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Deploy Waste to Energy

Provided by: Project Drawdown |Published on: May 28, 2025

Scientific Reports

9101112AP

Synopsis

In this article from Project Drawdown, students will learn about waste-to-energy conversions as a temporary solution as we transition to cleaner energy sources and a reduction of waste materials.
Students will understand the economic and health costs associated with this solution, as well as its potential for reducing waste.

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Subjects: Health, Engineering

Authors: Project Drawdown

Region: Global

Languages: English

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Teaching Materials

Positives

The article for this solution provides a great example of the interconnected elements that need to be considered when evaluating solutions, such as cost, emissions reductions, and human health outcomes.
The article contains a helpful chart readers can use to quickly understand why this is not a reccomended solution.

Prerequisites

Students should understand climate change and how burning fossil fuels contributes to it.
Some students may need some vocabulary terms defined for them before reading.

Differentiation & Implementation

Students who already have background knowledge of environmental justice and sacrifice zones can discuss the environmental justice implications of implementing a solution with harmful health impacts. This article can help give a personal account of the problems that may arise.
After reading the article, students can look at and discuss solutions related to reducing waste, rather than waste disposal. Students can also talk about how they can reduce waste in their personal lives.
Students can read more about electricity and its related emissions with this article or compare this solution with others from the Drawdown Explorer.

Scientist Notes

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Resource Type and Format

About the Partner Provider

Project Drawdown

Project Drawdown is a nonprofit organization that seeks to help the world reach “drawdown”—the future point in time when levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere stop climbing and start to steadily decline. Cities, universities, corporations, philanthropies, policymakers, communities, educators, activists, and more turn to Project Drawdown as they look to advance effective climate action. Project Drawdown resources for educators include the database of Drawdown Solutions, educational video series Climate Solutions 101, the Drawdown Stories initiative, and more.

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All resources can be used for your educational purposes with proper attribution to the content provider.

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Deploy Waste to Energy

Synopsis

Teaching Materials

About the Partner Provider

Related Teaching Resources