The Miami County Solid Waste District has awarded five grants to teachers to educate local students about waste reduction and conservation.

Started in 2010, the solid waste district’s educational grant program initially provided up to six grants of $500 each. In 2016, the Board of Miami County Commissioners and the Miami County Solid Waste Management Policy Committee both approved an expansion of the program, funding up to ten $500 grants annually. Since its inception, the waste reduction grant program has awarded over $15,000 to local conservancy educators for recycling infrastructure, classroom materials and field trips.

This year’s recipients include:

• McKenzie Costello of Van Cleve Sixth Grade, awarded $500 to fund a field trip to Carillon Park, where students will learn about sustainable building practices
• Alison Osbourne of Van Cleve Sixth Grade, awarded $250 for a recycled art workshop and papermaking demonstration to be held this spring
• Courtney Downs of Piqua High School, awarded $500 for classroom recycling containers for the high school
• Stefanie Dahlin and Marie Austria of Kyle Elementary, awarded $500 to fund a field trip to the Boonshoft Museum’s recycling exhibit

The Miami County Solid Waste District thanks all of these recipients for their commitment to conservancy education in Miami County!