Tours

The following tours, presentations and kits are available to schools and other community groups at no cost. Download the PDF brochure version.

If you are interested in obtaining more information about any of the tours, presentations or kits, or would like to reserve a spot, please submit your reservation request online.

	Kent County Recycling & Education Center 977 Wealthy SW, Grand Rapids Grades: K + Grade Level Content Expectations applicable in this tour: Science: E.ES.03.41 through 44; E.ES.03.51 through 52; E.SE.03.31 Grand Rapids: The new Materials Recovery Facility is a sorting facility designed to accept residential recyclable materials. Recyclables are sorted according to type, then prepared for shipping to the next processor by pressing the recyclables into bales. Tours are approximately one hour in length and include a classroom discussion about recycling as well as a facility overview on the catwalk overlooking the functioning equipment. Kent County's new single-stream recycling facility began tours in September 2010. The facility offers a safe, clean environment to learn about recycling.

	South Kent Landfill 10300 South Kent Drive SW Byron Center, MI 49315 Grades: 3 + Grade Level Content Expectations applicable in this tour: Science: E.ES.07.41 through 42 Byron Center: The South Kent Landfill is the only solid waste landfill operating in Kent County. Tours are up to one hour in length and provide an in-bus talking tour of the entire landfill area, including a trip up to the top to see the big machines in action (weather permitting) and all groups will weigh in at the scalehouse. A short discussion on our new methane gas recovery system is included. Please note: Roads at South Kent Landfill are mostly unpaved. Contact your busing service prior to scheduling your tour as some bus companies will not drive on unpaved roads.

	Waste-to-Energy Facility 950 Market SW, Grand Rapids Grades: 5 + Downtown Grand Rapids: The Waste-To-Energy Facility can process 625 tons of municipal solid waste per day. The solid waste is converted into steam through carefully monitored incineration in specially designed furnace/boilers. The steam goes through a turbine/generator to generate electricity. A small portion of the electricity is used in house and the rest is sold to Consumers Energy Company and consumed by homes and businesses in Kent County. The solid waste is reduced to ash, which is landfilled after ferrous metal is removed and recycled. About 4,500 tons of ferrous is recycled every year. As ash, the municipal solid waste is reduced 90% by volume and 75% by weight. Call (616) 235-3210 for tour information.