Don't Waste It! 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.

To receive a copy of the guide you must attend a Don't Waste It! workshop. Information about upcoming workshops can be found on our Education page.

Check out a Lesson or Activity

The Educator Check Out Program is available from the Chatham County Solid Waste & Recycling Main Facility at 28 County Services Road, Pittsboro, NC 27312. If you are local, but not able to make it to the office Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm, we will try to make other arrangements. 

View a list of the lesson descriptions. All materials and directions are included when you check out a lesson or activity and can be checked out for up to two weeks. If you are interested in checking out a lesson or activity, please complete the online form.

If you are not in Chatham County, the "Additional Activities" below can be downloaded to create your own set.

Additional Activities

At the end of each theme in Don't Waste It!, there are books and additional activities referenced that can also be checked out. These activities can be used alone or as an extension to lessons in this guide, but they are not correlated to standards.

The Educator Check Out Program includes each of the activities listed below, but you will also find instructions on how to create and do the activity yourself. 

Waste Pizza – Students use Chatham County’s Waste Composition Study to put together an interactive pie chart of materials disposed of by residents. 

Don't Waste It! Waste Pizza Activity PDF

Waste Stream Dice Game – This active game teaches students about the life cycles of the items we throw out or recycle.

Don't Waste It! Waste Stream Dice Game Activity PDF

Waste Stream How to Create Dice PDF

Waste Stream Dice Game Pieces PDF

Waste Stream Dice Game Signs PDF

Waste Stream Dice Game Map PDF

Garbage to Gardens –This is an adapted version of the Waste Stream Dice Game (above) that goes through the composting cycle. 

Don't Waste It! Garbage to Gardens Activity PDF

Garbage to Gardens How to Create Dice PDF

Garbage to Gardens Game Signs PDF

Garbage to Gardens Dice Pieces PDF

Garbage to Gardens Waste Stream Map PDF

Recycled Paper Making – Discover the science of making paper from…paper! This hands-on, somewhat messy, activity is tons of fun for all ages.

There are a lot of paper making kits available, but the one included in our activity is an Arnold Grummer Paper Making Kit. You can purchase a kit online. You can also read through these instructions to learn about the process.

Landfill in a Bottle – By making their own mini version, students will understand the process and composition of a landfill.

Don't Waste It! Landfill in a Bottle Activity PDF

Sort It Out Relay – In this fast-paced game, students will race to sort several items into the correct bins.

Don't Waste It! Sorting Relay Activity PDF

If you have questions, please contact Shannon Culpepper, Recycling & Education Specialist at (919) 545-7874 or shannon.culpepper@chathamcountync.gov