Landfills:
A Solid Waste Management Plan
Grade Level: 6-8

Summary: Students will identify some of the solid waste that is generated by them and produced by industry for products they may use. They will then design a solid waste management plan that will use knowledge of recycling and natural cycles to minimize the waste and the dangers of landfills.

View the Lesson Plans for this Unit
View the Content Standards

Download Related Documents:
Student Instructions: Designing a Solid Waste Management Plan

Activity 1:
What Kind of Garbage Do You Produce?

Students learn about garbage, landfills, and their effects on the environment.

Featured video clips in this activity:

Landfills - Health Concerns Members of some communities located near New Mexico landfills are beginning to voice concerns over health issues.

Landfills - Hazardous Waste Hazardous waste is not allowed in landfills, but some people worry that it may be slipping in despite regulations.

Brazos River Clean-Up For years the Brazos River in Texas was a dump site; today environmentally-minded residents are helping to clean it up.

Activity 2:
Recycling Solid Waste

Students learn about how cycles work and discuss ways they can be used to help the environment.

Featured video clips in this activity:

Healthy Rivers - Part 4 There are many things that people can do to help improve river water quality, whether on a ranch or farm, housing development or private home.

Activity 3:
Designing a Solid Waste Management Program

Students will research problems associated with garbage disposal then apply what they have learned to make a plan to reduce or reuse solid waste produced in American society.