Recycling 101 Online Course | OSU Continuing Education

Access the Free Intro Recycling course to get a broad overview of recycling and what you can expect from the Recycling 101 Certificate.

Protect natural resources by learning about recycling, composting and waste reduction with Recycling 101, an online, self-paced course created in partnership with the Association of Oregon Recyclers.

Learn the Latest Essential Information

Recycling 101 features fresh content, interactive multimedia, and the latest recycling laws, policies, and new data from DEQ, EPA, and other national organizations.

The course highlights advancements in Sustainable Materials Management including:

Oregon’s Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act
Extended Producer Responsibility, including Mattress Stewardship and E-Cycles Programs
Right to Repair
Environmental justice
Food waste reduction
And more!

Recycling 101 Certificate Overview

You will engage with thought-provoking text and multimedia to learn how your own waste prevention choices can positively affect our planet’s natural resources.

Travel the life cycle of a recycled item and learn techniques to influence people to make the right choices at work and home through Recycling 101's dynamic videos and case studies.

Modeled after the successful Master Recycler program, launched originally in 2012 and updated in 2025, this online, self-paced course trains you in waste reduction, composting and residential and commercial recycling.

You'll complete this eight-part course with the tools to help you save money, resources and energy and reduce your environmental footprint.

Recycling 101 Learning Objectives

By the end of the Recycling 101 course, you will learn:

Effects of consumer choices on the environment, resource conservation and recycling improvement in Oregon.
Actions that have the largest environmental impact in terms of waste reduction and commercial recycling.
Lessons from the successful Master Recycler program.
Facts about waste and why we need to reduce, reuse and recycle
Steps in the material stream process and product life cycles
Composting systems to reuse and recycling organic waste
Procedures for safe and legal toxic waste disposal methods
Resources available for plastics, paper and other types of recycling

WHO CAN TAKE RECYCLING 101?

Recycling 101 is the perfect choice for current and prospective employees in sustainability-centered industries, those who plan to implement recycling systems in their organizations and those who want to improve recycling in their communities.

Gaining a Recycling 101 Certificate can also benefit business owners, teachers, community leaders and others.

On demand. Access any time.

Approximately 15 hours

Online

$35
Reduced price for a limited time only!

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“After taking the Recycling 101 course, I have a much deeper understanding of how and why things are recycled, where to recycle within my local community and region, and the knowledge to make better buying decisions to avoid excess waste.

This course helped me not only at home, but in my work with clients. As a recycler, I can share what I have learned to help my community consider what they can do to increase their impact.”

Megan Spears

Oregon

Past Students' Work

Take a look at some recent projects our students have created.

Recycling 101