The Black Hawk County Solid Waste Management Commission encourages waste reduction within the landfill’s service area to reduce the amount of materials entering the Black Hawk County Sanitary Landfill. The resources on this page can help you learn more about the world of waste!
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Commission Publications
- Waste Commission Connection (Electronic newsletter)
- Waste Commission Connection (Newspaper insert)
- Teacher Newsletter (Print version)
Waste Trac Education Team’s social media sites
Learn about programs. See photos from events. Watch awesome videos. Find fun reuse crafts for a wide variety of items and much more:
Forms for the Portable Event Recycling Equipment Program
Resources and Curriculum Ideas for Educators
- 100+ Awesome Waste Related Resources (PreK-post secondary); compiled by the UNI Center for Energy & Environmental Education – search by grade levels, subjects and topics; includes lesson plans, books, videos, games, etc. and opportunities to register for teacher workshops.
- BEETLES (Better Environmental Education, Teaching, Learning & Expertise Sharing) from the University of California (Berkley) – student activity guides, how-to videos, and additional instructor support materials.
- Carbon Footprint Worksheet (Elementary)
- Carbon Footprint Calculator (Older student version)
- Climate Change Connections (5th-12th) – Lesson plans, handouts, activity guides, and more.
- College and University Recycling Coalition – webinars, toolkits, and resources to support collegiate recycling programs.
- Community Composting Resources from the Northeast Recycling Council
- Compost Activities: Do the Rot Thing (2nd-12th) – teachers guide with lesson plans and worksheets for outdoor composting and Vermicomposting
- Compost Grows: Garbage to Gardens Poster (all ages) – image with lots of composting information (on the back side) from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
- Composting Curriculum for teachers and home gardeners from the U.S. Composting Council
- Composting Resources (K-12th) – curriculum, games, videos, and how-to’s about backyard composting and composting with Redworms from the U.S. Composting Council.
- Composting: Nature’s Recyclers (PreK-3rd) – activity guide, coloring book, and poster from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
- Composting with Worms: Resources, games, and videos for teachers from CalRecycle
- Earth Day Themed Kahoot Games for 2nd-3rd grade and 4th-5th grade students
- Earth Day Themed videos, activities, and information from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources
- Food Waste Diversion videos and Kahoot Review Game in partnership with the Holmes Junior High School “Holmes Helps” Program for cafeteria waste
- Food Waste Minimization Toolkit for Iowa Schools from the Iowa DNR and Iowa Waste Exchange
- Food Waste Posters (elementary, middle, high school versions) from from the Iowa Waste Reduction Center
- Food Waste Reduction in School Meals from the Iowa Department of Education’s
- Food Waste Research and Assessment for Schools with the Environmental Research & Education Foundation
- Food Waste Warriors (K-12th) lesson plans, activities, and resources from the World Wildlife Federation
- Global Footprint Network Learn about human impacts on the planet and Earth Overshoot Days
- Household Hazardous Waste Curriculum (4th-12th) – activities and games from King County, Washington
- Iowa Association of Naturalists and Iowa State Extension – Natural Resources Booklet Series (topics ranging from waste management and pollution, to wildlife, prairies, trees, fossils, conservation history, and more).
- Iowa Conservation Education Coalition is a great resource for educators and has compiled a wealth of links for Iowa-specific and national educational resources and curriculum, research articles, and natural resource information.
- Iowa DOT – Conservation Publications – free downloads or print copies available – Monarch posters, prairie, wetland, and tree ID books, and more.
- Iowa Nature Connections – early childhood environmental education resources
- Iowa Science Phenomena – K-12th videos and resources aligned with the Iowa Core Science Standards. Iowa PBS collaborated with Iowa organizations and educators to curate and share a growing collection of Iowa-specific phenomena, particularly those that represent locally-relevant or unique concepts.
- Keepin’ It In the Loop (K-8th) – recycling and solid waste actives and lesson plans from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
- Kid’s Guide to Recycling (K-5th) – online recycling activities for kids with printable versions for teachers
- Kindernature (PreK-1st) – Nature-based outdoor inquiry from the the Iowa Conservation Education Coalition (ICEC) and partners. Correlated to the Iowa Early Learning Standards.
- Learning & Teaching about the Environment (for K-12th students and educators) – homework resources, lesson plans, videos, games, science fair project ideas, professional development, funding opportunities, and more.
- Litter Data – Iowa Roadside Litter Survey (2013) from Keep Iowa Beautiful
- Litter Data – National Litter Survey (2020) from Keep America Beautiful
- National Geographic’s Strange Days on Planet Earth (Middle school) – activity guide for educators’ to use in conjunction with their documentary series and links to additional activities, including a Green Shopping Activity
- Planet Patrol (4th – 9th grade) – environmental video series by kids for kids through the Iowa Department of Natural Resources
- Population Education (K-12th) – lesson plans, background readings for students and teachers, wall charts, “World Population” video, hands-on activities, and more.
- Project Learning Tree (PreK-12th) -activities to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
- Protecting Pollinators through the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) (K-12th grade) – recycled crafts, information, and activities to help hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, and other pollinators!
