TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: What Will Biodegrade?
Students investigate what types of materials biodegrade in the soil, and learn what happens to their trash after they throw it away. The concepts of landfills and compost piles will be explained, and the students will have an opportunity...
Other
Keep America Beautiful: How Will You Keep America Beautiful?
An umbrella organization with hundreds of affiliate groups across the United States, whose goal is to educate and motivate people to reduce their litter by recycling, reusing, disposing of things properly, and by changing their consumer...
US Environmental Protection Agency
Epa: Land, Waste, and Cleanup Topics
This site is loaded with information on solid waste and hazardous waste. It includes industries' effects on the environment, waste programs, treatment, control, pollution prevention, recycling, and cleanup programs.
Other
New Brunswick Waste Management /"Backyard Magic"
Comprehensive description of the environmental benefits of composting solid waste. Complete directions for composting, detailed description of composting chemistry, suggestions for applications of humus, question and answer page,...
Idaho State University
Idaho State University: Waste Management
Landfills are growing at exponential rates, air and water are filled with pollution, and many are trying to find ways to manage waste better to protect the land we live off. Take a look at this resource which explains and illustrates...
Society for Science and the Public
Science News for Students: Meet Our Trashy 'Technosphere'
People are creating a layer of debris and disturbance called the technosphere. A new study estimates just how truly massive it is.
Other
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection: Just for Kids: Recycling
Why should I recycle? What are recyclable materials? How does recycling work? Learn the answer to these questions and much more on this site about recycling.
University of Southern California
Usc Viterbi School of Engineering:illumin: Worthy of Praise: Modern Flush Toilet
Article discussing the history of the modern flush toilet and the under-appreciated impact it has had on modern civilizations. Includes an animation showing how a flush toilet works.
PBS
Idaho Public Television: Garbage: Games
A collection of links to activities and games about garbage, recycling, and waste management.
Other
Univ. Of Idaho: Principles of Sustainability: Chapter 3: The Culture of Waste
This is the third chapter in an online course on sustainability. It examines solid waste management in developed and developing countries. It looks at the global waste crisis and at options for dealing with it. Includes a video [41:50]...
PBS
Pbs: Independent Lens: Garbage Dreams
Garbage Dreams is a documentary film that follows the lives of the Zabbaleen, people in Cairo who have been collecting garbage for a hundred years. But garbage collection has been contracted out to companies who do a poor job of...
Other
World Economic Forum: What the World's Waste Does to People in Poorer Countries
Describes the serious global waste crisis, the problem of plastic waste, the issue of wealthy countries exporting their trash to less-developed ones, informal waste management practices, and electronic waste dumps. The article ends with...
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: The Garbage Problem
Students examine data about garbage production and graphically represent data in a scatter plot. From the data students make predictions. They develop an understanding of the environmental impact of trash accumulation and the need for a...
Environmental Education for Kids
Eek!: Nature's Recyclers Coloring Book
Did you know that nature has its own clean-up crew and recycling staff? Yeah, there aremany plants and animals that help recycle natural materials in our environment. They take deadmaterials and turn them back into rich soil. Use this...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Plastic Waste Production
Plastic waste is a huge problem with many potential solutions. In this lab exercise, students will use data to predict the amount of plastic waste in the next ten years and engage in communication that leads to effective decisions for...
University of Missouri
Microbes in Action: Classroom Activities: Composting by Microbes
A science experiment to observe how materials decompose over time, By recording the smell, appearance, and movement of materials over three weeks, students will be able to make conclusions about their decompositions. Students will also...
Texas A&M University
Aggie Horticulture Network: Composting for Kids
Use this resource to learn about how we make compost and how we use it to grow gardens.
Other
Recyclezone: Fun Zone: Is Your Brain Full of Rubbage?
This educational website offers a self-assessment quiz on the best ways to reduce waste. It also offers a variety of activities in addition the quiz, including games, extended research, and teacher resources.
Other
Think Green: Secret Life of Landfills
Visit this landfill in Florida, and learn about the job of this waste management plant. [1:32]
University of Wisconsin
The Why Files: What to Do With Trash?
Explore the pros and cons of placing trash in landfills or incinerating it.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Trash Talkin'
In this activity, students collect, categorize, weigh and analyze classroom solid waste. The class collects waste for a week and then student groups spend a day sorting and analyzing the garbage with respect to recyclable and non...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Composting Nature's Disappearing Act
In this activity, students explore the idea of biodegradability by building and observing a model landfill. This serves as an introduction to the idea of composting. Students learn about the role of engineering in solid waste management.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Bury Your Trash!
This activity will allow students to bury various pieces of trash in a plotted area of land outside. After approximately two to three months, the trash will be uncovered to allow the students to investigate what types of materials...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Solid Waste Takes Over
In this lesson, students explore solid waste and its effects on the environment. They will collect classroom trash for analysis and build model landfills in order to understand the process and impact of solid waste management. Students...