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Curriculum Resources for the Alaskan Environment
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Subject Areas: ecology,
math, business
Timeline: one semester/one
year
Grade Levels: all (7-12
recommended)
Purpose: to develop an
aluminum waste disposal system for the community;
to provide funds for other projects
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Sherie
Steele
Garbage
Disposal
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 Activities
- Invite city sanitation workers, health aides,
or other officials into class to discuss problems of waste disposal,
regulations, etc.:
consider history of waste problems. When did
it become a problem? Why?
- Have students write to Anchorage and Seattle
aluminum depositories to obtain return-per-pound rates (approximately
.24/lb.):
choose the business with the best return-per-pound
rate.
Solicit donations of free freight or reduced
freight charges from air taxi companies:
solicit subsidies from local businesses
or EPA to help defray freight or other expenses.
Set a poundage goal and a monetary goal, figuring
in any cost.
Locate collection sites, with the approval of
village and IRA councils. Set up schedules and routes.
Advertise the project in posters, radio spots,
newspapers, etc.
Resources
- garbage bags, trash cans, cartons for collection,
and hammers or bricks (or a trash compactor to crush cans for easy
transporting
- 12 Facts About Waste Paper Recycling, Paper
Recycling Committee, Box TK, American Paper Institute, 260 Madison
Avenue, New York, NY 10016 (free)
- Solid Waste Information Office, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Washington, D.C. 10460, Hotline: 800-228-2525
- Fairbanks Lions' Clubs
- Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation,
P.O. Box 0, Juneau, AK 99811-1800
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Variations
- If your community has road access
to a major city, tin and paper can be recycled for money,
too.
- If money is not a priority for
your group, collect paper, tin, and other junk:
recycle trash for use in art
projects, paper making, vehicle repair,
etc.
- Clean up debris and trash for a
community health and safety project:
discuss reasons for cleaning up the
village
plan what the clean up will include
(e.g., pop cans, garbage)
get permission form property owners
to remove their garbage
determine how to collect the trash:
divide the town into areas and assign groups to each
area, or have an open, general clean up
determine where collected trash
will be deposited
select a date; make posters; build
enthusiasm
conduct the clean up
offer rewards for most garbage
collected; have a picnic or party to celebrate completion
of the project.
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