Waste Reduction and Recycling
Battle to Ban the
Bag (60-90 min)
Organization: Thurston County
Students
are introduced to the controversies revolving around solid waste. By
assuming different roles, students present and debate their viewpoints
regarding a potential plastic bag ban in their community.
To schedule, call
Thurston County Solid Waste at 357-2491. TDD line for the hearing impaired
is 754-2933. E-mail:
uuerebc@co.thurston.wa.us (10/09)
Cautions, Warnings, Dangers Oh My! (1 hour)
Organization: Thurston County
Students
examine labels on empty containers of household hazardous waste and discuss
safer alternatives. Students then compare a safer cleaner to a conventional
product in a hands-on experiment.
To schedule, call
Thurston County Solid Waste at 357-2491. TDD line for the hearing impaired
is 754-2933. E-mail:
uuerebc@co.thurston.wa.us (10/09)
Closing the Loop
(1 hour)
Organization: Thurston
County
What do the three chasing arrows really mean? By the end
of the lesson, students know what the recycling symbol stands for and the
importance of "closing the loop." Activities include a recycling relay race and a team event where players sequence the order of
the recycling process. Students are
also able to see and handle several items made from the materials they
recycle at home and school, including a T-shirt made from recycled plastic
bottles! To schedule, call Colleen Uuereb at 357-2491 or TDD
754-2933. E-mail
uuerebc@co.thurston.wa.us. (10/09)
Demonstration Gardens and Composting Sites!
(30 min. to 1 hour)
Organization: WSU Cooperative
Extension, Master Gardeners/Master Composters
To achieve
earth-friendly goals, Thurston County's WSU Master Gardeners emphasize the
use of disease and insect-tolerant plants, proper soil preparation and
planting techniques, integrated pest management (IPM), water conservation,
and composting. Three demonstration sites are available. To request a guided
tour of any of these gardens, contact Thurston County Master Gardeners at
786-5445 ext. 7908.
1. Dirt Works is a demonstration garden on
Olympia's west side, featuring active and passive composting systems,
common-sense gardening techniques, water quality and conservation
techniques, integrated pest management (IPM) landscaping, and a
solar-powered learning center. At Dirt Works, you can visit everything from
our worm palace in the heart of the compost demonstration area, to the
Shakespearean herb garden, or our vegetable test plots.
2. Closed Loop Park is one of the first parks to be
built atop a lined landfill. The Earth-Friendly Ornamental Test and
Demonstrations Garden at the park's entrance is a cooperative effort of
Thurston County Solid Waste and WSU's Volunteer Master Gardeners and
Composters. This site offers an opportunity to learn different environmental
conditions, such as the sunny exposure of a Thurston County prairie.
3. The Farmers Market viewing and demonstrations garden is a reclaimed parking lot developed into spectacular gardens through the use of compost and other soil-building techniques. A solar power collector runs the water pump and other tools.
Earth-Friendly Car Care
(35 min.)
Organizations:
Thurston County Public Health and Social Services, Environmental Health
Division in partnership with the Washington State Department of Health,
and funded by the Washington State Department of Ecology
For high school Driver’s Ed and Auto Shop
classes
Invite a speaker to come into your classroom and discuss ideas for
environmentally friendlier driving. Recycling used motor oil is one way that
drivers can maintain their cars and protect the environment. Information on
drinking water contamination, fuel efficiency, trip reduction, and hazardous
materials disposal is presented
in an interactive 35-minute presentation. To schedule a presentation,
contact Jennifer Johnson, 360-754-3355 x7631 or
johnsoj@co.thurston.wa.us.
(5/08)
Hungry for a Waste-Free Lunch (1 hour)
Organization: Thurston County
The
class will discuss the natural resources we use to create items and the
destination for items thrown "away." Then, students take a look at the
choices they can make while shopping for food items in order to be a SMART
shopper. Finally, students apply what they’ve learned by putting together
waste-free lunches and snacks.
To schedule, call
Thurston County Solid Waste at 357-2491. TDD line for the hearing impaired
is 754-2933. E-mail:
uuerebc@co.thurston.wa.us
(10/09)
It's Not a Dump Anymore!
(1 hour)
Organization: Thurston
County
Tour
the Thurston County Waste and Recovery Center and discover the amount of
trash we create in Thurston County. Find out how trash can affect the
environment and the measures used to protect the environment. The program
includes a look at the closed landfill and the transfer station. It also
includes visits to HazoHouse, Thurston County’s household hazardous waste
facility; the Recycle Center; the methane flare station; the Compost Center;
and the leachate pre-treatment pond. Maximum number of students: two buses
full. No personal vehicles.
To schedule, call Thurston County Solid Waste at 357-2491.
TDD line for the hearing impaired is 754-2933.
E-mail:
evansj@co.thurston.wa.us (5/08)
Meet Mr. Yuk (45
min.)
Organization: Thurston County
Students
are introduced to the idea of poisons and what to do when they discover a
poisonous item. Example poisons and look-alikes are presented to show how
poisons can masquerade as safe products. Students learn about Mr. Yuk and to
always ask an adult if they’re unsure about a potentially poisonous product.
