In-Person Transfer Station Field Trips
Field trips to the award-winning StopWaste Education Center offer students an opportunity to learn first-hand what happens to their recyclables, garbage and compostables at a working material recovery facility and transfer station. This field trip provides real-life application of concepts taught in the classroom in the areas of physical science, life science and investigation & experimentation. Trips (valued at $1,200) are free for Alameda County 4th grade classes. Alameda County private schools may request a field trip by sending us an inquiry.
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Request an In-Person Field Trip
StopWaste is looking for active partners in reducing and preventing waste throughout the county and beyond. As such, we are no longer a first-come, first-serve program.
Due to limited capacity for in-person field trips, we may not be able to accommodate all field trip requests. To support the availability of our programs, we are offering Virtual Field Trips where StopWaste staff facilitate a virtual experience to bring the transfer station into the classroom. Learn more about the Virtual Field Trip.
Questions? Send us an inquiry.
Locations:
Our goal is to host students at the transfer station that is the closest to where their material goes.
- Davis Street Recycling & Transfer Station in San Leandro (WM, Inc.).
Serves: Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Castro Valley, Dublin, Emery, Hayward, Livermore, Oakland, Piedmont, Pleasanton, San Leandro, and San Lorenzo School Districts.
- Fremont Recycling & Transfer Station in Fremont (BLT, Enterprises).
Serves: Fremont, Newark, New Haven (Union City), and Sunol Glen School Districts.
In-Person Field trips include:
- A two-hour program including a visit to the Education Center and Garbage Pit.
- An opportunity to trace the path of compostables, recyclables and garbage from curbside to remanufacture or disposal.
- Learning about the 4Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rot) and exploring how students' individual actions can help reduce waste.
- A hands-on activity in the Education Center aligned to the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and Common Core Standards.
- Pre and post-field trip lessons aligned to NGSS and Common Core Standards.
- Free bus pick up and drop off at school.
Registration and Program Availability
Field trips are available to 4th grade Alameda County school groups during the school year.
Davis Street Recycling & Transfer Station
Field trips are generally offered Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9-11 am or 12:30-2:30 pm.
Tuesday afternoon trips are available to East County school districts only (Pleasanton, Dublin, and Livermore).
Fremont Education Center
Field trips are generally offered Thursdays, 9-11 am or 12:30-2:30 pm.
Bus pick up and drop off is 30 minutes before and after your field trip start and end time.
All field trip requests are reviewed by StopWaste staff. Once you've submitted a request, a staff member will email to confirm the date and time of your field trip. To ensure the safety and comfort of all visitors, a maximum of 36 students can be accommodated per field trip, with one class allowed per time slot.
Accelar (dba YoPronto) is our transportation provider and a bus is provided at no cost for this field trip. The typical bus reserved can hold up to 42 passengers. No transportation is provided for field trips other than Alameda County public school 4th grades.
There is no charge for field trips to the StopWaste Education Center. (The value of this service is $1,200.) StopWaste provides this service to schools to support our county-wide goals to reduce the amount of compostables and recyclables entering our landfills. In exchange for this service teachers must commit to the following:
Before Your Field Trip
All teachers will receive a digital pre-trip packet emailed to them once their field trip is confirmed. Additionally when filling out a field trip request, teachers may check a box to request a hard copy of the packet materials be mailed to their school address.
This packet will include:
- Parent Permission Slips (required)
- Chaperone Checklist and Safety Waiver (required)
- 4Rs Activities.
Please make sure to bring Parent Permission Slips and Chaperone Safety Waivers with you on the day of the field trip.
- Prepare students for their field trip with the pre-field trip activities enclosed in the pre-trip packet prior to your field trip
- Ensure that students dress appropriately for the weather and wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes (no Crocs) and long pants.
After Your Field Trip
We require all participating teachers to take the following three actions with their students to educate their communities about reducing waste in Alameda County:
1. Post-Field Trip Action Projects
All participating teachers and classes are required to complete an Action Project of their choice. StopWaste staff are here to support! Examples of action projects are:
- Green Team Action Project
- Presentation Action Project
- Educational Posters & Handouts Action Project
- Buddy Book Action Project
After your class completes an action project, students and teachers report back through:
2. Student Mission Report Back Letters
Students report what they learned and how they took action at school and at home to reduce food waste and practice the 4Rs by authoring "Mission Report Back Letters".
3. Teacher Action Report Back Form
Once the class has completed the action project, teachers report their action to StopWaste.
For additional information, call (510) 891-6532 or email edcenter@stopwaste.org.
Education Center
2615 Davis Street, San Leandro 94577
Phone: 510 891-6532
Email: edcenter@stopwaste.org