RESOURCES FOR SCHOOLS
Lessons and Activities
See below for example lesson plans and materials. Experiential lessons can be scaffolded to any age group or grade level. LRSWMD also offers in-person tours at district transfer stations and our commercial composting center, Lamoille Soil.
LRSWMD offers free resources to schools and educators serving our District towns. We also provide free trainings and technical assistance to administrators and operations staff on school-wide disposal programs and waste stream guidelines. For questions or information on scheduling, email outreach@lrswmd.org.
Reuse, Upcycling, & Downcycling 101
Students will learn all about upcycling, downcycling, and ways to reduce waste in these project based activities.
-Bottle Bird Feeders
LRSWMD will provide materials, students are welcome to bring their own bottles
(maple syrup and milk jugs are great options).
-Make Your Own No-Sew Reusable Bag
Students will learn about the history of clothing and fashion, Reduce, Reuse &
Recycle ideas for clothes, and the impacts of single-use vs. reusable items.
LRSWMD can provide the t-shirts and/or students can bring their own from
home.
Recycling: What, Why, How
Students will learn local recycling guidelines, where materials come from, how they get recycled, and what they get made into.
-Recycling Bin Sort
Students will conduct an audit of school recycling bins and sort by
material type to learn more about accepted and unaccepted materials for
recycling and the importance of clean recycling streams.
-Paper Making
Students will learn about where paper comes from, how it’s recycled, and why
recycling of paper is so important during the process of making their own.
Compost: Nature’s Recycling System
Students will learn what happens to food scraps and how a valuable soil
amendment can be made through decomposition. Lessons and activities cover microorganisms (fungi, bacteria, invertebrates), nutrient cycling and energy transfer, how to set up and maintain different composting systems, and the benefits of compost to soils, people, and the environment.
-Composting in a jar
Students will learn about full loop vs. linear life cycles, organic vs.
inorganic wastes, and the basics of the composting process in the
classroom through scientific inquiry.
-Building and Maintaining an On-Site Compost Bin
Students will learn how to maintain an on-site compost system as a way to explore
the composting process.
-Vermicomposting 101
Students will learn about the ins and outs of composting with worms and ways to
set up classroom worm bins to learn more about the vermicomposting process.
Reducing Food Waste
Students will learn about the importance of reducing food waste before, during, and after a meal.
-Grown from Scrap
Students will explore ways to reduce food waste by learning how to grow different
produce from ends and stems.
-All about food labels
Students will learn about the ins and outs of food date labels and what they
really mean through an interactive game.
Technical Assistance
See below for school materials management resources.
Sustainability & Act 148 Compliance Assessment
LRSWMD can help schools ensure that their current trash, recycling, and composting programs are in compliance with state disposal laws and requirements. If you’re a school faculty or staff member interested in learning more, reach out to us at 802-888-7317 or outreach@LRSWMD.org. We’d love to meet you, conduct a walk-through visit, and provide suggestions for improving sustainability, reducing waste, and helping you comply with the disposal laws that are meant to keep us all safe.
Staff & Faculty Training
We provide training for school staff and faculty on what’s recyclable, what’s compostable, and how to manage special materials like batteries or hazardous waste. Not only can this help the school’s disposal programs run more efficiently, it also helps staff and faculty set good examples for students as they improve their own sustainability efforts. Interested in staff & faculty training for your school? Call 802-888-7317 or email outreach@lrswmd.org.
Recycling and Waste Reduction
VT ANR School Recycling Guide - helpful information for starting and sustaining school waste-reduction, recycling, and composting programs.
VT ANR School Recycling Scorecard - a walkthrough guide on accessing school materials management and areas for improvement.
Conducting a Waste Audit - A waste audit usually includes a materials management record review, school walk through, and waste-stream sort. Audits help examine current waste reduction practices and assesses their effectiveness, identifying the areas and materials in which waste reduction efforts will be most effective.
Reducing Food Waste in Schools
Food Sharing Tables - Guidance for Schools from the Vermont Agencies of Education & Natural Resources and Department of Health
Bulk Milk (instead of cartons) - Resources, best practices, and grant application
Cafeteria Sorting Station Resources:
Cafeteria Sorting Station Design Concepts at CVSWMD Schools — A guide to best practices and designs at schools in the Central Vermont Solid Waste Management District
Hazardous Waste Management in Schools
Hazardous Waste Management - Info Sheet
For guidance and Technical assistance with school lab clean outs: Contact Anna Bourakovsky (anna.bourakovsky@vermont.gov).
Project WorkSafe/VT OSHA - A helpful resource for schools for evaluating facilities and labs. For assistance developing chemical hygiene plans (required for all school laboratories), or Hazardous Communication (HAZCOM) Plans (required for all schools that generate hazardous waste) contact Shawn Barth (shawn.barth@vermont.gov). Click here for a video guide on developing a HAZCOM plan.
Possible grants and scholarships to assist schools with clean out and disposal costs through VT School Boards Insurance Trust (VSBIT)
Click here for an EPA toolkit on safe chemical management in K-12 schools.