Kitsap Solid Waste Project Ideas
2012-13
Contact Karen Lippy if interested.
Litter
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Research litter impacts
art contest, video or Prezi for schools to use or Water Festival presentation
develop messaging
choose and use age appropriate venues for the message
run a pre and post survey
develop final report
Student benefit: science, technology, engineering, math, art, marketing, critical thinking,
writing, social studies
SWD benefit: student-designed litter campaign for peers
Water bottles in schools (or other places “Kid 2 Business?”)
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collect data on number of bottles used
research environmental data on bottle production
research environmental data on chemicals that can leach from plastics
research environmental data on disposal
develop cross grade outreach using vetted statements, including posters, Prezi or art
contest for use in schools or Water Festival presentation
develop final report
Student benefit: science, technology, engineering, math, research, marketing, art, speech,
critical thinking, writing, social studies
SWD benefit: student-designed waste reduction campaign for peers
Shop Smart (KC: Office Depot Paper vs. Gray’s Harbor example?)
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use an online form where you click on purchasing choices, or
take field trip to a grocery store to shop green and brown
compare packaging compare price differences
determine food miles vs. GHGs generated (e.g., Carbon equivalents)
develop final report
Student benefit: technology, math, science, critical thinking, writing
SWD benefit: updated information on smart shopping, food miles data.
Kitsap Solid Waste Project Ideas
2012-13
Contact Karen Lippy if interested.
Note from Dean: Use the USEPA “Recon Model” to calculate recycled content of products:
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/waste/calculators/ReCon_home.html
Recycling Contamination
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perform qualitative and quantitative audit of home and school recycle carts
develop outreach materials for classrooms based on results
cross-grade teaching, possibly at Water Festival
conduct pre- and post- surveys
develop final report
Student benefit: Science, technology, engineering, math, English/writing, speech
SWD benefit: student-designed outreach campaign for other students
Vermicomposting
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Investigate worm bin design and use
design vermicomposting classes
build worm bins
teach younger students –cross grade conduct controlled investigation using finish
compost and a control group on identical plant species
investigation: plant health (what metrics could be used to assess ‘health?’)
develop final report
Student benefit: science, technology, engineering, math, speech, writing, critical thinking
SWD benefit: student-designed outreach materials for other students
Waste Free Lunches
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Conduct waste audit of lunch waste to identify packaging waste
Develop campaign to reduce waste, such as replacing single use condiments with bulk
Research food service policies per Federal and Washington State Department of Health
requirements
Write and illustrate materials to promote waste free lunches, including eating or taking
back all the uneaten food brought from home
calculate waste reduction
develop report
Kitsap Solid Waste Project Ideas
2012-13
Contact Karen Lippy if interested.
Student benefit: engineering, art, critical thinking, marketing, social studies
SWD benefit: student-designed lunch waste reduction in schools that may not have F2F
Emissions Curbside vs. Self-Haul (this needs some work to figure out how to make
it place-based)
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students calculate CO2e for a waste/recycling self-hauler vs. curbside service
students calculate how many self-haulers it would take to equal the same amount a curbside
truck holds, include comparative CO2e)
analyze the data and develop a final report with recommendations
(Note from Dean: The average full curbside garbage truck holds 10 tons of waste (weight of full mixed
recycle trucks unknown). http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/calculator.html
Student benefit: science (environmental impact) for students and parents, technology, engineering,
math, research, critical thinking, writing, economics
SWD benefit: help the SWD meet an important Comprehensive Plan objective to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions associated with waste transport.