Are you looking for someone to talk about recycling, waste management, or waste reduction efforts? Or just want to learn more about programs and services offered? Chatham County Solid Waste & Recycling is able to offer a variety of educational opportunities anywhere in the county. We have presentations, activities, and lessons available for all ages and types of audiences!

We have participated in the following types of events:

• Interactive presentations at schools and day care centers
• Presentations to homeowners associations or neighborhood groups
• Presentations to community groups like Ruritan Club or Scouts
• Tours of collection centers and recycling facilities
• Tabling at community events, with activities for children
• Activities during summer camps

We are open to participating in any events to help provide education to residents of Chatham County. To schedule an educational opportunity please contact Shannon Culpepper, Recycling and Education Specialist at shannon.culpepper@chathamcountync.gov or (919) 545-7874.

Educator Resources

SW&R has created a new educator guide- Don’t Waste It! is an educator guide to waste management, recycling, composting, and waste reduction, which includes 11 lessons covering five themes: municipal solid waste, recycling, plastics, composting, and landfills.

Don’t Waste It! is for both formal and non-formal educators with lessons for pre-K to 12^th graders that can easily be adapted for adult audiences. Each lesson includes a group activity, independent practice, extensions, and additional activities. View a list of the lesson descriptions. 

You can receive a copy of Don’t Waste It! by attending one of several workshops offered throughout the year. The workshop will provide a base of knowledge needed to teach each lesson and run through many of the lessons. See below for the list of upcoming workshops.

There are additional activities included in Don't Waste It! that are available for free online. They are great to pair with lessons or do on their own, but are not correlated to standards. 

Chatham County partnered with Environmental Educators of North Carolina (EENC) and received an Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Education grant to expand Don't Waste It! to other states in the Southeast- Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Florida. Contact Shannon Culpepper to connect you to other states. 

Upcoming Workshops

Don't Waste It! is a North Carolina Environmental Educators Criteria I workshop. Workshop participants can receive Criteria I hours or continuing education units (CEUs).

We are working to schedule additional workshops and will post more details here when they are available. 

Note: A workshop was scheduled for January 15, 2025 in Chimney Rock. Chimney Rock was hard hit by Hurricane Helene, so this workshop has been cancelled. 

February 10, 2025 Wilmington

When: Monday, February 10, 2025 8:30 am to 3:30 pm
Where: New Hanover County Recycling & Solid Waste- 3002 Highway 421 North, Wilmington
This workshop includes a tour of the New Hanover County landfill, construction and demolition recycling facility, compost facility, leachate treatment system, habitat restoration areas and more.
6.5 credit hours will be offered for the North Carolina Environmental Education Certification and 0.65 hours of CUEs.
Cost: $35.00
Register: This workshop is limited to 14 participants due to the landfill tour. Register online by Sunday, February 2.

We are able to hold Don’t Waste It! workshops anywhere in North Carolina. If you are interested in hosting a workshop in your area please contact Shannon Culpepper- Recycling and Education Specialist  at at 919-545-7874 or shannon.culpepper@chathamcountync.gov.

Workshop Cancellation- If you need to cancel your registration, you must contact the facilitator or Shannon Culpepper at least one week prior to the workshop date. Credit will be offered to attend a future Don't Waste It! workshop. Refunds will be handled on a case-by-case basis. 

Educator Check Out Program

As a part of the Don't Waste It! educator guide, Chatham County Solid Waste & Recycling has created an Educator Check Out Program. We know that educators are not always able to gather the materials needed for lessons and activities, so we have a set of supplies available for each lesson. Learn more about the Educator Check Out Program page.

Waste and Recycling Enthusiast Program (WREP)

Solid Waste & Recycling has a new program for those Chatham County residents interested in learning more about recycling, waste reduction, composting, environmental justice, and want to participate in community engagement. The Waste and Recycling Enthusiast Program (WREP) includes a series of classes, with the first session starting September 2024. Applications are due July 1. Learn more about WREP and how to sign up at www.chathamcountync.gov/wrep

If you have questions about WREP, please contact Anayancy Estacio, Education Program Coordinator, at anayancy.estacio@chathamcountync.gov or (919) 545-7866.

If you have any questions about education or Don't Waste It! please contact Shannon Culpepper, Recycling and Education Specialist at shannon.culpepper@chathamcountync.gov or (919) 545-7874.