South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control

Education is the key ...

... to making recycling work. DHEC's Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling (Office) provides a variety of materials and resources to teachers and other environmental educators as well as students.

Many of the materials and resources – including videos, public service announcements (PSAs), fact sheets and posters – are designed to support teachers who use “Action for a cleaner tomorrow: A South Carolina Environmental Curriculum Supplement.” But all of these materials can be used to supplement any recycling education activities.

Both teachers and students are encouraged to check out Information You Can Use. It provides several series of different types of fact sheets. The "Do Your Part" fact sheets provide a “call to action” on a variety of waste reduction and recycling opportunities. The "For Your Information" (FYI) fact sheets provide easy-to-follow background information on assorted environmental issues.

Want to know the environmental impact of all your activities? What is your carbon footprint? See Measure Your Impact for formulas and calculators.

What better way to teach or learn than by doing? Check out “Starting a School Recycling Program: A Step-by-Step Guide to Help You Begin Recycling at Your School.” Also see the Office's Recycling Education Grant Program for help with starting your program.

There's also help for your science fair project. The "Science Fair Project Guidebook" not only provides basic tips, but also specific projects.

Additional materials such as coloring books and activity books are available for younger recyclers at Just for Kids.

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The Recycle Guys

R-E-C-Y-C-L-E…it begins with you and me! Sound familiar? We hope it does.

Many of the materials (e.g., videos, posters, coloring books, activity books) feature The Recycle Guys. Created by the Office, the Recycle Guys also star on television and radio as well as billboards and videos, spreading the word on recycling.

The Recycle Guys campaign was introduced in 1997 and is now used in more than 10 states and numerous municipal programs throughout the country.

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Environmental Education Videos

Four award-winning videos are available to enhance “Action for a cleaner tomorrow” and other DHEC environmental education programs.

The four half-hour programs are available upon request as a set on one DVD. They also are available individually (with the exception of "Trashumentary") on DVD or VHS tape in limited quantities.

• "Eco-Jeopardy" is based on one of the most popular and successful quiz game shows in television history -- "Jeopardy!" The half-hour program, which targets fourth- to eighth-grade students, covers a wide variety of environmental topics such as recycling and energy conservation as well as air and water quality in 12 "Eco-Jeopardy" categories. Visit DHEC's "Eco-Jeopardy" Web page to view the program, print related resources and play an on-line version of the game. Additional information on each of the answers and questions discussed in "Eco-Jeopardy" also is provided. 

• "Earth Today" is a half-hour program that features student anchors and reporters in a network morning news format. The program, based on the "Today Show," NBC's popular morning news program, provides segments on a variety of environmental issues including air and water quality, energy conservation, recycling and litter prevention.

• Ever visit a landfill? Or a recycling or composting facility? An incinerator? Elementary and middle school students can visit all of these solid waste management facilities without leaving the classroom. "Trashumentary" is a 20-minute program that features visits to each of these facilities with students asking questions to the people who work there. This video is only available on DVD with the "Eco-Jeopardy," "Earth Today" and "DHEC1: Behind the Oil Change" videos.

• "DHEC1: Behind the Oil Change" chronicles the rise, fall and redemption of an environmentally conscious high school student who is caught illegally dumping used motor oil into a storm drain. This 14-minute program is the centerpiece for the "Green Driver Project."

To receive a copy of these programs on DVD, contact the Office's Resource Center or call 1-800-768-7348.

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Public Service Announcements (PSAs)

The Recycle Guys are television stars. To watch them sing, dance and spread the word about recycling, check out their commercial spots. These PSAs can be downloaded to support your “Action for a cleaner tomorrow” classroom lessons. Contact the Office at 1-800-768-7348 for more information.

Information You Can Use

This Web page provides a series of different types of fact sheets that present information on various environmental subjects.

Many of the fact sheets, particularly the "For Your Information" (FYI) series, provide background information – often with South Carolina-specific statistics – that can be useful to both teachers and students.

The "Do Your Part" fact sheets provide information about little things you can do around your home, at school or in your community that can make a big difference locally and globally.

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Coloring Books and Activity Books

The Office provides two unique coloring books -- designed for kindergarten through second grade. One features images from the Office's popular poster series -- starring the Recycling Guys -- that younger students can color and enjoy. The other features the Guys from the "Wanted for Recycling" poster with fun facts about recycling in South Carolina. Both provide fun ways to learn more about recycling.

The Office offers several activity books -- targeting grades 2 through 6. Each one highlights a different environmental topic -- from waste reduction and recycling to litter prevention to green driving. One focuses on different environmental areas including air quality, water conservation and more.
 

Starting a School Recycling Program:
A Step-by-Step Guide to Help Begin or Improve
Recycling at Your School

Schools are essential in making recycling work in South Carolina.

Recycling and schools make a practically perfect partnership. A school recycling program provides a learning experience for everyone involved. By recycling at school, students, teachers, staff, administration and parents can learn not only the basics of recycling, but of sustainability, resource conservation and environmental stewardship.

School recycling programs also provide opportunities for teachers to offer valuable hands-on, real-life projects to students.

By recycling, schools can make a significant contribution to South Carolina’s recycling efforts and help the state meet its goals while helping the state’s economy and protecting the environment.

Ready to get started? This easy-to-follow guide provides the background you need to know to set up a successful and sustainable recycling program at your school.

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Science Fair Project Guidebook

It seems that nothing strikes fear in the hearts of students and parents like these three words: science fair project. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

A science fair project is an opportunity to research and learn about things that interest you. And through your studies you will learn how science is basic to everything around us. You will benefit beyond your improved science knowledge. Science fair projects teach you problem-solving skills, improve your written and oral communication skills and give you the satisfaction of completing a well-done project.

This guidebook provides the basic ingredients for a science fair project and tips for a great display as well as suggestions for making a great presentation. Best of all, there are 20 science fair projects complete with easy-to-understand instructions. In addition, there are different subjects, including air, energy, water and recycling.

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