Sea Grant-funded teacher training leads to creation of recycling, cleanup programs in three local schools

Relevance:

Plastic pollution has a tremendous impact on local waters. This workshop provided educators with background knowledge needed to teach students the skills for appropriate responses to plastic pollution in their everyday lives and to make better decisions as adults.

Response:

The Sea Grant-supported Environmental Studies Center hosted a workshop for 21 teachers from 9 schools participating in the coastal ecology classes. Teachers were given a guided tour of the Mobile Recycling Center to observe and understand how plastic pollution is processed in Mobile County, Alabama. Teachers also heard two guest speakers who talked about issues with pollution in the community and ways to incorporate recycling programs within their schools.

Results:

In response to the information provided at the workshop, two teachers implemented a plastic bottle recycling program within their classrooms, and one teacher implemented a community clean-up day through the Love Your Community organization with 12 student volunteers cleaning up trash on roadways surrounding the school. As a result of these programs, awareness of the implications of plastic pollution in our coastal ecosystem was increased within the student population of Mobile County, Alabama.

Recap:

A teacher training led to the development and implementation of two recycling programs and a cleanup program, which raised awareness of the implications of plastics pollution, in Mobile County Public Schools. (2022)