Yellowknife (Dec 22/06) - Through worms and tours to the dump, students at J.H. Sissons school got a few lessons on waste management recently.

Organized through Ecology North, and funded by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the program was designed to teach students about the basics of waste management: Reduce, reuse, and recycle.

"It's easier to talk to them when they're younger," said Claire Singer, Environmental Educator at Ecology North. "We really hope it's something they will carry on."

Part of the program included a pilot project with YK Recyclers, who provided curbside recycling for the school.

Bruce Underhay of the Yellowknife Municipal Solid Waste Facility, led the students on tours at the facility to show them what happened to their recycling once it got dropped off to the dump.

To do this, the children brought their recycling to the dump, and Underhay and staff showed the kids how their recycling was bailed and sent away.

"That's where you've got to start," said Underhay, about teaching children on waste reduction.

Underhay added that if children can put a lot of pressure on their parents to ensure proper recycling, it's a good way to get adults to practice good management.

Workshops done on November 20 and November 30 on vermi-composting brought in educators and quite literally a whole bucket of worms. The students were able to handle the worms, while they were taught what worms do in composting.