Waste Management & Composting
Programs & Presentations
Search by region to see which organizations in your area offer engaging eductional programs for students in your area. Some are for schools only, but others are also open to the public and home schoolers.
North America
USA
Bootstrap Compost offers educational opportunities for students. They are a bike-powered composting service that works in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.
"Our hands-on workshops and presentations give kids and adults alike a look inside the wide world of waste management, covering everything from landfills to the soil food web and our favorite decomposers (red wigglers, of course). Bootstrap’s education team tailors its workshops to people of all generations with the understanding that no matter your age or profession, digging through a worm bin will most likely be the highlight of their week (or at the very least, the least forgettable!). What’s more, compost education is actually in line with the MA STEM requirements for K-6 (as luck would have it, our workshops reinforce and satisfy many of the learning objectives found in the standards through hands-on activities.) Rooted in our history, mission and values, we offer lectures on sustainable innovation and entrepreneurship for high school, college, and graduate students. While eligible customers can receive a presentation on the house, we welcome groups outside the Bootstrap family to sign up for an educational workshop below. WARNING: our worms might just convince you to sign up for service!
If you’d like to have your group take part in a workshop or invite Bootstrap to speak at your school or event, send us an email"Compostable "We currently specialize in adult education, but are developing age-appropriate curriculum for youth. If you are looking for children’s education, please fill out the form below, and we’ll connect you with one of our partners in your area.
Our founder is also pleased to meet with media partners for their composting and small business reporting."
Community Resources
Eco-Cycle "launched recycling in Colorado in 1976, and today is one of the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit recyclers and a leader of the Zero Waste movement. For over 46 years, our local Zero Waste models have helped transform our “take-make-waste” society, conserving natural resources and providing climate solutions. We work with every sector of the community to innovate, implement, and advocate for local and global Zero Waste solutions to foster a more regenerative, equitable, and climate-resilient future."
Growing Local Fertility (pdf) A guide to community Composting.Â
Waste Reduction
StopWaste at School K-5 offers resources for schools plus resources to Take Action at Home. Has fun educational videos by kids for kids - Stop Waste
Click the Waste Management button to learn about specific types of waste, how and where they can be resold, upcycled, recycled, or disposed of.
Composting
Composting is fairly easy, plus it reduces land fill waste, emissions and water contamination.
It's also a cheap way to provide important nutrients for a school garden!
Reducing the amount of waste leaving school grounds can also help save money, and getting kids involved can create long-lasting benefits.
Composting Services
Please click the Composting Services button for a directory of composting services, share programs, etc. These can help you sustainably dispose of compostable waste, or they may be able to compost on site. Others even have public outreach and educational programs including tours, school talks, etc.
Zero-Waste Training Resources
Zero Waste Hubs: Developing a Nationwide Resource Recovery Network "One of the goals of the Zero Waste Network is to develop a nationwide network of resource recovery centres using local scale Zero Waste Hubs as the basic building blocks."
Zero Waste Network: Training "The Zero Waste Network has developed a series of courses with the goal of increasing capability within the zero waste sector and developing participants’ technical and analytical skills to engage with a variety of zero waste and resource recovery activities."
Zero Waste Network: Resources "In 2015 CRN received Auckland Council Waste Minimisation and Innovation funding to develop a series of resource recovery fact sheets. These are introductory level resources that aim to give those individuals and organisation new to the sector a sound understanding in some of the basic concepts and language of the sector. They may be useful to print off individually or to direct new staff members to read."
Grants
North America
USA
Eat The Change "ETC Impact™ is a grant program working to promote and expand access to climate-friendly foods. We're donating more than $1.25 million over three years to support a diverse group of changemaking nonprofit organizations."