Dr. Lori Clark, an Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies and Public Health at St. Lawrence University, along with 10 of her students, visited the Waste Data and Analysis Center’s (WDAC) sampling event on December 3, 2025, at the Development Authority of the North Country (DANC) facility in the Town of Rodman, NY. This visit was distinct as it allowed students to observe the project’s first sampling event conducted during the winter season in the upstate region.
The visit served as a field component for her “Taming Trash” course, which covers the history, systems, technology, policies, and environmental impacts of solid waste management. Dr. Clark remarked, “My students were impressed with the extensive separation and documentation of materials by the team (69 categories!) The detailed records of this study will provide invaluable insight into our consumption and disposal decision making and the flow of materials. We imagine the reports coming out will uniquely inform decision makers developing policy and practices for sustainable materials management.”
This experience provided St. Lawrence students with a deeper understanding of waste management operations, effectively bridging the gap between classroom theory and real-world practice.