Curated OER
What a Waste
Students analyze components of garbage. They collect and sort a few days' worth of garbage. They chart the results of an investigation.
Curated OER
Where Should It Go? Recycle? Compost? Incinerate? Landfill?
Students discuss what happens to trash after it is collected. They sort "clean" trash into groups depending on whether it should be recycled, incinerated, placed in a landfill, composted or if it is something we could avoid using.
Curated OER
It’s Your Trash!
Students identify the different sections of a landfill. In this ecology lesson, students brainstorm ways that they can help in proper trash disposal. They write a reflection journal about their thoughts on the subject.
Curated OER
Using the Land
In this land worksheet, high schoolers review the different ways that land is used such as landfills, topsoil, farmland, and hazardous waste. This worksheet has 13 true or false questions and 1 short answer question.
Curated OER
Disposal of Old Paint
Students identify toxic household products that should not be disposed of in a landfill. They select alternative disposal procedures involving toxic products. Students write a news program for a local TV station discussing and...
Curated OER
Landfills and the Potential for Groundwater Contamination
Learners examine how a sanitary landfill is constructed, how it functions, and how waste and leachate affects the areas around the landfill. After a discussion about landfills and leachates, students construct a Sanitary Landfill Model...
Curated OER
Garbage Routes
Students brainstorm a list of places where garbage is disposed. Working in groups, they discover through a classroom simulation how garbage can wither be recycled or hauled to a landfill. they complete the activity with a worksheet on...
Curated OER
Wise Use of Paper
Students explore the paper recycling process. They experiment with ways to conserve and recycle paper products.
Curated OER
It's A Gas
Students build an organic waste methane generator and learn by running a scientific experiment to see what happens when people alter nature's way of recycling.
Curated OER
Back to the Earth
Students conduct an experiment in which they bury four objects (apple, lettuce, plastic and styrofoam) in the ground and come back to observe them a month later. They consider what biodegrades and how it affects our planet.
Curated OER
Trash Pizza
Students identify items commonly sent to landfills and summarize percentages/fractions of different items in landfills Students create a pizza pie graph of landfill components
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: The Big Dig
Even though many cities have recycling programs, a lot of trash still ends up in the dump. Find out which materials will break down and which materials won't. Will the results of this experiment change which products you often buy?
US Environmental Protection Agency
Epa: Dumptown Game
This fun game helps students learn ways to recycle, reduce waste, and compost. You can also create your own Recycle City Scavenger Hunt.
Other
Association of Science Technology Centers: Rotten Truth About Garbage
This comprehensive website includes activities, time lines, definitions, statistics, and information to help you see garbage in a new light. Of special interest is a page that shows all of the resources that go into the production of a...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Design, Build and Test Your Own Landfill
Students design and build model landfills using materials similar to those used by engineers for full-scale landfills. Their completed small-size landfills are "rained" on and subjected to other erosion processes. The goal is to create...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: This Landfill Is a Gas!
In this activity, students work as engineers to build and observe a model landfill. They will understand the process and pitfalls of the use of landfills as a method for the waste disposal.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Trash to Treasure!
Student teams use the engineering design process to create a useful product of their choice out of recyclable items and "trash." The class is given a "landfill" of reusable items, such as aluminum cans, cardboard, paper, juice boxes,...
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...
Other
Solid Waste Association of North America
A good place to learn about current issues in the solid wastes world. Two of the most useful sections are "hot topics" and "contact us", both of which can be used to find out more about municipal solid waste management.
Other
Zero Waste America: Landfills
Lists landfill issues such as leakage, water contamination, air emissions, and hazardous waste dumping. Gives extensive documentation site links.
Other
E Jnet: The Basics of Landfills
This website answers most questions reguarding landfills. Learn what landfills are and how they are constructed. In addition to providing responses to several simple uestions, this website includes links to several related resources.
Other
Waste Age: Computing the Damage
This article chronicles the problems of disposing obsolete computers and other electronics, the harmful substances they add to landfills here and abroad, and projections for the future.
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: 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...