Project Grant 96234923

DESCRIPTION:THIS PROJECT PROVIDES FUNDING TO BERGEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO IMPLEMENT ITS PROJECT, WHICH WILL DESIGN, DEMONSTRATE, AND DISSEMINATE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PRACTICES, METHODS, AND TECHNIQUES, THAT WILL SERVE TO INCREASE ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY AND ENCOURAGE BEHAVIOR THAT WILL BENEFIT THE ENVIRONMENT IN BERGEN, ESSEX, AND PASSAIC COUNTIES IN NEW JERSEY. THE GRANTEE WILL DO THIS BY EDUCATING UNDERSERVED HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS ON SOLID WASTE ISSUES AFFECTING THEIR COMMUNITIES. BERGEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE WILL USE A COMBINATION OF CLASSROOM COURSE, HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES, TO TEACH STUDENTS HOW SOLID WASTE CAN IMPACT THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY, HOW TO MITIGATE METHANE FROM LANDFILLS, INCREASE COMPOSTING, AND REDUCE STORMWATER EROSION AND REHABILITATE SOIL. ALSO, THE RECIPIENT, WILL TEACH THE STUDENTS HOW TO DO ORGANIC RECYCLING AND COMPOSTING TO REDUCE FOOD WASTE. THIS PROJECT WILL RAISE THE ENVIRONMENTAL KNOWLEDGE OF PROJECT PARTICIPANTS AND INCREASE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP RELATED TO SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT WITHIN THE AFFECTED UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. ACTIVITIES:THIS PROJECT WILL INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN BERGEN, ESSEX, AND PASSAIC COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY AND PROVIDE HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE STUDENTS THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS AS WELL AS TAKE RESPONSIBLE ACTIONS. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED DURING THIS PROJECT PERIOD INCLUDE DEVELOPING LESSON PLANS AND TRAINING MATERIALS FOR THE STUDENTS, TRAINING AND TEACHING, RECRUITING PROJECT PARTICIPANTS, COMPOSTING, AND STUDENT LED DESIGNED PROJECTS TO REDUCE SOLID WASTE USING BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES. SUBRECIPIENT:BERGEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE WILL ISSUE SUBAWARDS AS REQUIRED UNDER THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ACT. THE SUB AWARDEES WILL PROVIDE COORDINATION OF THE PROJECT, PREPARING EDUCATION MATERIALS FIELD TRIPS AND HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES. SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT. OUTCOMES:IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT THIS PROJECT WILL RESULT IN THE FOLLOWING DELIVERABLES AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES: 100 COLLEGE STUDENTS AND 500 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WILL INCREASE THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT, ORGANIC RECYCLING AND COMPOSTING TO REDUCE FOOD WASTE. ALSO, THROUGH THIS PROJECT, IT IS EXPECTED TO REDUCE AND DIVERT 25% OF SCHOOL AND COMMUNITIES FOOD WASTE FROM LANDFILL. DIRECT BENEFICIARIES OF THIS PROGRAM INCLUDE STUDENTS AND RESIDENTS LOCATED IN BERGEN, ESSEX AND PASSAIC COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.