Solid waste district offers educational opportunities

Where did the summer go? It seems like school just finished, but here we are at the end of summer.

Sure, summer doesn’t officially end until Sept. 22, but it always feels like summer is over when school starts. Both Bartholomew Consolidated and Flat Rock-Hawcreek school corporations start Wednesday. With the start of school, it is a good time to talk about Bartholomew County Solid Waste Management District’s (BCSWMD) educational programs that are offered free to the community.

Classroom/community presentations

Presentations are available year round on various topics including recycling, reuse, landfills and compost for classrooms or community groups at no cost. We even have a new program this year called “Toxic-Free Bingo,” where students or adults play Bingo and learn about household hazardous waste terms and alternatives. And of course we still have our popular programs like, “It Leaks to Creeks,” “Recycling Superheroes” and “Edible Landfill.”

Recycling Center field trip

Free educational tours of the Recycling Center are open to all ages and are offered year round. Tours are structured to grade levels or ages. Attendees will see the variety of materials accepted to be recycled, and how those items are processed to be sent on to the next phase of recycling. When possible, BCSWMD partners with kidscommons for additional programming to include a tour of our bioswale and an educational recycling presentation. Transportation costs are covered by BCSWMD when using BCSC or FRHC school buses.

Landfill field trip

Free educational tours of the landfill are offered seasonally due to weather, for Grades 3 and up. Tours are structured for the grade level or age of those in attendance and meet State Standards. Tours are also available to community groups of all ages as well.

Attendees will tour the landfill including the wetlands located at the facility. During the students’ visit to the landfill, they will experience the landfill trolley tour where they will learn about landfill construction, see an active landfill cell, and learn how modern landfills are designed to protect the environment around them. When possible, BCSWMD partners with kidscommons to provide environmental programs. Transportation costs are covered by BCSWMD when using BCSC or FRHC school buses.

Little Red School House/Little Red School House Too

Also free to teachers and educators are the items in the LRSH and LRSH Too. Item availability is limited based on what is donated. However, such items as art/craft supplies and classroom supplies are normally available year round. Educators in Bartholomew County, including school teachers, Scout leaders, pre-kindergarten teachers and community group leaders can request items for special projects. For example, over the summer a VBS teacher requested 100 milk jugs for a special project. We will do our best to come up with the items needed.

Businesses in the community are encouraged to donate unwanted items that they no longer need to BCSWMD. LRSH can find a new home for the pens and/or letterhead paper that has an old logo. Donating the items would benefit students in Bartholomew County and also save them from going to the landfill.

BCSWMD wishes everyone a happy and healthy school year.

Please contact me at [email protected] to schedule an educational program. Visit our website at bcswmd.com for more information regarding all BCSWMD opportunities.

Kari Spurgeon is the education coordinator at the Bartholomew County Solid Waste Management District. She can be reached at 812-376-2614 or [email protected].