COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
American University
Whole list of courses related to sustainability and zero waste, including possible study abroad opportunities.
Cultures of Waste and Recycling
Oklahoma State University, 2010. Prof. Dorothy Noyes
This course explores the notion of the residual: what is left over, useless, unclassifiable. We will explore the customary management of communal resources, both human and material, in scarce-resource societies. We’ll consider processes of symbolic classification through which phenomena can be labelled as out of place or out of phase. We’ll examine the creation of waste (and its converse, deprivation) with the codification of custom in modernity, and look at strategies by which waste is recuperated as a matter of necessity, aesthetics, or ideology. We’ll look at how different kinds of leftover move in and out of systems of value: for example, the labelling of things as “junk” or “antiques,” people as “trash,” or ideas as “folklore.” Finally, we’ll think about the status of residues in social and cultural theory.
Intro to Recycling Course
Northern California Recycling Association, 2005. Gary Liss, Instructor
NCRA offers this course to help train people who would like a quick overview of recycling by presenting an inexpensive three-day course at a convenient location.
Introduction to Sustainable Resource Management
West Valley College,CA, 2015. Judi Gregory-instructor
This course will look at upstream practices that reduce waste during the manufacturing and distribution of products, as well as downstream practices to collect, reuse, recycle and compost materials once they have been discarded. Additionally, the course will look at the impacts to the economy and job creation connected to SRM. This introductory Course on Sustainable Resource Management covers the 25 principles, or student learning outcomes (SLO’s), identified by the National Standards Certification Board of the NRC.
Oregon State Program
Recycling 101 is an online, eight-part, self-paced course created in partnership with the Association of Oregon Recyclers. Modelled after Oregon’s Master Composter class. $65 fee to apply.
Resource Management and Zero Waste for Communities
Golden West College, CA, 2012. Gregory Warren-Instructor
This course will identify how resource management and zero waste policies and programs are developed within a community, what type of planning and facilities are needed, and how to finance the systems. Students will also review sample zero waste community plans and will discuss different approaches that communities have taken in developing zero waste plans. Students will also learn business recycling tools for local government, best practices for RFPs (Request for Proposals) and contracts, understanding enforcement options, design of resource recovery parks, performance reporting and financial records, Extended Producer Responsibility and Local Producer Responsibility policies and programs, bans, rules and incentives, and developing local markets and uses.
University of Central California
Course outline including possible field trips, major topics, and case studies
University of Maryland
Internship as well as student project opportunities
Waste Management and Recycling
Union College, 2016. Professor Dr. Ashraf Ghaly, P.E.
Introduction to various sources of hazardous, non-hazardous, biodegradable, and non-biodegradable waste materials. Focus areas arelandfill systems, geosynthetics, geotextiles, geomembranes, geonets, single clay liner, single geomembrane liner, composite liner systems, leak detection and leachate collection, removal and treatment of leachate, and capping and closure systems. The recycling segment will explore natural resources of raw materials including origin and use, and potential and limitation for recycling of materials. Focus on various applications of recycling recyclable and non-recyclable materials. Discussion of methods of manufacture and compositions of such materials will concentrate on advanced industrial applications for the reuse of non-recyclable waste
materials. Application areas include production of new materials, materials with superior qualities for special purposes, and materials with high level of resistance against certain environmental conditions. The course will also touch on the political aspect of recycling including consumer attitude and government incentives to encourage recycling. Three class hours and a weekly lab. Prerequisite ENS100 (Introduction to Environmental Studies) or GEO102 (Environmental Geology).
Sustainable Operations
Columbia Univ, 2015. Vance A. Merolla, Instructor
In this course, students will work to understand and communicate the importance of incorporating sustainability at each step along the value chain, including product design, procurement, distribution, manufacturing, product/service use and end-of-life disposition. By considering the organization holistically, students will perform analyses of the value chain , including life cycle and cost/benefit analyses, and incorporate effective sustainability strategies into the organizational culture and day-to-day operations. Students will conduct risk assessments and implement risk reduction measures in an with overall business goalsand stakeholder requirements. In addition to technical sustainability considerations such as climate change, energy, water and waste, students will be able to implement practical sustainability initiatives within operating organizations through innovative change management, culture change and other organizational strategies. Importantly, students will be challenged to think concretely about making choices and balancing elements of the triple bottom line in an overall business context.