Deputy head boy Jared Parker, 16, had been working to improve the college's recycling for nearly a year.
"We just didn't have anything in place.
"And we really wanted to change that and improve the state of the school and the environment it surrounds."
The process had been strenuous but the result was awesome, he said.
Dr McIver said one reason it was difficult to get recycling in public places was because of contamination and the confusion around recycling.
"When I worked at the University of Canterbury in the sustainability office I did an audit of over 500 rubbish bags one summer and discovered that even though we had a recycling system, it was very contaminated and not really working.
"So I upgraded all the signage and put in this whole new system but then lost my job after the earthquakes.
"I started this as a business, especially to help schools who are seeing it everyday, so you've got that familiarity that will grow with it, and young people who have been quite well educated in environmental issues.
"And you've got that enthusiasm, so it's a great place to start to get to that next level of recycling.
"Also, if it means the waste company can recycle it, then it saves the school money too."
Council's waste levy enabled a $3000 grant to purchase the six bins and tops.
