For Immediate Release
December 3, 2001
Contact: Terry Sebastian or Channell Barbour (502) 564-2611: http://gov.state.ky.us/communications.htm 

Patton announces solid waste educational programs for kids

FRANKFORT, KY. – Governor Paul Patton today presented a package of state solid waste educational programs aimed at elementary and middle school students to the Solid Waste Coordinators of Kentucky (SWACK) during a press conference at Fern Creek Elementary School in Louisville.  

“This program will help teachers across Kentucky educate students about how to deal with solid waste issues in our Commonwealth,” Patton said. “Teaching our citizens, especially our youth, about the basic concepts and skills they need to be good stewards of our natural resources is the best way to prevent environmental problems.”  

The solid waste program is titled “Be a Solid Waste Survivor” and has three different levels or units. Each unit follows state Department of Education guidelines for curriculum, which includes using technology, having multiple writing components, containing authentic assessments and ending with a student participating in a real project. 

The primary unit focuses on the role of family, school and community in dealing with solid waste. The grades 4 and 5 unit focuses on our role as consumers in creating solid waste. The middle-grades unit focuses on the role of governments, businesses and citizens in dealing with solid waste.  

“The units are structured in such a way that both parents and communities can learn about solid waste as the children complete the activities of the program,” Patton said. 

The Kentucky Environmental Education Council developed the units of the program with assistance from a number of environmental groups and educators. The units will be distributed to the schools through county solid waste coordinators.

Marlene Helm, secretary of the Cabinet of Education and Humanities, and James Bickford, secretary of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet, joined Patton to recognize Kentuckians who are providing national leadership in environmental education.  

Sec. Helm recognized Kurt Mason, who works for the Jefferson County Natural Resource Conservation Service, as the Environmental Educator of the Year for North America. Sec. Bickford recognized the Kentucky Association for Environmental Education (KAEE) as the Environmental Education Association of the Year for North America. 

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