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Provided by: Institute for Local Self-Reliance |Published on: September 29, 2025
Podcasts
9101112
Synopsis
In this 30-minute podcast episode from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, students will understand the importance of keeping waste management solutions local.
Students will understand the environmental impact of incinerators, elements of environmental justice, and how composting, recycling, and reuse solutions have economic benefits.
The sentiment that local action is where change happens is one that empowers students and makes big, insurmountable issues seem more manageable.
The podcast guest speaks in a bright, engaging manner that will keep students listening.
Prerequisites
Students should understand methane as a greenhouse gas and the concept of carbon sinks.
Teachers may want to define the term "areas of least political resistance" before students listen. It may also benefit students to have a background in environmental justice.
Differentiation & Implementation
The podcast host makes a few references to AI data centers and their environmental impacts. Students can watch this video to get an idea of some of the environmental impacts associated with these data centers.
After listening, students can explore their city's waste management plan and propose solutions to make policies more locally-based.
Teachers can connect this podcast to the UN Sustainable Development Goals by asking students to use evidence from the podcast to support the claim that local waste management solutions support SDG 10, Reduced Inequalities, SDG 8, Decent Work and Economic Growth, and SDG 13, Climate Action.
Some students may benefit from having the transcript in front of them to follow along as they listen.
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