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.