The IWMA School Education Program is pleased to offer both in-person programs and virtual programs for the 2021-22 school year. All programs are free, taught by an experienced live environmental educator who will adapt each program to the unique needs of each individual class. Whether your programs are in-person or virtual, your students will have the opportunity to participate in real-time with your presenter, ask and answer questions, and learn more about San Luis Obispo County’s recycling programs. Read more about our programs below, and schedule soon to receive the best availability.
Virtual or In-Person Programs ~ You Decide! Contact us to learn more.
2022/2023 Recycling Education Newsletter
Click Here to View Education Programs Trailer Video for the 2022-23 School Year!
In this program, students will learn about natural resources, what can be recycled, and how to reduce waste at home and school. Interactive and fun, it’s a great program for any grade level. This program is a prerequisite for the Recycling Field Trip. Grades K-12, 45-55 Minute Classroom or Virtual Presentation, FREE. Find out which science standards this program meets.
Virtually visit the Cold Canyon Landfill and Recycling Facility to be amazed by and educated about what happens to our recyclables and trash. On this virtual trip, students will see how their recyclables are sorted and processed by various trucks and machines through a live PowerPoint presentation with vivid photos and video content. Grades 3-12, 45-55 Minute Virtual Only Field Trip Until Further Notice, FREE. Prerequisite: Introduction to Recycling. Find out which science standards this program meets.
This program introduces students to the concepts and practices of composting food waste using worms. The students will learn worm anatomy and how worms decompose their food scraps. You will have the option to borrow a worm bin on loan for a real interactive learning experience. Grades K-12, 45 Minute Classroom or Virtual Presentation, FREE. Find out which science standards this program meets.
This presentation explores the natural resources needed to make paper. Vivid models show the path from tree to finished paper products so that students will learn how paper is made. Your presenter will make a piece of paper live in our studio or in your classroom. Students will also learn how many pounds of paper they use each year, and how this resource can be conserved. Grades K-6, 45 Minute Classroom or Virtual Presentation, FREE. Find out which science standards this program meets.
Marine debris has become a global issue, affecting our oceans, marine life, and human health. This class program introduces the problem, providing students the opportunity to understand how trash reaches our oceans and what happens to these various materials when they become part of the marine environment. Students will connect how choices made today will impact marine organisms in the future. Grades K-6, 45-55 Minute Classroom or Virtual Presentation, FREE. Find out which science standards this program meets.
This VIRTUAL ONLY presentation will explore what happens to food waste when it is thrown out with the trash versus when it is put into your green cart. This live online program will teach your class about decomposition, solids, liquids, and gasses with a fun experiment that kids love! Grades K–6, 45 Minute Virtual Presentation Only, FREE
Hidden Hazards replaces our former Household Hazardous Waste program. This updated presentation facilitates students to identify items in a typical household that are too dangerous to put in the trash. Hidden Hazards includes activities using colorful images, encouraging students to identify, investigate, and classify items that are considered household hazardous waste. Grades 3-8, 45 Minute Classroom or Virtual Presentation, FREE. Find out which science standards this program meets.
This updated program will be available starting December 2020!
This interactive slide program provides the next step in applying what students have learned from the Introduction to Recycling program. Students and teachers will be empowered to implement their understanding of waste reduction, composting, and recycling. Grades 4-8, 45 Minute Classroom or Virtual Presentation, FREE. Prerequisite: Introduction to Recycling. Find out which science standards this program meets.
Virtually explore the county’s newest innovation in sustainability, the Anaerobic Digester. This facility composts up to 100 tons of green waste and food waste, each day. The digester converts these materials to a gas, which is then used to make electricity. Another byproduct of the digester is solid compost, which is land applied. Grades 4-12, 45-55 Minute Virtual Only Field Trip Until Further Notice, FREE. Find out which science standards this program meets.
Contact Us
For more information, call (805) 782-8424 or email us at [email protected]. Learn how to schedule one of our programs here.
Want to stay up-to-date? Download our current newsletter here (PDF).
Effective July 1, 2020 MCR and MORe-covered schools and school districts must provide organics and recycling containers in areas where food is consumed. These containers must be placed adjacent to trash containers.
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