Mobile classroom spreads MSW knowledge in South Carolina

The WasteLAB Greater Greenville Sanitation (GGS) education program in Greenville, South Carolina, has been in place for more than one year, and GGS indicates the knowledge of municipal solid waste (MSW) and recycling being gained by students is measurable.

GGS has conducted assessments to measure the knowledge of waste minimization and resource conservation of students who have visited the mobile classroom. “Results in testing saw as much as a 16 percent improvement in the programs first-full year of operation,” GGS states.

Launched in fall of 2016, WasteLAB is a 49-foot, 10.5-ton semi-trailer converted to what GGS calls a “mobile teaching center for solid waste education.”

WasteLAB has been designed to teach students about solid waste management problems and suggested solutions through a combination of digital and tactile games, an artificial intelligence interface, pre- and post-testing, and an onsite educator.

“The test results are the most important metric for GGS,” says GGS Vice Chairman Ken Ledford. “It is our hope that what students are learning from this program will translate into greater environmental awareness and stewardship. If it helps to reduce solid waste sent to landfills and increases recycling rates, that’s a win-win.”

GGS calls WasteLAB “the flagship exhibit” of its Sustainable Schools Program, and refers to it as one of several standards-based educational products available at no charge for Greenville County school students.

GGS is a Solid Waste Special Purpose District established by the South Carolina Legislature in 1968.