School Programs - Grade 9 to 12

Request a Waste Management Presentation

Are you interested in a general or topic specific presentation? We would love to chat how we can help support waste education through virtual opportunities.

Request a presentation

Learn about the Region’s integrated waste management system, historic landfills, energy-from-waste, landfill mining and much more.  Access comprehensive course materials and lesson plans connected to the Ontario Curriculum. 

Integrated Waste Management

Integrated Waste Management is a strategic approach to managing waste by combining waste handling and waste reduction strategies that include rethink, reduce, reuse, recycle and recover. This module helps students understand waste management practices in Durham Region. Students will have the opportunity to discuss and make connections to waste disposal, their actions, and the environment.

Energy From Waste

The Durham York Energy Centre is a waste management facility located in Courtice, Ontario. This module explores how the Durham York Energy Centre produces energy from the combustion of residential garbage that remains after maximizing waste diversion programs – rethink, reduce, reuse, recycle and compost – in Durham Region and York Region. Students will also explore how the Durham York Energy Centre is managed to ensure environmental compliance.

Landfill Mining - Blackstock Landfill

This module explores closed historic landfills and the need for long-term environmental management. Students will learn how landfill mining can be used as an opportunity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve groundwater quality, recover recyclable material from landfilled waste, convert garbage into a resource for energy recovery and reduce the need for long-term groundwater monitoring.

Historic Landfills and Perpetual Care

The Region provides the oversight of environmental monitoring programs at its Regionally owned landfill sites. To prevent negative environmental impacts and ensure the environmental integrity of the sites, perpetual (or long-term) care programs have been established for each of the seven landfills the Region is responsible for. This module teaches students about historic landfills, what happens to waste in these sites, and the need for long term environmental management to ensure the health of the environment and the community.

Careers in Waste Management

This module explores career opportunities in waste management, from the curb to final disposal and everything in-between! Students will begin to think about the connection between their interests and opportunities to apply these interests in waste management careers. Students will also begin to consider a wide variety of education options to support these opportunities.