Increasing awareness of household hazardous waste through service-learning

The success of the initial Waste Not project at FVCC depended on five strategic actions by program staff and members:

1. Assigning a service-learning coordinator. Identifying a service-learning coordinator to work with a faculty liaison was important for increasing awareness of the service-learning program, and key to creating a workable structure for service-learning integration despite three staff changes in the college's project director position during the three-year grant period.
2. Collaborating with the community. College students at FVCC collaborated with a local citizens group and senior volunteers to teach schoolchildren how to reduce and eliminate hazardous waste in the home.
3. Expanding the service. As the project grew in size and recognition, students from several disciplines expanded their presentations to local businesses, with instructions on how to reduce the volume and toxicity levels of hazardous waste.
4. Creating visibility. AmeriCorps members staffed the college's service-learning office in a visible location, reducing the workload for staff and faculty and attracting students to service-learning.
5. Recognizing and celebrating. The college sponsored a school-wide celebration to recognize the service-learners' accomplishments.