{"691973":{"#nid":"691973","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Small Bins, Big Impact: Young Learners Join Georgia Tech\u0027s Sustainability Efforts","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cem\u003EBy Nikki Wilbanks and Megan Fulton\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESustainability education at the Georgia Institute of Technology isn\u0027t limited to students, faculty, and staff. Thanks to new child-friendly waste stations at \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/campusservices.gatech.edu\/child-care\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener noreferrer\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EThe Children\u2019s Campus\u003C\/a\u003E (TCC), Georgia Tech\u0027s on-campus childcare center, the Institute\u0027s youngest community members are learning how to sort waste and make environmentally conscious choices every day.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe project was led by the Campus Services \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sustainability.campusservices.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener noreferrer\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESustainability team\u003C\/a\u003E as part of a broader campus waste-standardization effort in partnership with the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sustain.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener noreferrer\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EOffice of Sustainability\u003C\/a\u003E\u0027s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sustain.gatech.edu\/zero-waste-resource-hub\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener noreferrer\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EZero Waste\u003C\/a\u003E Task Force. As campus partners evaluated waste and recycling needs across campus, they conducted walkthroughs to better understand the unique requirements of different spaces.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ETo support its youngest learners, TCC needed waste stations that were accessible to children ages 3 to 5 while meeting Institute standards and safety requirements. The result is a set of child-friendly compost, recycling, and landfill stations that allow children to participate in sustainability efforts independently.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0022While the bins support Georgia Tech\u0027s waste-reduction goals, they also serve as hands-on learning tools,\u0022 said Erin Getzelman, director of sustainability engagement for Campus Services. \u0022As children learn about topics such as plants, soil, composting, and natural cycles, they can connect those concepts to real-world actions through the waste stations.\u0022\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EBy incorporating the stations into daily routines, teachers help children sort items after meals and snacks and think about where everyday materials go after they are thrown away.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EOn July 22, a group of rising kindergarteners from TCC toured Georgia Tech\u0027s Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design, the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/livingbuilding.gatech.edu\/about\u0022 rel=\u0022noopener noreferrer\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Egreenest building in the Southeast\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EDuring the tour, the children explored the building\u0027s sustainability features and learned how it meets the rigorous standards of the Living Building Challenge, the world\u0027s most ambitious green building certification program.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe visit included stops at the solar panels, compost bins, beehives, and community garden. The children also touched reclaimed wood from major film productions in Atlanta that is now incorporated into the building\u0027s stairs and walls.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EBy introducing sustainable habits at an early age, TCC is helping children develop an understanding of environmental stewardship while reinforcing a key message behind Georgia Tech\u0027s sustainability efforts: Building a culture of sustainability requires participation from every member of the community, regardless of age.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ETo learn more about The Children\u0027s Campus at Georgia Tech, visit \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/campusservices.gatech.edu\/child-care\u0022\u003Ecampusservices.gatech.edu\/child-care\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003ENew child-friendly waste stations at The Children\u0027s Campus are helping Georgia Tech preschoolers learn recycling, composting, and environmental stewardship through hands-on experiences.\u003C\/div\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"New child-friendly waste stations at The Children\u0027s Campus are helping Georgia Tech\u0027s youngest learners develop sustainability habits through hands-on daily experiences and campus-based environmental education."}],"uid":"36136","created_gmt":"2026-08-25 16:07:08","changed_gmt":"2026-08-27 17:34:59","author":"tparrett3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-08-25T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-08-25T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680981":{"id":"680981","type":"image","title":"Kendeda-15.jpg","body":null,"created":"1787674097","gmt_created":"2026-08-25 16:08:17","changed":"1787674097","gmt_changed":"2026-08-25 16:08:17","alt":"preschool-aged children hold hands and observe as they learn about composting.","file":{"fid":"265325","name":"Kendeda-15.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/08\/25\/Kendeda-15.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/08\/25\/Kendeda-15.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":381977,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/08\/25\/Kendeda-15.jpg?itok=uZZldAp9"}}},"media_ids":["680981"],"groups":[{"id":"499601","name":"Campus Services"}],"categories":[{"id":"194836","name":"Sustainability"}],"keywords":[{"id":"73811","name":"The Children\u0027s Campus"},{"id":"195257","name":"sustainability learning"},{"id":"176789","name":"zero waste"},{"id":"40601","name":"campus recycling"},{"id":"177739","name":"Kendeda Building"},{"id":"10257","name":"campus services"},{"id":"9810","name":"Auxiilary Services"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"194566","name":"Sustainable Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}