Reaching out to schools to encourage the community to think about the waste stream it creates and the consequences of its choices is a natural approach for the Division. The Division has been successfully teaching students about waste reduction and recycling for the past eight years. The Division offers assembly programs and classroom presentations for elementary, middle and high schools as well as recognition and rewards to classrooms that take on waste reduction and recycling projects as Green Teams. A recent evaluation of the elementary school program, the Wiz Kids at Home, demonstrated high gains in student knowledge as well as high teacher satisfaction. When the issue of educating the public on household hazardous waste became a focus, going to the schools was considered a key strategy.
Children have a natural enthusiasm and interest in the environment.
And because their habits are still forming, children often are more receptive to changing their behavior for a good cause. The intent of the program is to present children with the choices available to them and the effect each has on their lives and the world around them. Teachers who have been involved in the program have been pleased not only with the high quality and significance of its content, but also for the interest and enthusiasm it generates in students. The content is important for the long range. Citizenship skills and thinking skills are best developed in situations where students deal with real problems and where their actions can make a difference in the world.