Digging in Deep

Energy Corps

Read about Rob’s experience as a waste reduction educator:


I rarely get to have a deep conversation with people when I first meet them. As an educator, I yearn for this missing depth. A few facts and figures, some examples of innovation, encouraging words, and that’s about as much as I can fit into a presentation about recycling. I am positive that I leave an impression on all of the students I meet, but I always want to do more.  I could accomplish much more through deep conversations about recycling, waste, manufacturing, and our behavior within a disposable society – yet, 25 to 45 minutes allows me to only scratch the surface.


rob and students conducting waste audit 6.3.15To understand why we need to recycle, it is helpful to know the history of waste and its management. Well, not very many people are interested in sitting while a stranger talks about dumping, incinerators, and landfills for hours so that’s out of the question. Instead, I can provide modern context to ideas surrounding waste reduction and recycling by engaging students in a waste audit. Examining our trash – playing “archaeologist” – is a great way to study our unsupervised behavior and gain an understanding of consumer choices. Separating our waste into categories allows us to analyze each piece individually and ask more in- depth questions: What’s the difference between these types of plastic and why can’t I recycle all of them? How much grease on cardboard is too much? Is there enough food waste here to warrant a compost bin?


6.3.15 PEAK waste auditI led a waste audit with students in Helena earlier this week and I could actually notice them thinking harder about each item they separated. At first I asked them questions to see if they could guess what to do with certain items, then about halfway through they were asking me questions about plastic-coated cardboard, and towards the end they knew exactly where everything needed to go. This is the depth that can really make a difference – I plan to continue providing more than information and aim to guide students through meaningful experiences.


Engaging the Community with Activities
Partnerships and Progress

Related Posts

No results found.