Community & Educational Programs

American Landfill believes in being a good neighbor as well as a good corporate citizen. This is illustrated by the various programs the facility has developed and implemented that support education, community, and the environment.

American Landfill has provided the award-winning video series, Science Screen Report and Science Screen Report for Kids, to all 17 school districts in Stark County. These innovative videotape programs are targeted for middle and elementary schools to enhance science education, to provide information about careers in science and technology, and to interest students in further-related education. The seven program series focuses on the most recent developments in science, technology, engineering, medicine, and recycling.

In all, the educational series is reaching over 63,000 students throughout Stark County.

American Landfill has given over $140,000 in scholarships to Sandy Valley students since 1991. The scholarship is based on academic achievement, financial need, and community involvement. Each year, the $5,000 award is given to a Sandy Valley senior who is pursuing a college education in the science or engineering field. The award is renewable for four years, with the total value of the scholarship being $20,000. This is the largest scholarship that is offered through the Sandy Valley School District.

For more information about the scholarship or to obtain the application materials, please call American Landfill at 330-866-3265 or the Sandy Valley High School Guidance Office at 330-866-9371.

This environmental education program is in partnership with the Canton Repository Newspaper in Education Department.

The four-week educational curriculum is distributed to more than 125 teachers throughout Stark County. The program runs during March and April in conjunction with Earth Day, and middle school students throughout Stark County receive Canton Repository newspapers featuring environmental facts and activities during the month. Each student completes an environmental survey and encourages their families and peers to preserve the environment by recycling and conserving energy and water. Each class that participates in the program and completes the surveys is entered in a random drawing to win a $250 prize for the selected class.

Because Sandy Valley is the home school district for the facility, American Landfill has provided generous support for several district projects over the years. In 2002, American Landfill contributed $40,000 to help make a major track renovation a reality.

The facility also sponsors a variety of educational programs including the annual Science Fair, the scholarship program, school tours, and My Favorite Book program for Waynesburg Elementary. Another collaboration that has proven successful is the School to Work Program in which a Sandy Valley senior spends half a day taking classes and the other part of the day gaining valuable hands-on business experience working at American Landfill.

School & Group Tours

American Landfill promotes an open door policy and provides tours for students of all grade levels, community groups, and the public. This helps to educate people of all ages about this highly regulated and sophisticated industry. In 2003, over 620 students toured the site through the school tour program. Students get to see first-hand the various aspects of a working landfill including the working face, the solification area, the technology utilized in a cell, and the landfill gas to energy plant. Tours are free, but reservations are needed. For tour information, call American Landfill at 330-866-3265.

Earth Day Activities

	With American Landfill's commitment to protecting the environment, it is only fitting that the facility celebrates Earth Day (April 22) each year with area students. Last year, an area Brownie and Daisy troop honored the day by planting over 20 spruce trees on site. The troops also toured the facility and learned about the sophisticated technology used in the waste management industry today.
	A beautiful Earth Day sign featuring a mosaic of the world was hand-painted by the site manager and his daughter, and the sign is proudly displayed beside the driveway for visitors to enjoy. Ultimately, the girls earned an Earth Day patch that they were presented with at the conclusion of the event.

The purpose of the CAC is to address issues and concerns of the community and to provide a vehicle for meaningful dialogue between citizens and American Landfill management. The CAC is comprised of representatives from various groups in the community that are concerned with or affected by Waste Management operations. In addition to concerns being addressed, the bi-monthly meetings also provide opportunities for education on various landfill-related topics.

Last year, American Landfill provided over 240 free teacher's kits on the environment to every school district throughout Stark County. More than 29,600 students in Stark County have been reached by this environmental program. The kit includes a video and interactive classroom activities focusing on the history of waste disposal, recycling, and encouraging personal responsibility towards the environment.

In an effort to maintain open communication with the community and keep everyone updated on landfill activities, American Landfill does a quarterly newsletter that is distributed to all residents and businesses in the Waynesburg area. View issues of the Neighbor to Neighbor Newsletter.