Break It Down

Gr 9 Up—Each person on our planet generates an average of four pounds of garbage daily, and much of it eventually winds up in landfills. This program is part of a series which explores everyday scientific events in a format that can be used within one class period. This nicely paced film has a two-part focus: one follows trash from the curb to the landfill, and the other is an intriguing look at the design and construction of a landfill model. A landfill's ecosystem involves much more than simply dumping debris into a large hole in the ground. The film emphasizes the innovative ways technology is helping to diminish the environmental impact of landfills, particularly the use of methane gas. There might have been more emphasis on the alternative of recycling materials before setting them on the curb. The behind-the-scenes procedures involved in the preparation of a museum-quality landfill miniature recreation are sure to fascinate viewers. Useful in classrooms and individual research settings.—Dwain Thomas, formerly Lake Park High School, Roselle, IL