Contact Information

Report Litter

Recycling Information

Landfill Learning Center

Press Releases

Upcoming Events and Volunteer Opportunities

Archived Events

Links

Board Members

Landfill Learning Center Activities

This is a list of all activities offered by Keep Blount Beautiful at the Learning Center and a short description of what can be expected to be gained from each one.  Teachers can pick which activities they want to do or they can leave it up to the staff at Keep Blount Beautiful to plan an age appropriate day for their students.  All Landfill Learning Center Activities are very hands-on ways of learning.  This is a great field trip for a rowdy bunch of kids because they don't have to sit still and listen for long periods of time.  Our goal is to send the children home educated and exhausted from a very active day.

Landfill Tour

This is the most important activity at the landfill and it is highly recommended that every visiting group go on the hour and a half tour.  This tour makes the biggest impression on students because they learn in great detail what happens to the 380 tons of Blount County Garbage per day that is disposed of in the landfill.  We cover the "Three R's- Reduce, Reuse and Recycle" on the tour and show real life examples of each.  Most importantly, the tour demonstrates the need for waste reduction because students see the garbage filling up the landfill cell and all the many trucks dumping waste one after another. 

No-Waste Lunch

All groups that stay a whole day and eat a picnic lunch at the landfill are encouraged to pack no-waste lunches.  There is a link that addresses no-waste lunches specifically.

Trash Trail

The Trash Trail is a litter education activity.  Students hike a short trail and spot trash hidden in the woods.  This activity is designed to help students become more observant and to encourage them to pick-up litter when they see it.

Enviroscape

The Landfill Enviroscape is an activity for students who are at least 4th grade level.  This is an activity that demonstrates how constructing landfills can prevent ground water pollution.  It goes in great depth about the water cycle and how land filling or illegally dumping waste can affect our water.  This activity will not be done unless it is specifically requested.

Mini-Landfills

This is a craft for students who are at least 4th grade level.  Students discover how a landfill is constructed by making their own mini-landfill out of a plastic cup, play dough, plastic wrap, straws, trash and soil.

Compost Dissection

This is a favorite activity of all ages.  Students discover the hidden life of a compost pile.  Older students learn about the food chain and how through it, food scraps and other compost materials are broken down into soil.  Above all, students get their fingers dirty and examine insects up close.

Wave Bottles

We put a new spin on this favorite craft.  We talk about reusing waste for things like crafts and we also discuss water pollution and what happens when waste and water meet.  Students love this craft.

Pollution Game

This is run around/chase game where students learn about how poisons can get into the food chain and hurt animals.  We always discuss DDT on their level and the damage it caused our birds and reptiles.

Recycling Maze

Students and teachers get involved in this maze.  Students are given a piece of waste and have to unwind the string attached to it to find out what kind of recycled material it can become.  What they find hidden on the other end of the string is often surprising.

This activity reinforces what types of things can be put into compost.  Different types of food represent different types of compostable materials: crushed up Oreos represent soil, green cocoanut represents grass clippings, pretzel sticks and frosted flakes represent sticks and leaves, dried fruit represents food scraps.  All of the ingredients are mixed up and then the worms come...Gummy Worms that is!

Great Trash Pick-up

This activity is how we like to end the day.  Students race to see how quickly they can pickup a circle full of litter.  This activity demonstrates that picking up litter can be fun, if you have someone to help.