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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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Field trips for the 2024-2025 school year are now available*. 

*Please note our registration system (including our inquiry portal) will be down from December 12th through December 18th. If you would like to request a field trip during this time, please email schools@stopwaste.org.

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.

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.; and Wednesdays, 9:30-11:30am

Fremont Education Center

Field trips are generally offered Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9-11 am or 12:30-2:30 pm.; and Wednesdays, 9:30-11:30am

Bus pick up and drop off is generally 30 minutes before and after your field trip start and end time.

Registration Information

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.

Royal Coach Tours 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 taking action with their class. 

Fore more information on pre- and post- field trip requirements, visit Field Trip Information

Cancelation Policy: If you need to cancel your field trip, we ask that you notify us at least 2 weeks before your scheduled tour. This notice gives us the opportunity to fill the slot and allows others to prepare for their visit. If you need to reschedule, I will connect you to our coordinator team who can assist you. Please keep in mind, we have a limited number of available slots and rescheduling may not be possible.

For additional information, call (510) 891-6580 or email edcenter@stopwaste.org.

Education Center
2615 Davis Street, San Leandro 94577
Phone: 510 891-6532
Email: edcenter@stopwaste.org

 

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