CLOSURE ALERT: All CSWD facilities will be CLOSED on Monday, September 7th for Labor Day. Please plan ahead.
School Spotlight: Back To School with Recycle Rhonda
Written by Rhonda Mace, CSWD School Outreach Coordinator
Rhonda Mace (Recycle Rhonda) is CSWD’s School Outreach Coordinator, where she works with Chittenden County students, educators, faculty, and school communities to make waste reduction, recycling, and composting more approachable and engaging. From pre-school to college, she brings the energy, knowledge, and fun to classrooms across the county!
Holy bananas, where did the summer go?
The school year is here, and I am ready to help your school kick things off strong!
If you’re not familiar with what CSWD offers—all at no cost to Chittenden County PreK–College schools—here’s just a sampling of what I can bring to your classrooms, cafeterias, and beyond.
Hands-on lessons
From Trash Talkin’ & the 3 R’s to A Future Built on Batteries and Compost Critters, students can dive into fun, interactive learning. Many of the lessons align with Next Generation Science and Common Core Standards.
Assemblies
Bring me in for a quick 20-minute What Goes Where? assembly! We’ll get everyone thinking about what happens to our stuff after we’re finished with it—and, more importantly, which bin it belongs in.
Want to see where our stuff actually GOES?
Take a field trip!
CSWD facility tours give students a behind-the-scenes look at what happens to millions of pounds of stuff every year. From old apple cores and water bottles to text books and glue.
They’ll see the systems, meet the people doing the hard work, check out the equipment—and learn why what we put in the bin really matters and how their choices can shape tomorrow.
Programs & activities
Let’s make it a game!
Students can recycle their own paper with All About Paper or put their school’s sorting skills to the test with a Trash On the Lawn Day.
Because nothing says “school spirit” quite like discovering what’s hiding in your trash.
Challenges & Contests
Do you want to improve your school’s recycling and composting accuracy by keeping trash out of the blue and green bins and food and recyclables out of the trash? The CSWD’s Recycle Rally Challenge is just the event for your school. Registration opens Sept. 15th Mark the calendars and rally the troops, this Rally comes with a $500 prize!
With the goal of teaching kids about the importance of recycling batteries and encouraging collection campaigns, The Battery Bonanza combines hands-on lessons with community engagement.
Stay tuned for more details on Battery Bonanza 2027.
Food Waste Prevention Week’s Student Poster Contest is open to all students from various age groups and grade levels. Whether you’re a budding painter, a sketch artist, or a digital illustrator.
Deadline: September 21,2026
Teachers: Need a fun, hands-on lesson?
Custodians: Need an assist at the sort station during lunch?
Parents: Wondering why your kid keeps asking, “Where does THIS go?” and want the whole school to get on the same page?
Food service teams: Want to make sure those food scraps actually make it into the compost bin?
Administrators: Looking for ways to make your school a better Planet Protector?
Just ask for Recycle Rhonda!
Check out the full menu of CSWD School Services and start planning your visit.
I am wicked excited to get back to school!
Let’s learn something. Let’s have some fun. And let’s keep some good stuff out of the landfill!
Contact Info
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Rhonda Mace School Outreach Coordinator
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Email: rmace@cswd.net
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Phone: 802-872-8100 x214
