On Wednesday, April 25, Annie Wright's ninth grade class took a field trip to the dump. As a part of the ninth grade Global Studies course taught by Bridgette McGoldrick, students have been studying consumption and its role in the larger materials economy. As a part of this unit, they have explored different examples of the outcomes of production; they have researched different companies’ social responsibility policies and have written letters of support or concern about issues that are of interest to them as young consumers.

To conclude their studies for this unit, students visited the Pierce County Landfill and recycling center in Tacoma to better understand the final stage of the materials economy which is disposal/recycling. Students learned about the purpose of landfills and recycling methods. They have also been reading about innovative new technologies, such as plasma incinerators that are being used as an alternative method of waste disposal.

During the class field trip, a journalist from The News Tribune stopped by and took their photo. You can find it in the Thursday, April 26 issue, page A3!