Education Displays: Kits, Activities, and Banners for Checkout
Dakota County provides a number of resources for teachers, students, community groups and
other organizations to help with education and outreach on a variety of environmental topics.
The resources include interactive displays and props, background information, instructions for
set-up, and environmental education lesson plans and activities.
Reserve materials
Contact: Ali Vandercook, 952-891-7552, ali.vandercook@co.dakota.mn.us
Back-up contact: Jenny Kedward, 952-891-7043, Jennifer.kedward@co.dakota.mn.us
We need to know
 Contact for borrowing (name, phone, email)
 Organization borrowing
 Event title
 Approximate number of attendees
 Check-out date/time
 Check-in date/time
The Recycling Zone & Household Hazardous Waste
The Recycling Zone is a County drop-off facility that accepts household hazardous waste for proper
disposal and provides other recycling related services.
A. Online resources
1. County website information:
dakotacounty.us search “The Recycling Zone” or “hazardous waste”
2. Rethink Recycling (regional) website information:
rethinkrecycling.com/residents search for “hazardous waste”
Information about “signal words” and how to dispose of
hazardous waste
3. “The Recycling Zone”, “Hazardous Waste Recycling Toolkit” and “Electronics Toolkit”
Article, images, social media posts
B. Display Materials & Activities
1. The Recycling Zone Tabletop Display
Purpose: Explain the importance of proper disposal of household chemicals and
products that do not belong in the trash. The display illustrates all of the services
available to residents at The Recycling Zone. Examples of household items that should
be recycled at The Recycling Zone.
2. Toxicity Reduction Tabletop Display
Purpose: Explain how to identify household chemicals and the importance of properly
disposing them. The display also offers healthy alternatives to replace toxic household
chemicals. The display is includes examples of household chemicals that should be
recycled at The Recycling Zone and examples of non-toxic household cleaning
ingredients
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3. The Recycling Zone Banner
Six-foot banner advertising the hours, location and materials accepted
at The Recycling Zone.
4. Make a Green Cleaner Activity Kit
The activity kit contains recipes, tools and instructions for making a
non-toxic, all-purpose household cleaner. Spray bottles should also be
reserved with this kit. The display kit is adaptable for groups of all sizes.
The green cleaner activity is most appropriate for adult groups.
5. Twister with a Twist Activity
The hands-on game teaches kids (ages 8 and up) about what materials are accepted at
The Recycling Zone. Each row of colors is a different material category (electronics,
recyclables, HHW, small household electronics). This should be reserved with The
Recycling Zone tabletop display materials.
6. Recycling Zone Capes
A fun take-home promotional item for kids.
C. Print resources:
1. The Recycling Zone brochure (residential)
Description: This is a booklet brochure on The Recycling Zone (the
County’s Household Hazardous Waste facility). Additional items
collected at The Recycling Zone for reuse or recycling include:
electronics, scrap metal, cooking oil, plastic bags, packing peanuts,
home sharps (needles and syringes), bicycles, lawn mowers and snow
blowers.
2. The Recycling Zone brochure (business)
Description: This is a booklet describes the resources at The Recycling Zone available to
businesses and very small quantity generators of hazardous waste.
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3. Recycling Zone Postcard and Magnet
Description: A simple handout with a magnet listing the location and
hours of the recycling zone. From the 2014 Recycling Zone media
campaign.
4. Be Smart with Your Sharps (card)
Card Description: 2-sided card, promotes sharps (needles and
syringe) recycling at The Recycling Zone for free. A card is enclosed.
5. Don’t Let Hazards Happen
Description: Brochure folds out to a poster-sized list of ideas to
reduce hazardous in the home.
6. Guide to Healthy Household Cleaners
Guide Description: The Guide to Healthy Household Cleaners is a 28
page “green cleaning” recipe book. It contains all purpose, kitchen,
bathroom and furniture recipes – so people can make their own
cleaners at home. A Guide is enclosed.
7. Medication Card
Description: 5.5x8.5” card that lists how to drop off medications
throughout the county.
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Recycling at Home
A. Online resources
1. Dakota County Residential Recycling & Disposal Guide:
dakotacounty.us and search “Green Guide” for a searchable list of
disposal information
2. Rethink Recycling (regional) website information:
rethinkrecycling.com/residents search for “recycling”
3. “Residential Recycling Toolkit”
swmcb.org Drafted articles and images of recyclable materials
4. Dakota County Residential Recyclign Toolkit
Articles, images, social media posts for recycling at home.
B. Display Materials & Activities
1. Residential Recycling Tabletop Display
Explains the importance of residential recycling and how to determine
what materials are recyclable. The display helps educate residents on
how they can recycle more at home. The display is includes examples of
household recyclables.