To schedule, call
Thurston County Solid Waste at 357-2491. TDD line for the hearing impaired
is 754-2933. E-mail:
uuerebc@co.thurston.wa.us (10/09)
Project Learning Tree -- Municipal Solid Waste
Organization: Washington
Forest Protection Association (WFPA)
Project Learning Tree’s solid waste module offers engaging
activities for middle school and high school
teachers. Activities examine current topics in municipal solid waste
management. Workshops, teacher training, and support are available. For more
information, visit the WFPA web site at
www.wfpa.org/ee or call the Environmental Education Program at 705-9294.
(5/08)
Put Litter
in Its Place (60
min.)
Organization: Thurston County
What
is litter and how does it affect our environment? After listening to a story
about the consequences of litter in one imaginary town, students use
role-play and interaction to learn how litter can create problems in their
own communities.
To schedule, call
Thurston County Solid Waste at 357-2491. TDD line for the hearing impaired
is 754-2933. E-mail:
uuerebc@co.thurston.wa.us
(10/09)
RRR U Ready?
(Presentation - 60 min. / Field Trip - 3 hours)
Organization: City of Olympia
Waste ReSources
The
OLYWAste Schools Program provides a free classroom presentation and
fieldtrip to 3rd grade teachers and their students in the Olympia School
District. Mixed grade classes are also accepted.
This
two-part program explores waste reduction, recycling and composting. The
in-class presentation focuses on how much waste we create, where it goes and
where it comes from. Activities include a recycle magnet board game and a
waste reduction folding paper project. Presentation is available throughout
the entire school year.
At the field trip, students learn about worm bin composting, the ecology of a worm bin and get to see worms and creatures up close and personal! The second activity is creating art from recycled materials. The City of Olympia provides all transportation costs and activity expenses. Field trips begin in spring.
For more information or to schedule, call Jill Krumlauf at (360) 570-5837 or TTY (360) 753-8270. Email jkrumlau@ci.olympia.wa.us. Web: www.olympiawa.gov/cityutilities.
Shop SMART
(60 min.)
Organization: Thurston County
In this case, SMART can stand for "Save Money and Reduce Trash!" Students take a look at the choices they can make while shopping, such as choosing durable instead of disposable products. The class will discuss packaging and buying in bulk to reduce waste. Students learn how powerful they can be as a consumer by being a smart shopper.
To schedule, call Colleen Uuereb at 357-2491 or TDD 754-2933. E-mail uuerebc@co.thurston.wa.us. (10/09)
Solid Waste Lending Library: Books, Videos and More...
Organization: Thurston County
A wide variety of loan materials are available for all ages, with more than a dozen each of books, videos, and activity guides from which to choose. Loan materials are available for three weeks at a time. For an annotated list of resources or to borrow materials, call Colleen Uuereb at 357-2491 or TDD 754-2933. E-mail uuerebc@co.thurston.wa.us. (10/09)
The Magic of Recycling (45 min)
Organization: Thurston County
Students
learn where their garbage goes, and are then introduced to the three Rs and
the concept of natural resources. The lesson concludes with a recycling sort
game in which students practice proper sorting of recyclables and
non-recyclables.
Used Oil
Recycling
Organization: Thurston County
Invite
a speaker to come to your classroom and discuss ideas for
environmentally-friendly driving. Recycling used motor oil is one way
drivers can maintain their cars as well as protect the environment.
Information on transportation alternatives as well as carpooling, trip
reduction, and hazardous materials disposal is presented in an interactive,
35-minute presentation. Key chains and bumper stickers are provided.
The presentation has a pre- and post-evaluation component. To schedule, call
Thurston County Environmental Health at 754-4111 Ext. 7631. The TDD line is
754-2933. E-mail:
johnsoj@co.thurston.wa.us (5/08)
Waste Reduction and
Recycling Assistance
Organization: Thurston County
Looking for ways to set up or improve the waste reduction and recycling programs at your school? Let us help you brainstorm ideas, find helpful information, talk to other schools, work with your recycling service provider, or find other ways to make waste reduction and recycling work at your school! Call Thurston County Solid Waste at 357-2491. TDD line for the hearing impaired is 754-2933. E-mail: uuerebc@co.thurston.wa.us. (5/08)
Worms
Recycle Naturally
Organization: Thurston County
Solid Waste
Bring wildlife into your classroom! After learning about the importance of worms in the environment and their role in transforming garbage into natural fertilizer, students receive magnifying lenses to examine worms up close.
Maximum number of students: 35. To schedule, call Thurston County Solid Waste at 357-2491. TDD line for the hearing impaired is 754-2933. E-mail: uuerebc@co.thurston.wa.us (5/08)
Last updated:
10/05/2009
Questions? Please route a message through
wwm-webmaster@co.thurston.wa.us
or call Colleen Uuereb, Thurston County Solid Waste, at 357-2491.