Cascade Repairs Feasibility Project
Waste Loop

Final Report
July 29, 2024

 
 

Over the 2023 / 2024 academic year Waste Loop collaborated with the environmental science teacher at Cascade School District’s alternative high school to teach repair skills and concepts to students.

  • Fifteen high school students, two teachers, and six community volunteers were engaged.

  • Students participated in 14 class sessions over 7 weeks.

  • Classes and open repair sessions that focused on machine sewing, visible hand mending, electronics, and bicycle repair gave students a broad set of skills to fix everyday items that they own.

  • Lessons on linear vs circular economies complemented repair sessions by providing context on the larger picture of natural resources, manufacturing processes, transportation systems, and waste streams.

  • Students took two fields - first visiting the regional landfill to better understand where their 'waste' ends up, and the second was a tour of example businesses working towards a local circular economy.

The program proved to be far more than “feasible”; it was a resounding success. As of July 2024, conversations are underway about continuing the project and preparing classroom materials for publication.