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Water, Waste & Recycling Week

A guide to running events focused on saving water, cutting waste and improving recycling.

Water, Waste and Recycling Week guide - taps, bins and recycling events

Topics covered

Water Conservation Waste Reduction Recycling Circular Economy Resource Efficiency

Objective

This guide helps you plan a stakeholder event, or series of events, focused on saving water, cutting waste and improving recycling in your workplace or community.

It outlines practical activities that help people understand how resources are used and where waste occurs, so they can see the impact of daily habits and take clear steps to use resources better. Activities link small actions to real results such as lower water use, less landfill and better recycling.

An arrow being fired into a the bullseye of a target

Who is this for?

This guide is for people who organise water, waste or recycling awareness events across their teams or communities. This includes energy or sustainability managers, facilities teams, estates staff and workplace green teams. It can also support local groups, schools and organisations that want to help people build better habits around water use and waste.

Ideas

Resources

Calendar
Name
Activity Type
Context
Waste Audit Pop-Up Waste Analysis In-Person
Recycling Myth-Busting Wall Quiz In-Person
Repair Café / Fix-It Workshop Repair Workshop In-Person
Leak Detection Challenge Gamified Challenge In-Person
Swap Shop (Clothes & Items Exchange) Item Exchange In-Person
Packaging Redesign Sprint Design Workshop In-Person
Water Resilience & Infrastructure Webinar Expert Webinar Virtual
Circular Economy Startup Pitch Session Startup Pitch Virtual
Waste Reduction Masterclass Training Session Virtual
Zero Waste Home Workshop How-To Session Virtual
Recycling Contamination Deep Dive Technical Session Virtual
ESG Reporting for Waste & Water Reporting Workshop Virtual
Circular Economy & Recycling Expo Exhibition Showcase Hybrid
Zero Waste Challenge (Organisation-wide) Team Challenge Hybrid
Smart Water Management Showcase Technology Showcase Hybrid
Journey of Waste Experience Interactive Exhibition Hybrid
Resource Action Pledge Campaign Behaviour Campaign Hybrid
Reuse & Repair Festival Workshop Hybrid

Resources (downloadable)

Examples of recycling and waste campaigns

Key sustainability days to build your event around

  • World Wetlands Day (2 February)
  • Global Recycling Day (18 March)
  • World Water Day (22 March)
  • Earth Day (22 April)
  • World Environment Day (5 June)
  • Plastic Free July (July)
  • World Cleanup Day (September, date varies)
  • Zero Waste Week (September, date varies)
  • International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (29 September)
  • World Habitat Day (October, first Monday)
  • International Repair Day (October, date varies)
  • America Recycles Day (15 November)

Water & Waste Action Week Calendar (Example)

Here is a structured 7-day Water & Waste Action Week content calendar designed for organizations, campuses, companies, or community groups. It blends education, engagement and measurable action.

Download a template Water, Waste & Recycling Week content calendar

Flip calendar showing number 1

Monday Kickoff & Why It Matters

Theme: Resource Use in Everyday Life

Goal: Awareness & set the tone

Type: Video message or carousel

Content Ideas:

  • Opening message from leadership
  • Why water and waste matter
  • What the week will cover
  • Simple habits that create impact

Reference Examples:

  • Global waste and recycling trends
  • Water scarcity and efficiency facts

Call to Action: “Follow along this week and commit to one resource-saving action.”

Hashtags: #ResourceActionWeek #WasteLess #WaterWise #RecycleBetter

Flip calendar showing number 2

Tuesday Water Conservation

Theme: Every Drop Counts

Goal: Education

Type: Infographic

Content Ideas:

  • Everyday sources of wasted water
  • Benefits of fixing leaks
  • Smart water-saving habits at home and work
  • Water efficiency tips

Reference Examples:

  • Water efficiency campaigns
  • Water stress data and demand trends

Call to Action: “Check one tap, toilet or water habit today.”

Engagement Prompt: “What is one way you save water at home or work?”

Flip calendar showing number 3

Wednesday Recycling Right

Theme: Better Recycling Habits

Goal: Improve knowledge

Type: Quiz, carousel or short reel

Content Ideas:

  • Common recycling mistakes
  • What contamination means
  • What can and cannot be recycled
  • The clean, dry, loose rule

Reference Examples:

  • Local recycling guidance
  • Waste authority contamination data

Call to Action: “Recycle one item correctly today and help others do the same.”

Flip calendar showing number 4

Thursday Circular Economy & Innovation

Theme: Waste as a Resource

Goal: Highlight solutions

Type: Case study or spotlight post

Content Ideas:

  • Refill systems
  • Packaging redesign examples
  • Repair and reuse businesses
  • Circular economy success stories

Possible Mentions:

  • Organisations reducing packaging waste
  • Startups turning waste into products

Call to Action: “How could your workplace reduce single-use waste?”

Flip calendar showing number 5

Friday Community Action

Theme: Everyday Impact

Goal: Engagement

Type: User-generated content or challenge

Content Ideas:

  • Reusable bottle or mug challenge
  • Office clean-up recap
  • Staff sustainability spotlight
  • Before and after recycling station photos

Call to Action: “Tag us in your resource-saving action.”

Interactive Add-On: Run a 24-hour “Zero Waste Day” challenge.

Flip calendar showing number 6

Saturday Smarter Business & Reporting

Theme: Measuring What Matters

Goal: Inform & build capability

Type: Explainer carousel

Content Ideas:

  • Why water and waste data matter
  • Recycling rate explained
  • Waste diversion basics
  • ESG reporting made simple

Reference Examples:

  • Common ESG waste and water metrics
  • Reporting framework examples

Call to Action: “Learn one metric your organisation should track.”

Flip calendar showing number 7

Sunday Commitment & Wrap-Up

Theme: Long-Term Action

Goal: Conversion & reflection

Type: Pledge graphic or recap video

Content Ideas:

  • Week highlights
  • Total actions completed
  • Water saved and waste avoided examples
  • Team testimonials

Call to Action:

  • Sign a resource action pledge
  • Join a green team
  • Register for the next sustainability event

Closing Message: “Better resource use is not a week – it is a habit.”

Email Integration Plan

  • Monday Kickoff email & why it matters
  • Thursday Midweek progress & practical tips
  • Sunday Wrap-up & next steps

Embed sustainability into your organizational culture

Meaningful change happens when informed people are connected by a shared purpose and empowered to take everyday action. For more ideas, visit our full events guide, where you will find other theme packs and inspiration.

Contact us

We can help you reach your sustainability goals and achieve Net Zero. Let us know the challenges you are looking to solve and our team will be in touch.