Trashology 101:
Waste Reduction Program for
grades 3-5 
The Environmental Department has created an educational curriculum on waste management called Trashology 101. The new curriculum is targeted to students in grades 3-5 (ages 8-11) and their teachers, families, youth-serving organizations such as scout groups, recreational clubs, and faith-based organizations. Through Trashology 101, young people will learn how they are connected to the environment, how solid waste management impacts the environment, and how they can personally make a positive impact in their school, home and community.
Trashology 101 consists of four modules and is free to download for anyone who is interested. We ask that you fill out the following form prior to downloading the material:
Module 1: Talking Trash: Students learn responsibility and self-accountability for the waste they produce. Students examine their waste in the classroom and track the schools waste as it travels through the waste stream.
Download the complete Module 1:
Lessons include:
- Parent Letter
- Classroom Waste Audit
- Tour of School Waste Stream
- See it in Action
- Time to Talk Trash
- County Code Changes
- Vocabulary
- Trashology Labwork: Home Waste Score Card
Module 2: Break It Down: Students learn about respecting and living in harmony with the environment through studying how our natural ecosystem handles waste. Students construct mini-composters and demonstrate their knowledge of composting.
Download the complete Module 2:
Lessons include:
- My Own Composter
- Cycles of Ecosystems
- Poster Design or Digital Presentation
- Buddy Class
- Vocabulary
- Trashology Labwork: My Family Can Compost
Module 3: This Is My Life: Students study the life cycles of products through the classic story of The Lorax. Examining the way nature handles the cycle of life, students contemplate different ways we use and conserve our natural resources
Download the complete Module 3:
Lessons include:
- The Lorax
- Running out of Resources
- Nature vs. Now
- Comic Creation
- Trashology Labwork: Comparison Shopping
Module 4: Get Ready to Rumble: Students show their commitment by taking the knowledge they learned and applying it to their daily lives. Students implement a zero-waste lunch initiative in their school to reinforce the waste reduction message and impact other students, teachers, and families.
Download the complete Module 4:
Lessons include:
- Classroom Waste Audit Review
- Classroom Waste Reduction Plans
- Make Recycled Paper
- Zero Waste Lunch Poster Promotion
- School Wide Zero Waste Lunch
- Dear Dr. Trashology
- Trashology Labwork: Three R’s Home Challenge