For this program, ECOSS recruited a cohort of immigrant African youth and taught them about household hazardous waste and how it affects our environment and our health. Through a series of workshops and field trips, ECOSS aimed to educate youth participants about proper disposal methods as well as eco-friendly substitutes they can use. Field trips, like to the water treatment plant, gave participants a closer look at how water is managed, and participants were also able to visit a beach to tidepool and learn more about ocean ecosystems and our impact on them.
In the workshop sessions, participants learned where and how to properly dispose of items that need special disposal methods, like electronics. This program raised awareness in the community about how harmful some cleaning products are and how common items like beauty products contain chemicals that water treatment plants cannot completely remove when they enter the water system. Students and families took action by replacing some of their cleaning products with eco-friendly alternatives that they learned to mix and create in our workshops. At the end of the cohort, the youth participants shared their knowledge with their families and communities.
This program is made possible by funding from King County Wastewater Treatment Division/ WaterWorks.