- Quest for Less from the E.P.A. (K-8th) – activities & resources for waste reduction & resource conservation
- Reclaim Your Holidays (Teen – Adult); compiled by the UNI CEEE – activities, resources, and tools for creating fun & meaningful celebrations.
- “Recycle-Bowl” School Recycling Competition though Keep America Beautiful.
- “RecycleMania” College Recycling Competition
- Recycling and Beyond (K-3rd) – coloring book and activity pages from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
- Recycling Simplified Education Program (PreK-12) – lesson plans, activities, videos, handouts, and more from Republic Services
- Rustle The Leaf (1st-10th) – lesson plans, coloring pages, posters, comics, and more covering a variety of environmental topics
- School Waste Audit: Waste Reduction and Recycling Checklists and Tools
- School Waste Audit: How to conduct a school waste audit (basic into)
- School Waste Audit: School Waste Audit (short form; with sample permission form)
- Scholastic: Earth Day Resources (PreK-8th) – lessons, books, poems, and activities.
- Seussville: The Lorax Project – lesson plans, printables, games, activities, etc. for Earth Day, recycling, the Lorax, and much more.
- SMART Exchange (PreK – high school) – search by topic and grade to find SMART board activities and lessons about natural resources, garbage, recycling, and more!
- Terracycle – start a brigade to recycle certain types of applesauce and juice pouches, snack packaging, chip bags, and more).
- Textile Recycling (K-5th) – worksheets and lesson plans.
- Timeline of American Garbage from the RecycleGuide
- Tipping Fee map of Iowa (2020) by Evora Consulting
- “Unplug the Christmas Machine” Leaders Guide from Simple Living Works!
- Waste Characterization Reports for many states in the U.S.; reports are not available for all states.
- Waste Characterization Study – Iowa (2017) – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ most recent in-depth data “snapshot” of Iowa waste. Learn what is going into Iowa landfills!
- Waste Characterization Study – Iowa (2011) – the previous “snapshot” of Iowa waste.
- Waste in Place (PreK-6th) from Keep America Beautiful – activities, games, and facts.
- Waste Trac’s YouTube Channel – watch a wide variety of great videos about recycling, composting, garbage, landfills, and more!
- Wee Recyclers and Wee Crafts (PreK-K) – stores, songs, games, crafts, teacher information, and more from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
General Links
- America Recycles Day
- Black Hawk County Conservation
- Black Hawk County, Iowa
- Black Hawk Soil and Water Conservation District – Dry Run Creek Watershed
- Bottle Bill Deposit Law
- Bottle Bill Resource Guide
- Center for Green Schools from the U.S. Green Building Council
- Children and Nature Network
- County Conservation Board System – Explore Iowa
- Earth911
- Earth Day Network
- Environmental Research & Education Foundation
- freecycle.org – Waterloo
- Green Iowa AmeriCorps
- Green Meetings (EPA Pollution Prevention Program)
- Green Meetings and Events Guide (Iowa DNR and Iowa Recycling Association)
- Green Ribbon Schools award program (U.S. Department of Education)
- Hartman Reserve Nature Center
- Healthy Cedar Valley Coalition
- iFixit (free repair guide for everything)
- Iowa Association of Naturalists
- Iowa Conservation Education Coalition
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources – Environmental Protection & Land Quality Bureau
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources – Solid Waste Policy and Rules
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources – Waste Planning and Recycling
- Iowa DOT – Conservation Publications
- Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation
- Iowa Recycling Association
- Iowa Society of Solid Waste Operations
- Iowa Statewide Waste Characterization Study (2011)
- Iowa Statewide Waste Characterization Study (2017)
- Iowa Waste Exchange
- Iowa Waste Reduction Center
- Keep America Beautiful
- Keep Iowa Beautiful
- Litterati App
- Living Lands and Waters
- National Environmental Education Foundation
- National Recycling Coalition
- National Waste and Recycling Association
- Project Green Schools
- Product Stewardship Institute
- Rainscaping Iowa
- Reclaim Your Holidays
- Recyclebank
- Recycling Partnership
- Save The Food
- Solid Waste Alternatives Program (SWAP) Grants
- Solid Waste Association of North America
- Simplify the Holidays
- Summer Road Trip Recycling Tips
- University of Northern Iowa – Center for Energy & Environmental Education (CEEE)
- University of Northern Iowa – Recycling & Reuse Technology Transfer Center (RRTTC)
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- U.S. State Waste and Materials Characterization Reports
- World Wildlife Federation – Food Waste Initiative
Trade Associations and Advocacy Group Links
- Aluminum Association
- American Chemistry Council (Plastics)
- American Forest & Paper Association
- American Iron and Steel Institute
- American Metal Market
- Bottle Bill Resource Guide
- Carton Council
- Container Recycling Institute (CRI)
- Glass Packaging Institute (GPI)
- Good Neighbor Iowa
- How2Recycle
- Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc.
- Iowa Environmental Council
- National Association For Plastic Container Recovery
- New Dream
- Recycle More Plastics
- Plastic Film Recycling
- Plastics Industry Association
- Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles (SMART)
- Steel Recycling Institute
- US Composting Council
