Current Issues

Challenged by field professionals, students work as a team to explore the important facets of current environmental issues.

Waste to Resources

2022 Current Environmental Issue

Waste to Resources:
From the 2022 NCF Envirothon host state- Ohio (2022 NCF-Envirothon Ohio)

Ohio is one of the most densely populated states in the United States, with just over 11.6 million people calling it home. Like many populous areas, Ohio is tasked with servicing its residents while also sustaining its natural resources across diverse geographic regions.

As a by-product of its robust population, the state is faced with the responsibility of managing different types of waste generated by individuals, households, communities, businesses, manufacturing, agriculture, and industry. Waste of all kinds has the potential to affect the environment and our natural resources. From the water we drink to the land we live on, our decisions about how to manage waste impact our communities and the world around us. How can we make responsible choices about our waste? How can we manage our growth in a way that is sustainable? How can we turn our waste into resources?

These challenges make Ohio well positioned to enact innovative and creative solutions for managing its wastes regeneratively, turning them into resources through restoration, repurposing, and recycling for the benefit of the natural environment and future generations.

Students will learn the concepts of different waste streams and the impacts of waste generation and disposal on natural resources and society. Students will also learn effective ways to manage waste regeneratively; as well as the social, economic, and political impacts of turning waste products and degraded lands into resources.

Learning Objectives

Key Topic 1: Landfills and Hazardous Materials

Describe different types of landfills and explain how they are regulated.
Identify examples of hazardous materials and toxic substances and describe their proper disposal and handling.

Key Topic 2: Reuse, Recycling and Waste Diversion

Explain how the practices of reusing or recycling products conserves natural resources.
Describe how recycled materials can be repurposed and further diverted from landfills.
Explain how waste can be repurposed

Key Topic 3: Composting and Food Waste

Describe composting processes and identify how composting supports waste diversion efforts.
Explain how composting improves soil health and provide evidence for how composting supports water conservation efforts.
Describe the problem of food waste and explain how it impacts the sustainability of the global food supply

Key Topic 4: Combustion with Energy Recovery (Waste-to-Energy)

Identify examples of closed loop energy systems and facilities.
Compare methods of carbon sequestration and describe their potential as an energy source.

Key Topic 5: Human and Animal Waste Treatment

Evaluate the differences between municipal waste treatment and home sewage treatment systems.
Compare and contrast the methods of waste treatment for human waste versus animal waste.
Describe the impacts to ground and surface waters when fecal waste is not effectively managed.
Identify innovative methods for managing fecal waste to lessen the impact to natural resources

Key Topic 6: Zero Waste/ Circular Economy

Define a Circular Econonmy and identify the impacts of a Circular Economy and it effects to the environment.
Explain methods for producing Zero Waste

Reference Materials Lists

Reference Materials – 2022

Materials have been collected and can be downloaded as one PDF here.

Key Topic 1: Landfills and Hazardous Materials Study Resources

Municipal Solid Waste Landfills – US EPA, 2021 (Pages 2-8)
Basic Information About Landfills – US EPA, 2020 (Pages 9-10)
Learn the Basics of Hazardous Waste – US EPA, 2021 (Pages 14-18)
Toxic Waste, Explained – Claire Wolters, National Geographic, 2019 (Pages 19-24)
How to Regulate Our Waste-Full World – Jen Allan, International Institute of Sustainable
Development. 2021 (Pages 25-33)

Key Topic 2: Reuse, Recycling and Waste Diversion Study Resources

The U.S. Recycling System – US EPA, 2019 (Pages 35-39)
What it Means to Go Green: Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, and Recycle – Rebecca Mills, Utah
State University Cooperative Extension, 2012 (Pages 40-42)
Stockholm Biochar Project – Nordregio, 2018 (Pages 54-55)
Sustainable Materials Management: Non-Hazardous Materials and Waste Management
Hierarchy – US EPA, 2017 (Pages 56-57)
Safe Hazardous Waste Recycling – US EPA, 2000 (Pages 58-61)

Key Topic 3: Composting and Food Waste Study Resources

Composting 101 – Natural Resources Defense Council, 2020 (Pages 63-82)
Farmers lead composting revolution to heal African soils – Fernando Naves Sousa, The
Ecologist, 2014 (Pages 83-86)
Composting – USDA NRCS, 1998 (Pages 87-90)
Food Waste in America: Facts and Statistics – Rubicon, 2020 (Pages 91-97)
Wasting Food Just Feeds Climate Change – United Nations, 2021 (Pages 98-99)

Key Topic 4: Combustion with Energy Recovery (Waste-to-Energy) Study Resources

Closing the loop: integrative systems management of waste in food, energy, and water systems – Davis et al., 2016 (Pages 101-111)
Carbon Sequestration – UC Davis, 2021 (Pages 112-116)
Waste-to-Energy Where it is Needed the Most – United Nations, 2018 (Pages 121-122)

Key Topic 5: Human and Animal Waste Treatment Study Resources

Chapter 10: On-Site Wastewater Treatment – Centers for Disease Control, 1932/2009 revision (Pages 129-139)
Animal Manure Management – USDA NRCS, 1995 (Pages 148-153)

Key Topic 6: Zero Waste Circular Economy

Zero Waste Vs.Circular economy – Your Guide to getting in the Loop-Zero Waste
Recycling in Your Community – Web Booklet

**You may also see questions relating to the current environmental issue in the soil and land use, forestry, aquatic ecology, and wildlife stations reference materials.

Learning Enhancements