More than 25,000 used writing instruments were kept out of landfills as a result of the second annual Writing Instrument Challenge in June organized by Clean Up Peterborough.
The grassroots environmental group collected 25,714 pens, markers, highlighters, mechanical pencils, and other plastic-based writing tools through 79 confirmed collection points across Peterborough County and neighbouring communities.
The items filled 22 boxes and weighed just over 200 kilograms. They will be recycled through the Staples-sponsored TerraCycle writing instrument recycling program, which separates the collected materials and processes the plastics for use in new products.
Although Clean Up Peterborough founder Steve Paul said this year’s total was slightly lower than the 26,772 writing instruments collected during the inaugural challenge last June, he added that the continued growth of year-round collection partnerships — especially with the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board — was one of the campaign’s biggest successes.
“The number that excites me most isn’t necessarily how many writing instruments we collected this June,” Paul said in a media release. “It’s the fact that schools, businesses, municipalities, libraries, and community organizations are continuing to collect year-round. That’s how real, lasting environmental change happens.”
Paul said that schools accounted for a large share of this year’s collections, including 38 schools with the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, two schools with the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board, and two independent schools.
Schools with the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board alone collected 15,361 writing instruments during June, representing almost 60 per cent of the challenge’s total.
Through the school board’s year-round collection program, schools can collect writing instruments throughout the school year, with materials shipped directly to the school board office before being prepared for recycling through TerraCycle.
Paul credited two staff at the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board — Marguerite Masterson, principal of program for Indigenous education, and Sean Burton of shipping and receiving — for helping establish the school board’s year-round program, along with participating administrators, teachers, office staff, custodians, and students.
As well as schools, 37 businesses, municipalities, libraries, workplaces, and community organizations also participated in the June challenge. Collection points were established in six of Peterborough County’s eight townships as well as in the City of Peterborough.
According to Paul, several municipal partners have also expressed interest in continuing collections throughout the year at libraries and community facilities.
“One month creates awareness,” Paul said. “Year-round collection creates lasting habits. That’s where we believe the greatest environmental impact will come from.”
Plastic-based writing instruments are generally too small and complex to be processed through recycling systems and consequently often end up in landfills. TerraCycle accepts pens, markers, highlighters, mechanical pencils, and other plastic-based writing tools through its free recycling program at Staples stores.
Clean Up Peterborough first began collecting writing instruments in October 2024, when the volunteer group launched a drive during Circular Economy Month.
An Earth Month drive in April 2025 collected 1,010 items before the group expanded the initiative across Peterborough County for its first annual Writing Instrument Challenge.
Since October 2024, Clean Up Peterborough has diverted a total of 73,044 used writing instruments from landfills.
Founded by Paul in April 2024 with the motto “Let’s make the world a better place,” Clean Up Peterborough began as a volunteer group organizing litter and cigarette butt clean-ups before expanding its focus to recycling, reuse, waste diversion, and other circular economy initiatives.
The group plans to continue strengthening its existing collection partnerships and to encourage more schools, libraries, workplaces, post-secondary institutions, child care providers, and community organizations to offer year-round writing instrument recycling.
