Posted Thursday, August 16, 2012 --- 4 :25 a.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The state Department of Natural Resources is urging parents and students to recycle and reuse school supplies this fall.

Agency officials say shopping for new supplies or packing up belongings for a move to college can create plenty of waste.

The DNR suggests reusing paper, folders, backpacks and calculators from last year and purchasing new supplies made from recycled materials in minimal packaging. People also should pack lunches in reusable food and beverage containers and recycle their old electronics.

Movers should reuse boxes, bags and plastic containers from stop to stop and use recyclable and reusable materials such as newspapers or T-shirts to package fragile items.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.