyclables and compostables so they can be moved safely and consistently; because materials are transported between locations, the program runs on coordination with principals and signed transportation waivers.

Student-led community service clubs, including the Do Something Club, Interact Club, and Beta Club, help set up bins and encourage correct sorting between class periods. By taking initiative in their own schools, students have made recycling and composting part of the everyday school environment.