2. Green Guide Banner
Six-foot banner explains how to find recycling information by visiting
www.dakotacounty.us.
3. Why Recycle? Banner
Six-foot banner provoking residents to ask what they can recycle.
4. Recycling BINGO Activity Kit
The game contains BINGO cards with photographs of recyclable items and example
recyclables to play the game. The instructions include recycling trivia to challenge
recycling knowledge as the game is played. The display kit is adaptable for groups of all
sizes and is designed for ages 5 and older.
5. Recycling Wheel Activity Kit
The recycling wheel activity contains a spinning wheel and a booklet of recycling trivia
questions. Participants spin the wheel and are asked a trivia question based on the
category the spinner pointer lands on. The recycling wheel is adaptable for groups all
ages and larger group sizes. The recycling wheel compliments the residential recycling
tabletop display.
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6. I’m a Recycling Superhero Stamp
The stamp is geared towards children as a reward for answers
questions correctly or just for stopping by the booth. The stamp and
blue ink pad must be returned to Dakota County.
C. Print resources:
1. “Recycling at Your Curb” handout
Guide Description: This is a 1-page sheet on what can be recycled in
curbside carts that is collected by waste haulers/recyclers. It is part of
the Rethink Recycling materials. A handout is enclosed.
2. Recycle More Than You Think
Description: Brochure folds out to a poster-sized list of ideas to
recycle more.
3. Recycling Service Providers Sheet
This is a reference for educators but can also be passed out the
public. It lists the licensed haulers for each city and what they
accept for recycling.
4. Master Recycler Flyer
The handout describes the Master Recycler/Composter program and how to sign-up. If a
class is coming up, the flyer will list the date and location.
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Reduce & Reuse
A. Online resources:
1. Dakota County website information:
dakotacounty.us search “reduce” or “reuse”
2. Rethink Recycling (regional) website information:
rethinkrecycling.com/residents search for “reduce”
3. Reduce Waste (State) website information:
reduce.org
B. Print Materials
1. Reuse Guide for Dakota County
Multiple page handout that lists all the places you can donate and
buy used items in Dakota County as well as tips on how to donate.
2. Waste Not, Want Not
Brochure folds out to a poster-sized list of ideas to reduce waste.
3. Fix-It Clinic Flyers
One-page handout that list the next Fix-It Clinics for residents.
C. Display Materials & Activities
1. Waste Reduction Tabletop Display/Activity
Purpose: Explain the environmental and financial benefits to reducing
waste. The display offers suggestions on how to reduce waste in
purchasing and highlights how to choose recyclable and reusable
packaging when shopping. The display includes examples of bulk and
single serving packaging labeled with prices.
2. Why reuse? Banner
Six-food banner promoting reuse in Dakota County.
3. Why reduce? Banner
Six-foot banner promoting waste reduction at home.
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Yard Waste and Backyard Composting
A. Online Resources
1. Rethink Recycling (regional) website information:
rethinkrecycling.com/residents search for “composting”
2. State website information:
reduce.org and click on “By composting”
3. “Compostable Bags Toolkit”
swmcb.org
Articles for backyard composting, new compostable bag requirement for
yard waste, and images of compostable items.
4. “Backyard Composting Toolkit” and “RAM Compost Bin Sale Toolkit”:
Articles, images, social media posts
B. Printed resources:
1. Backyard Composting
8 ½ x 5 ½“ 2-sided card for display racks, handouts, etc. Contains
information on what and how to compost.
2. Compost the Most
Brochure folds out to a poster-sized list of ideas to recycle more.
3. MPCA Backyard How to Compost Guides
8.5x11” handout: Home composting is an easy way to turn much of
the waste from your yard and kitchen into a rich material that you
can use to improve your soil.
4. MPCA Compost Troubleshooting
8.5x11” handout: Does your compost pile smell bad? Does it take
too long to break down? Here are some solutions to these and
other common backyard composting problems.
5. MPCA Vermicomposting (Worm composting)
8.5x11” handout: Vermiculture, or worm composting, uses red wiggler worms to
biologically decompose food waste. Worm composting can save money on your garbage
bills, reduce the volume of trash you contribute to landfills, and create a rich, organic
additive for gardens and houseplants.
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D. Display Materials & Activities
1. Backyard Compost Bin
This bin is a display to give a real-life prop to a presentation or booth.
2. Backyard Composting Pull-up Banner
Six-foot banner encourages composting at home.
3. Compostable Bracelets (wildflower seeds)
Loved by adults and kids, this bracelets is meant to be worn then planted to
grow wildflowers.
4. Compost Champion Stamp
The stamp is geared towards children as a reward for answers questions
correctly or just for stopping by the booth. The stamp and green ink pad
must be returned to Dakota County.
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